By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Halloween officially falls on a Tuesday this year. No worries, there will be plenty of weekend opportunities to trick or treat in the Great Bend area. Barton County churches and businesses are again sponsoring the Community Trunk or Treat at Jack Kilby Square in downtown Great Bend on Saturday, Oct. 28. First Christian Church Youth and Associate Minister Joseph Smeragliuolo explains.
"The Trunk or Treat is basically just a safe option for your kids and family to go around and trick or treat," he said. "We decorate the trunks of our cars and we have volunteers that are passing out candy. I believe last year, I think we had almost 1,000 people come through, which was pretty awesome."
There are three ways for volunteers or businesses to participate: they can be a trunk, donate cash to purchase candy for a trunk, or sponsor a trunk. Smeragliuolo said sponsoring a trunk for $50 helps provide candy for that trunk and is a good way for businesses off the Main Street corridor to get involved. Those businesses will be recognized with magnetic signs attached to the sponsored trunk. The kids can enjoy the candy and those with trunks can enjoy some competition.
"Part of the trunk decorating is a trunk decorating contest," said Smeragliuolo. "First place gets a $100 chamber gift certificate, second gets a $50 one, and third gets a $25 one. We have judges that go around and judge the trunks."
Trunk or Treat begins at 11 a.m. on Oct. 28. Smeragliuolo said cash donations are always accepted, but the final day to officially register is Monday, Oct. 23. There were approximately 45 trunks last year, including several classic cars represented by the Shifters of Central Kansas Car Club. CLICK HERE to register.