There are several must-haves when it comes to Halloween. Pumpkins, scary decorations, and costumes are essential to the holiday. But the biggest must-have is candy. Without it, Halloween just wouldn’t be the same.

That’s why downtown business owners are seeking candy donations for this year’s Downtown Turlock Trick-or-Treat festivities on Oct. 25.

“Personally, I go through about 2,000 pieces of candy,” said Gabrielle Aguiar-Forrest, owner and director of Alegria Performing Arts Academy at 320 E. Main St., who also is a member of the Downtown Turlock Business Owners Committee. “And with 40-plus businesses — that’s a lot of candy.”

To help pay for all that candy in recent years, Turlock Downtown has applied for a Community Events and Activities Grant, and was awarded a total of $9,000 — $3,000 in 2022, 2023, and 2024. This year — Alegria Performing Arts Academy and Hey! Turlock were listed as the official grant applicants — they did not receive grant funds from the City of Turlock.

“In years past, there weren’t as many applicants for the grants, but we had quite a few this year,” said Travis Regalo, executive director of the Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association. “It’s nice when the grants can go to things like this, but there are better opportunities for the grants to go to other programs. That’s just the way it is.”

Karen Packwood, Turlock’s assistant municipal services director, said the city has $60,000 — derived from the Transient Occupancy Tax levied on those staying in local hotels — to aid those holding events in the community.

“This year, there were requests for more than $93,000 to fund 32 events,” said Packwood. “We were able to fund 23 of those events. Fortunately, we’ve had an increase in the number of groups out there who want to do great things in our community. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough to fund them all.”

Downtown businesses are looking for the community to chip in with candy donations. Aguiar-Forrest said she doesn’t want to see the tradition wither and fade away.

“The downtown trick-or-treat has been our family’s tradition because we live in the country and don’t have a traditional neighborhood to go trick-or-treating,” said Aguiar-Forrest. “We tried to find other safe options, but this is the one that became our tradition as a family.”

The event is always held the last Saturday of October, and runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families can start out at Alegria Performing Arts Academy, where pictures with characters can be taken, and then proceed to collect candy from participating businesses. Trick-or-treaters can also proceed down the middle of Main Street to collect treats from participating vendors of the Turlock Certified Farmers Market and the Turlock Market.

Members of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce will once again sponsor a kids zone in Central Park, with a bounce house and other features for youngsters — including diaper stations, nursing stations, and flushable toilets for families.

“We just ask that everybody be kind and considerate,” said Aguiar-Forrest. “Some businesses don’t participate because they sell delicate, breakable items and it’s not conducive to have little ones coming in and out. Some stores might have somebody outside handing out candy, but there will be indicators as to which businesses are participating.”

Candy donations can be dropped off at Alegria Performing Arts Academy, Turlock Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Antiques, Bella Forte, Farm House, Vail Creek, Little Red Door, Envy, and Paper Moon.