Big Sandy’s Trunk or Treat Halloween Party will be happening again this Sunday, October 31st beginning at 6:30 PM on Main Street. Trunk-Or-Treat is a community Halloween party where folks bring their cars to Main Street and hand out candy from their trunks. Heather Dilworth, who is organizing the event this year, explained: “I think for families with younger kids, it’s easier to go around to 10 or 20 cars and then visit with everybody for a while and call it a night.” She also pointed out that it provides a space for country residents to come and hand out candy. It also provides space for the community to spend time socializing: “I think when you can come together as a community and see all your friends and your kids can see each other, it makes it a little bit more fun.”
This year, the event on Main Street will feature some games for kids and a fire pit. “One year, I think it was one of the first years I moved here… I think they had a fire pit.” Last year, the city council did not approve a fire pit due to covid issues. This year the fire pit was approved if a fireman could be present to monitor it. Pete Jerrel volunteered to monitor the fire during the event.
Unfortunately, Patti Gasvoda’s food truck will not be present for a second consecutive year due to Covid concerns and her employment at the nursing home. However, they hope to return to the event next year.
This is the second year that Heather Dilworth has been involved in organizing the party. “Last year, Lisa Sipler messaged me out of the blue. I think I asked on the Big Sandy Page if they were doing Trunk-Or-Treat. I didn’t know who was even in charge of it. Lisa Sipler messaged me and said because she works at the nursing home and because it was 2020 and the Coronavirus going around with working with the elderly, she said she was not going to do it last year. She said ‘If you want to do it, you should.’ I was like ‘Ok.’ Having a young child, I’m always looking for activities to do with her. I thought: What the heck. So I called Shaud and asked him what I needed to do. He told me I just needed to get approval from the City Council. So, last year was the first year
we put it together just the last two or three weeks before Halloween. We had a pretty good turnout last year… This year I messaged Lisa again, and asked if she was doing it again this year. She said she wasn’t going to be doing it anymore. Lisa said: Go ahead and take over.” The City Council approved the event unanimously this year.
People interested in handing out candy from their cars can just show up at 6:30. Letting Heather know in advance is helpful, as she is monitoring to ensure there will be enough space, but she is certain that won’t be an issue this year.
Questions about the evening and donations of candy can be directed to Heather Dilworth. “A lot of older people have donated candy (last year). That was really kind and helpful also. Hopefully, there will be a better turnout with Covid lightening up.”
