Kids’ Bingo Takes Over Rio Pub

Oct 28, 2025 05:02PM ● By Seth Henderson

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Rio Pub owners Andrea Ayala, left, and Edwin Balli greet guests attending the Oct. 23 kid’s Bingo night, located at 6750 Front St. in Rio Linda. Photo by Seth Henderson

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - Feedback from patrons at Rio Pub led to the implementation of a Halloween-themed, kids’ Bingo night, with prizes sponsored by local businesses such as Meg’s Creamery, Tummy’s Sandwich Shop, Papa John’s and the Klip Joint on Oct. 23.

Kids’ Bingo drew tens of children and parents dressed up to participate, walking through an inflatable haunted house to fill the pub’s patio area with an array of characters among the many other decorations throughout the establishment. A projector overhead in the patio displayed a picker wheel, selecting a random symbol, corresponding with each player's Bingo sheet.

Organizers and hosts of the kid’s Bingo night in Rio Linda at the Rio Pub, prepare to start calling out numbers on Oct. 23. Photo by Seth Henderson

Rio Pub owners Andrea Ayala and Edwin Balli said that Bingo for all ages was already a recurring event every Thursday, an event also initiated by patrons. Ayala said that the “community gets excited” about holding events and hosting activities, adding that she and Balli are proud to participate and provide a venue.

“One thing that we wanted to focus on is that the prizes that we have for first, second and third, are all geared towards kids,” Balli said, explaining how kids’ Bingo was different than any other Thursday. “So it's like kid-friendly baskets, candies. A lot of it is actually through donations.”

Themed from the movie “Ghostbusters,” Ayala dressed as Slimer and Balli dressed in a CWU-27/P Nomex flight suit with replica proton equipment. The owners said that Oct. 23 was their two-year anniversary of owning the pub. They said that focusing on the needs and feedback of the community was a key aspect regarding how the pub was to be run, making it a community space.

Edwin Balli, a co-owner of the Rio Pub, shows off his replica proton gun as part of his “Ghostbusters” themed Halloween costume. Photo by Seth Henderson

By popular demand, trivia night on Wednesdays as well as karaoke on Fridays and Saturdays were all events suggested or initiated by patrons, Ayala said.

“We wanted to have a place to play games, like board games and video games, and now we do Magic the Gathering as well because people want a place to be able to play it,” Balli said. “And ultimately, that all kind of ties into the atmosphere and the vibe that we were trying to cultivate when we took over. We wanted to create a space where everyone felt welcomed.”

Joe Destfino, a Rio Linda resident and organizer of the kid’s Bingo event, said that he plays Bingo at the pub weekly and wanted to help bring more business to the establishment by hosting Halloween-themed events along other community organizations. He said the event took about two weeks to plan and that his mom as well as a few others volunteered to decorate the pub.

The Klip Joint donated gift certificates for free haircuts for winners, Tummy’s provided a gift certificate and Meg’s also provided a gift certificate. Papa Murphy’s provided gift certificates for 10 free pizzas to go in and make their own pizzas, Destfino said.

A table of prizes donated by local Rio Linda businesses awaits the lucky winners of Rio Pub’s kid’s Bingo night on Oct. 23. Photo by Seth Henderson

“It's been a community effort,” Destfino said. “We reached out to the community and they really came through, like they always just, community always comes through.”

Destfino said the Rio Pub is the “new happening place” in Rio Linda and that he is glad to have been a part of helping to put the pub and town on the map.

Lifelong Rio Linda resident Cameron Butz attended with his family and said that the event was great for youth and was glad to see it bringing the community together.

A family attending the kid’s Bingo night at the Rio Pub on Oct. 23 pose for a photo before the game starts. Photo by Seth Henderson

While undergoing a transition period in the kitchen at Rio Pub, Ayala said, the West Sacramento based Thick Vatos and Tacos food truck was a frequent vendor at the pub, but now has operational space inside the pub’s kitchen. She said the collaboration is a great way to build community and that the response from patrons has been overwhelmingly positive.

The Rio Pub hosted a two-year anniversary Halloween bash on Oct. 25 to celebrate with the community, featuring a DJ, costumes, contests, games and other spooky surprises.

Located at 6750 Front St. in Rio Linda, more information about the Rio Pub, visit its website at https://www.theriopub.com/ or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552598003681.