Trunk or Treat Again
HCC to host annual Trunk or Treat pre-Halloween celebration Oct. 28
Visitors to Holyoke Community College on Fri., Oct. 28, can expect to see the usual ghosts, witches, and ghouls, along with an assortment of characters from their favorite children's movies, games, and TV shows as the college celebrates Halloween with its annual Trunk or Treat event.
More than 40 HCC departments, programs, and student clubs, as well as community groups and area businesses have already signed up to decorate vehicles for this year's event.Trunk or Treat runs from 5 to 7 p.m. in Parking Lot M in front of the Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation on the main HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave.
Last year, organizers estimated that some 2,000 to 3,000 children – plus their parents – attended.
"Trunk or Treat at HCC is always a big hit," said Sheila Gould, program director of HCC's Early Childhood Education program, one of the organizers and sponsors. "This year we are in a new parking lot – Lot M – which is larger and has better lighting than the one we've used in previous years. This year we're also giving out special HCC Trunk or Treat bags to the first 1,000 children who show up."
This year's trunk sponsors from HCC include the Education Dept., Student Engagement, Veterinary and Animal Science, Dance Club, ASL Club, Japanese Anime Club, C.A.M.O. Club, Radiologic Technology, El Centro, Student Records, Early Childhood Grants Initiative, Culinary Club, Business Dept., President's Cabinet, Disney Club, Nursing Dept., Student Senate, STEM Club, Latinx Empowerment Association, Psychology Club, Radio Club, Animation Club, and Dungeons & Dragons Club.
From the community: Dean Technical High School Hawks, Holyoke Police Dept., Berkshire Hathaway, Valley Opportunity Council, YWCA, Mass. Dept. for Children and Families Holyoke, Positive Regard Network/Center School, NexGen Roofing, Elms College: The Teachers' Lounge, Holyoke Credit Union, Y Kids Learning Center, Girls Inc. of the Valley, and Holyoke Public Schools-Early Childhood program.
Trunk themes change every year. For 2022, they include crayons, rubber ducks, happy clowns, a witch's house, haunted house, Jurassic Park, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hungry Hungry Hippos, construction, Hocus Pocus, Paw Patrol, bones, Encanto, Star Wars, spooky fun prom, M&M's, Frozen, Ratatouille, Disney villains, Muppets, Mary Poppins, Spiderman and Marvel superheroes, outer space, pumpkin patch, Alice in Wonderland, the Multiverse, and Ghostbusters.
Prizes are awarded to vehicle sponsors in various categories including Best Executed Theme, Scariest Trunk, Best Costumes, and Most Original.
Each vehicle will be handing out free Halloween treats and also have non-food items for children with dietary restrictions.
Trunk or Treat at HCC started in 2017 as a safe, fun, and early alternative to traditional trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Rather than going door to door seeking Halloween treats, children go "trunk to trunk" to collect their candy, visiting cars decorated with seasonal themes and familiar stories and characters.
The event is free and open to the public and will be held outdoors, rain or shine. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
