In the final installment of this season's 2econd Saturday series of events, downtown Antioch is hosting the second annual Rivertown Pumpkin Day on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center.

Highlights include free pumpkins for the first 300 kids, a Pumpkin Painting Contest and Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest. In addition to the free pumpkins and unique contests, the event features a Halloween Costume Exchange and concludes with safe trick-or-treating in the Rivertown Business District, said Brian Nunnally, economic development analyst for the City of Antioch and one of the event organizers.

We received so much positive feedback from kids and parents last year that we've expanded the event this year, Nunnally added, but we didn't lose sight of what makes a successful community event: it should be free, family-oriented, and most importantly, just plain fun. Rivertown Pumpkin Day is all three.

Golf-N-Games and Paradise Skate have pitched in to buy the art supplies, and Danzbiz Dance Co. will be providing volunteers. Lucky grocery store donated nearly a hundred pumpkins and the City of Antioch donated the rest.

The 2econd Saturday series of events is hosted by Rivertown merchants with support from the City of Antioch. The free event series runs from May through October and aims to expose East County residents to Downtown Antioch by offering a variety of events, including outdoor movies, live music, a just-for-fun dog show, and other art and cultural happenings.

For more information about Rivertown Pumpkin Day, go to www.rivertownevents.com or call 925-779-6168.