Fall fun brings Baldwin families together at Plaza Elementary

Posted Friday, October 16, 2026 11:13 am

Sisters Melia Silverio, 3, left, and Adelynn Silverio, 7, show off their pumpkins at the Plaza PTA Fall Festival on Oct. 10

Courtesy Lauren Chin

Sophia Espinal, 12, left, Sebastian Espinal, 5, their mother, Yajaira Espinal, and Sabrina Espinal, 10, get into the Halloween spirit with festive treat bags.

Courtesy Lauren Chin

Children enjoyed the kinetic sand station, one of many hands-on craft activities offered at the Plaza PTA Fall Festival.

Courtesy Lauren Chin

Peyton Rodriuez, 7, left, Ashton Bipat, 7, and Aliya Bipat, 5, right, showed off their inflatable “Among Us” costumes at the event.

Courtesy Lauren Chin

Dressed in a Halloween costume, Aaliyah Delgado, 7, took part in one of the games offered at the festival.

Courtesy Lauren Chin

Children enjoyed an afternoon of friendly competition and laughter through a variety of games and activities.

Courtesy Lauren Chin

Marleni Collavo, left, and her daughter, Yamell Cruz, 5, joined Zuzu Safa, right, and her daughter, Mia Ajaka, 5, for an afternoon of fall festivities at Plaza Elementary School.

Courtesy Lauren Chin

Xiomara Lue, left, Naomi Lue, 6, Isaac Lue, 9, Pascal Lue, right, enjoyed the fall festival together.

Courtesy Lauren Chin

By Christina Arlotta

The Plaza PTA Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat was held Oct. 10 at Plaza Elementary School. Held from 2 to 6 p.m., the combined event drew about 150 attendees for an afternoon packed with games, activities and Halloween fun.

Children participated in interactive crafts, including kinetic sand art, keychain beading and a slime bar. Excitement continued at the school’s free mini pumpkin patch, where children selected their own pumpkins to decorate with Halloween-themed stickers. Games included a Hocus Pocus frog toss, bobbing for apples, Plinko, limbo and a pie-eating competition. DJ Bill Chelune of Grand Slam Entertainment provided music throughout the afternoon, and Trunk or Treat began at 4:30 p.m.

The festival featured 11 small community vendors, including Hangout One Happy Place, Sanitary District 2 and the Baldwin Fire Department. About 21 businesses and organizations contributed as donors and sponsors. Sponsors included Baldwin’s Delicious Moments, Ferring Deli, and Flaming Grilled, as well as LEGOLAND New York and the New York Jets. Organizers also received help from Baldwin Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society members and Baldwin High School students who volunteered at the event.

Although Plaza previously hosted a Trunk or Treat, this year marked the school’s first time combining the event with a fall festival fundraiser. Christina Boertlein, Plaza PTA vice president of ways and means, chaired the event with help from her husband. The couple decided to combine the events to encourage greater involvement from local families and businesses in support of Plaza’s students. Boertlein hopes the events success will encourage more Plaza families to get involved and recognize what they can accomplish together for their children.

“Events like the fall festival are important because kids need more than school and tons of screen time. They need opportunities to get together, make friends, have fun and make memories outside the classroom,” Boertlein said. “With families being so busy, having something for the kids to look forward to and genuinely enjoy makes a difference. It’s even more special when it’s right here in their community, not having to travel to a neighboring town for fun. These are the kinds of experiences they’ll remember, and they help bring our Baldwin community together.”

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