Fall in the Valley comes with a full calendar, and this year our kids and their Friends were part of a lot of it. So much of a Friend’s work happens out in the community, getting to know what their kids enjoy and finding places for them to try something new. This season, cities, schools, local businesses, and community groups from La Quinta to Desert Hot Springs gave them no shortage of options. Closer to home, the Clubhouse spent a couple of weeks as a pumpkin workshop, with kids carving, painting, and scooping their way through more pumpkins than we could keep track of.

At the Trunk or Treat hosted by Grocery Outlet La Quinta and Bermuda Dunes, Tiffany’s girls had their pick of food, games, prizes, and plenty of dancing. Then a witch, a scarecrow, an angel, a ladybug, and a doll made their way to Hope Church Palm Desert’s Spooktacular, where they decorated pumpkin cookies together. “I love watching my girls bond and help each other,” Tiffany said. Next came Halloween pizzas, which the girls built themselves.

Fall Fest brought Norman and three of his youth to La Quinta Park for an evening of music and activities. A few of our Friends also found themselves on the other side of the candy bowl. Tiffany and Q hosted a Candy Land trunk-or-treat station at Coachella Valley Unified’s Halloween event, where everyone came dressed up. Our partners make a lot of room for our kids, and it means something to return the favor.

Over in Desert Hot Springs, Desert Recreation District’s Pumpkin Patch and Chili Cook-Off greeted Belinda and her girls with hot chocolate and Mexican sweet bread. The girls chose to paint their pumpkins instead of carving them, and Amanda and Belinda even won a raffle prize. From there, they headed to the Halloween Carnival at the Indio Community Center to meet the animals at the petting zoo and take photos with people in costume. They didn’t want to go home.