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NEWTON FALLS – The Newton Falls Kiwanis Club will celebrate Halloween this weekend with the 100th annual cake walk.
The event will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday with a performance by the Newton Falls High School marching band at 1:45 p.m. on Broad Street with a costume contest followed by the cake walk at 2 p.m. The village and township will have trick or treat 4 to 6 p.m.
Adam Zimmermann, president of the club, said members of the club have celebrated the 100th cake walk starting with the July 4 parade over the summer.
Elizabeth Yura, club secretary, said the event has been popular for many years, with some years featuring more than 300 cakes. This year, there will be more than 150 cakes, with 75 from Shop and Save and 75 from IGA.
Zimmermann said six arches will be set up in the downtown area and people will walk around the street to music played by a deejay and when the music stops and a horn is blown, those under the arches will receive a cake.
“The walk and Halloween have been associated together for this event. Families enjoy coming to the event. During the Depression, the prizes that were given were eggs or flour,” Yura said.
Zimmermann said a costume contest in different age categories was added during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was no cake walk for health safety.
“People have always worn their costumes to the event, even when there was no contest,” he said.
Zimmermann said this is the club’s major annual fundraiser.
Yura said the Newton Falls Kiwanis Club is more than 100 years old. Zimmermann said Warren and Newton Falls are the only two remaining Kiwanis Clubs in Trumbull County.
“The calk walks has lasted because of the commitment from the members and the love of this event by the community,” Zimmermann said.
Yura said children and adults can participate in the cake walk. The event each year brings out thousands of participants who walk from red light to red light in one business district block in downtown Newton Falls.
The members stay busy preparing for the event by getting the cakes, setting up the arches, selling tickets, and help with set up and take down for the event.
Zimmermann said the event raises $3,000 annually for scholarships for Newton Falls graduating seniors, and donations for the community such as a book distribution for elementary children.
Yura said she likes seeing the fun everyone has and the costumes people are wearing. She said several generations of families have taken part in the cake walk over the years.
Zimmermann said the motto of the Kiwanis to serve the children of the world.
“It is fun to see the faces of the children as they line up for the costume contest and know they will receive a prize. It is also good to know the proceeds from the event benefit children,” Zimmermann said.
Yura said prizes are donated for the costume contest.
Susan Holub, vice president, said “I have always loved the cake walk since the time my kids were little. It has always been fun being part of it. We have helped judge the costume contest.”