The Highline HOST program helped to arrange a trick-or-treating event in downtown Des Moines, Wash. The event, which was held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 had several businesses that collaborated in handing out candy to eager trick-or-treaters.
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Trick or Treaters at the event in downtown Des Moines.
The HOST department is Highline’s hospitality and tourism program. Last year, HOST held the same event for Halloween with over 2,500 community members in attendance. This holiday get-together made it easy for families to bring their kids somewhere safe and allow them to revel in all the magic Halloween has to offer.
Justin Taillon, the event organizer and head of the HOST department, and 15 Highline HOST students pulled together to make everyone in Des Moines feel welcome (and ensure everyone got their sugar fix)! HOST students also helped direct traffic, which is no small feat while everyone is coming home from work.
Taillon was able to sit down for an interview and was able to give some insight about the HOST program and what it has to offer our community. The program is a 4-year program split between Highline and Central Washington University. In addition to their degrees, HOST offers students the chance to get work experience as well as learn a ton about marketing and sales.
Rory Sellers/THUNDERWORD
Justin Taillon the head of the HOST department at Highline College.
Additionally, Taillon has said he is inspired to help out international students who don’t have the ability to get full time jobs within the hospitality and tourism industry because of their situation. The program provides them with work experience through putting events on and by helping out with the various jobs needed to oversee that these events go as efficiently and as smoothly as possible.
It’s not just Halloween this hard working crew makes happen. “Our next event is the holiday tree lighting. We do the Christmas tree lighting on Dec. 1, after that we do the sweetheart ball, most likely at the yacht club – that’s going to be on Valentine’s,” said Taillon. “Our biggest event every year is the Waterland parade which is an official seafair sanctioned event.”
In general it’s the HOST program that really seems to get things done, whether we are talking holiday spectacles or balls and festivals, our college’s hospitality and tourism team has it covered. Learn more about this fantastic program here.
With the Halloween trick-or-treating event marked as a clear success, all Highline students and Des Moines community members need to do is show up and show out. As fall cascades into the winter season be sure to check in on what upcoming events HOST will be hosting in the future.
