Allison Farole
Staff Writer

The annual little people's Halloween Parade was held at the Vons Center at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Kids 10 and younger were able to participate in the parade to collect candy from each business. The parade started at Wheeler Cleaners and proceeded to Vons.

Each year this event is put on by the La Verne Parks and Community Services Department.            

“This is a safe alternative to trick or treating by daylight and (it) expose the businesses in the shopping center,” said Carla Sullivan, community services superintendent.

This event caters not only to La Verne residents, but also to families who  come from all over the area to help promote safe trick or treating and to see people in their local communities.

For picturesque fun a replica of Captain Jack Sparrow was present for a photo opportunity.

“I walk around and give people the opportunity to take photos with me so that they can get a taste of an authentic pirate,” said Andrew Cave, Captain Jack Sparrow character for Classy Characters.

The CVS store was also giving out free photos of kids in front of a Halloween backdrop that featured hay stacks, scarecrows and pumpkins.

Not only were the kids dressed up in their favorite costumes but so were members of the participating businesses.

At Post Masters and Gift Center Hershey kisses were handed out to the kids along, with brochures to the parents to help promote what they had to offer.

Zap Home Realty handed out king size candy bars inside t-shirts to the kids.

“I kind of like the parade that is going on especially the entertainment,” said Josh Jones, employee at Mi Ranchito restaurant.

To add to the fun the City of La Verne Gymnastic Demonstration team performed along with the California All Star Cloggers.

“I like how each store gives different types of candy,” said Morgan O’Donnell, La Verne community cheer participant. “It is all fun.”

To help promote support for local military actives, business owners and residents were given the opportunity to purchase small banners that showed their support for the military. Each banner was fifteen dollars; five dollars of each banner will go to the fund to help sponsor banners of local active military members.

“It is good to see people supporting our troops,” said Marlou Faustini, volunteer police officer.

Participates were given the opportunity to enter a drawing which had prizes ranging from a Disney Tinkerbell doll to a toy fire truck.

“I have been coming ever since I was little and my favorite part is the raffle,” said Kayleena Thorp, 10 year old participant dressed as a dead rocker, “I have gotten lucky a few times.”

All in all this turned out to be a great family oriented event for the community.

“This is good for the kids, it is much safer and I get to see people in the community,” said Julie Charlton, mother of three kids.

Allison Farole can be reached at Allison.farole@yahoo.com.