By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Waves of families attended the Halloween-themed festivities at the historic Val Verde County Courthouse on Friday evening.
Val Verde County’s annual “Trick or Treat” event was hosted by a number of county elected officials and their staffs.
Pecan Street was closed off for three hours, and 20 vendors lined
picture dressed as Morticia and Gomez Addams outside the Val Verde County Courthouse on
Friday evening. Lewis and Sylvia said the county’s Halloween event, which started seven years
ago, gets bigger each year. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
the street and set up on the
lawn of the courthouse.
Juanita Barrera, the county’s human resources director, said the turnout was amazing and
mentioned how there were “non-stop” waves of people arriving at the courthouse.
Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. and his wife, Sylvia Owens, dressed as Gomez
and Morticia Addams. Sylvia said she felt they had the biggest turnout in years for their
Halloween event. Lewis said it was a team effort, adding how all the departments helped make it happen.
The courthouse was filled with unique decorations and attractions, including witches on the left of the courthouse for people to interact with, a miniature circus-tent cutout on the right for kids to go through and a small cemetery for people to take pictures inside.
“Trick or Treat” event at the county courthouse on Friday. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
Del Rio City Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. was in costume as a skeleton, posing for pictures with people. Lopez said he and his wife, Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 Hilda Lopez, put together an attraction filled with Halloween mannequins sitting around tables playing poker and acting out courthouse trials.
Hilda said they had to get more candy when the second wave of families arrived after the
Halloween parade ended. Barrera said many of the vendors had sold a lot of their items and gave away all their candy halfway through the night.
The Halloween event brought in returning vendors and new vendors. Basilio Gutierrez, a recurring vendor, said the Halloween event was one of the best events he’s been to. Jose “JP”
Rodriguez and Lory Lozano brought their Misfits Wandering Emporium to sell food and delicious, fruity drinks. Rodriguez said it was a “great turnout” for
historic Val Verde County Courthouse on Friday evening. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
their first Halloween event
selling food.
Many people from everywhere seemed to have popped up at the courthouse. Luke Boucher
traveled from England to visit cities in the United States, and he stopped in Del Rio before
moving to his next city. Boucher said he is surprised by how much Halloween is celebrated in the United States, which he mentioned is not celebrated as much across the ocean.
One of the biggest attractions of the event was the Halloween maze, put together by members of the county’s building maintenance department. High school and college students
volunteers were stationed at strategic points inside the maze to scare people.
Street during the “Trick or Treat” event at the County Courthouse. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
(center right) fill up a bowl with more candy to hand out to children at the county’s “Trick or
Treat” event on Friday evening. Juanita Barrera, the county’s human resources director, said
county staff had to get more candy throughout the evening because lots of people attended the event. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
