PARENTS BY CHOICE hosted the 3rd annual Safe Trick or Treat event at Courthouse Plaza this past Tuesday evening. The 3 to 7 p.m. event welcomed children of all ages to dress up as their favorite character and collect sweet treats.
The event hosted approximately 25 booths with vendors, schools and organizations such as Visit Stockton and Downtown Stockton that gave out freebies to children. Children also got to play arcade games and experience a haunted house, put together by the staff of Parents by Choice. Nearly 400 people attend the event annually.
Crislyn Acosta assists her son Caleb Carluen, 9, who was dressed as the character Oogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” as he collects free goodies during the Halloween event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Friday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Children in costumes line up alongside their parents in front of the Visit Stockton booth during the Halloween event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
The area around the arcade in Courthouse Plaza is abuzz with activity during the Safe Trick or Treat event in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Children enjoy a ride in the arcade area during the Safe Trick of Treat event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Santiago Varela, 2, buckles his seat belt as he gets ready for his ride in the arcade area during the Safe Trick or Treat event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Friday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Byson Saunders, 8, plays an arcade game during the Halloween event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Zenith Thao, 6, waits for the ball to slide back down in the arcade area during the Safe Trick or Treat Halloween event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
From left, Pierre Brown, 9, Ezekiel Brown, 7, and Reina Brown, 11, go trick or treating during the Halloween event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Zamoya Brown is dressed as Chucky during the Safe Trick or Treat Halloween event put on by Parents by Choice at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Friday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
“Hocus Pocus” themed bowtie hairclips are displayed for sale during the Halloween event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Alexander Zaragoza, 6, dressed as a clown, attends the Halloween event with his family at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Attendees check out the booths at the Safe Trick or Treat Halloween event at Courthouse Plaza in Stockton on Oct. 27, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
The nonprofit organization works with foster youth, housing programs and mental health programs. Tony Yadon, the executive director of Parents by Choice, said the organization purchased the Courthouse Plaza in 2020 and created small businesses to provide jobs for foster youth and has expanded to youth experiencing challenges related to finance and housing as well as youth involved with the juvenile justice system.
“It’s just been really gratifying to watch the community embrace what’s happening here,” Yadon said.
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
