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Lompoc Halloween event brings hundreds out to safely celebrate

Lisa Andre
Nov 3, 2020
Nov 3, 2020 Updated Nov 17, 2020

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A mom and son dressed as robots enjoy the family-friendly Tricks & Treats event, hosted by Stand 4 One, in Lompoc on Halloween night.

Lisa Andre

The "Tricks & Treats" Halloween youth event in Lompoc was presented by Stand 4 One and sponsored by The Roots team, The Greenhouse and Jim Mosby. From left, Jim Mosby, Lompoc city councilman; Jonny Clark, Stand 4 One organizer; Veronica Williams, Stand 4 One founder; Paul and LaNia Nicholas, Fire Grill L.A.; Victor Sanchez, The Roots; Barbie Balboa and Laura Bonet, Green House Collective; Freddy Anderson, DJ Sparx; Carly Matlock, Elevate Lompoc; Miguel Rio, El Paraiso; Luis Castaneda, The Roots; Devika Stalling (not pictured).

Lisa Andre

Attendees in costumes play games for prizes at the family-friendly Tricks & Treats event in Lompoc on Halloween night.

Lisa Andre

Two attendees in costumes accept gift bags from a local sponsoring vendor at the family-friendly Tricks & Treats event in Lompoc on Halloween night.

Lisa Andre

Attendees in costumes enjoy the family-friendly Tricks & Treats event in Lompoc on Halloween night.

Lisa Andre

Two young girls accept a bag of candy from local vendors at the family-friendly Tricks & Treats event in Lompoc on Halloween night.

Lisa Andre

Hundreds of children and parents dressed in colorful costumes attended the family-friendly Tricks & Treats Halloween event in the old Baker's Square parking lot in Lompoc on Saturday evening.

While event staff monitored occupancy numbers and mask-wearing to meet COVID-19 safety protocols, children played games and won prizes in a traffic-free zone lined with orange cones donated by Statewide Safety & Signs of Nipomo.

Staff members of Lompoc-based dispensaries The Roots and The Greenhouse provided candy and gift bags to eager trick-or-treaters, and local food truck El Paraiso kept families fed while DJ Sparx played lively music.

The socially distant community event was hosted by local organization Stand 4 One that last year organized a local Thanksgiving meal drive for Santa Barbara County families in need. This will be the organization's second year sponsoring underprivileged families with a holiday dinner.

"I've exceeded what I thought we'd do," said Stand 4 One founder Veronica Williams, noting that event sponsors like City Councilman Jim Mosby were a crucial part of their first-ever Halloween event coming together. "The Roots really stepped up. They've always been my biggest supporters. Marijuana dispensaries get such a bad name and they've been wanting to give back to the community so bad."

Williams, a Lompoc native and licensed child care provider, said she was prompted to bring Halloween to local children due to the unprecedented times of COVID-19.

Just as the annual Thanksgiving drive she spearheads, her objective for Halloween was to find a way to better the lives of children in the community.

"When I started [Stand 4 One], I had so many doors that were closed in my face," Williams said. "And now it's the community coming together. That's what it's about. It's beautiful."