Many local businesses participated in Bon Air Center’s annual Halloween event last Saturday, Oct. 25. The organizations, with tables out for trick-or-treaters, strived to connect the community of Greenbrae and celebrate the holiday.

Starting at 11 a.m., the three-hour event included interactive tables set up by local vendors as well as a costume parade followed by live music and dancing. Hundreds of trick-or-treaters showed up despite the glum weather and rain, collecting candy from local businesses as they walked. 

Elizabeth Pontious, Bon Air Center’s director of marketing, organized the event. Pontious works directly with the owners of the center and, as such, understands how much of an impact these events make.

“Bon Air has been family owned and operated for 70 years,” Pontious said. “[Bon Air’s Management] understands what it means to be part of a community, and we feel events like these are a great opportunity to bring the community together.”

Beyond candy for trick-or-treaters, many businesses had tables with activities out at the event. These included face-painters, clothing and eyewear stores, gyms, waxers, and even shoe shiners.

Shafiq Ferrer was one such vendor to participate on Saturday. Ferrer owns and operates YogaSix Greenbrae, supporting the event and the business he gained because of it.

“[The event] allows us to get more in-person contact, meet people face-to-face, be a part of the community, and raise awareness about YogaSix,” Ferrer said.

Since he opened his store, Ferrer has found the management to be helpful, especially through communal events like Halloween.

“The owners understand what it’s like to run a family-owned business, and that is shown through these events,” Ferrer said.

Enakshi Vyas, Redwood alumni and owner of Dance with Elite Naach Academy, a local Bon Air business, was another proprietor present at the event. Vyas had her youth group perform in front of the Greenbrae community for the Halloween event.

“[Events like these] help build both the larger community and our dance community, and it does so in a fun way,” Vyas said. “It’s so great for kids enrolled in dance to get this experience performing, and it’s also great for marketing.”

Since Vyas moved her company to Bon Air, she has found the Center’s communal approach to be beneficial for her business.

“Our student base increased by 200 percent after we moved to Bon Air,” Vyas said. “Any time you have a place where people can gather, it helps build community. That’s here, that’s Bon Air. The community here and the events they put on really make our studio feel more like home.”

DubDub eSports owner Marc Vaccaro had a table out with a retro Nintendo booted up to play Super Mario Bros. Vaccaro had a similar stance to others on the business he gained because of the event.

“The management does a really good job marketing these events,” said Vaccaro. “I’m tucked away in the back of the Center so people don’t know we’re here. [The events] definitely bring more people into my store.”

Jeff Craft, a DJ under the name Zhenyok Chem Brat, performed at the center for the full three hours.

“Bon Air was a really good fit,” Craft said. “I noticed a lot of people singing and just enjoying the experience. [Music] increases positivity in the world and certainly in this community. That’s my goal: to increase positivity.”