Superheros, Disney characters, video game characters and even Michael Myers all lined up outside Antioch Water Park the Friday before Halloween. 

The attendees all wait for the doors to open to the Fall-o-ween event hosted by Antioch Recreations Department. 

Sara Rivera, a 45-year resident of Antioch, who attended the event with her family said that she and her family like the water park and they attend all the events hosted there. 

According to Antioch Recreation supervisor Bree Pires, Fall-o-ween has been happening at the Antioch Water Park since 2020 and was started as a way to “get some follow up festivities to the public following the pandemic.”

According to Pires, since 2020 the event has expanded to include an obstacle course, floating pumpkins in the pools, an upgraded hay maze that is now inflatable and different contests. Each ticket purchase comes with a pumpkin that can be entered into the pumpkin carving contest. 

“It’s just different. I don’t know. It’s just for the kids. It’s a safe environment,” Armando Rivera said. “We’re not going to buy a costume for a one-day event, right?” 

“I think it’s family-friendly. It keeps growing every year. We love seeing the same kids come out in their costumes and stuff. It’s just a fun kind of end-of-the-year way to celebrate here at the waterpark,” Pires said.  “We have a little bit of everything now. The event is put on by the city’s recreation staff. The recreation department does the event.”

According to Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker, Antioch has invested more in events and activities in the city.

“I think the impact is just bringing the community together in different ways and also having trunk-or-treats and Fall-o-ween and all of that being in the community.”

“I’m excited for the candy and pumpkins,” Aamiyah Vierra, a 7-year-old attendee said.