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Saturday's Trick-or-Treat on Greek Street appeared to be another success. By noon, the event, which took place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., was well underway and children could be heard laughing from the Student Union patios.
Children and adults were seen dressed as superheros, jailbirds in black-and-white striped jumpsuits, princesses and fairies. There were also a lot of Boys and Girls Club T-shirts floating around, celebrating the philanthropy this event was held for.
There were various stations set up throughout the Memory Mall, located between the Classroom I and Health and Public Affairs buildings, including sidewalk chalk portraits, a dunking booth, bounce house, Ping-Pong toss and a DJ playing a combination of hip-hop, pop and R&B.
The Honors Congress created a masterpiece in sidewalk chalk called "Do you smell what the Knights are cookin'?" It depicted Knightro grilling hot dogs over the Honors Congress logo. Meanwhile, the Sports Club Council's claim to fame was "Knightro day at the beach," featuring Knightro in board shorts walking a cat on the beach.
Holly Strong, director of the Honors Congress, said she felt the event had a great turn out.
"It's very organized," she said. "You can tell they worked really hard."
"They" included a host of the Greek letter sororities and fraternities. Brian Schultz, a criminal justice major and member of Delta Upsilon, said he thinks the event should return to Greek Street.
However, Schultz's fraternity brother, Peter Zachman, said having it in the Memory Mall works well because it helps keep the children in one area. "Having it on Greek Street splits the kids up," he said.
Delta Upsilon partnered with Theta Chi and Kappa Alpha Theta for the event. The organizations sponsored a blow-up obstacle course, a pumpkin toss and a snow cone machine.
"I think it's great," Norma Suarez, program director for the Taft branch of the Boys and Girls Club, said. "It's nice because I don't have to worry about the kids wandering off."
Corey Zaccagnino of Alpha Xi Delta served as this year's committee chair. Her sorority paired up with Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity to put on a Ping-Pong toss with fish as prizes as well as a sandbox filled with buried treasure. The fish seemed to be a hit with children from the Boys and Girls Club, Taft Branch.
Sarah Tatum, 11, has been with the Boys and Girls Club since she was 6. She exclaimed, "I'm having a blast!" while her friend Yamissa Llamas, 11, said her favorite part about the day was winning a fish at the Ping-Pong toss.
Second-grader Chandler Wysocki said he enjoyed fishing for candy - an activity sponsored by the Delta Delta Delta sorority and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
In addition, they offered trick-or-treaters a chance at the dunking booth and leis. They also held a fundraiser that allowed children to decorate their own Halloween cookies.
The event gave the community a chance to see Greek letter organizations in a more positive light than what is portrayed in the media and stereotypes, Melissa Piña, one of the event chairs for Pi Beta Phi sorority, said.
Along with FIJI and Alpha Tau Omega, Pi Beta Phi chose a Baywatch theme and offered kids a chance to save a drowning person by throwing a lifesaver around them for prizes and ice cream. The activity cost each participant $1, and all proceeds will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club.
There also was free pizza and drinks for event attendees. Members of the Homecoming Court made an appearance. Faculty, staff, students and community residents also attended the day's festivities.
Tammy Smith, who works at the Alpha Delta Pi house, brought her daughter and three grandchildren. John Russell and his wife, Monica, said they heard about Trick-or-Treat on Greek Street from their neighbor, a UCF staff member, and decided to bring their son Tyler, 3, and daughter Landry, 1.
Other organizations that participated were Zeta Tau Alpha and Sigma Chi, which created a haunted casino.
Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Delta Theta and Phi Mu Alpha offered fruit cups and fruit snacks as healthy alternatives instead of candy.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Delta Pi and Beta Theta Pi sponsored a bounce house. LEAD Scholars and the United Resident Student Association gave the gift of creativity by allowing youths to make their own nametags.
"We're trying to make it as creative as possible," Brandon Woodard, director of community service for LEAD Scholars said. "We want to let them express themselves."
Chi Omega, Lambda Theta Phi, Lambda Theta Alpha, Alpha Epsilon Pi and Tau Kappa Epsilon opened a booth with face painting and balloon animals.
The event is held annually and free to everyone.
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