According to candystore.com, Minnesota’s most popular Halloween candy is Hot Tamales followed by Tootsie pops and Skittles. These treats and more will be available at the Community Trunk-or-Treat 3-6 p.m. Sunday.
The fun takes place at the Meeker County Fairgrounds parking lot on East 10th Street where more than 25 groups will share sweet treats with an expected turnout of 1,000 or more. Sponsored by the Chamber Serving Meeker County, participants are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the Meeker Area Food Shelf and a container to collect candy.
Robbie Brown is the coordinator of Sunday’s Halloween extravaganza. She’s been organizing events like this for several years.
“It started as an outreach program with my local church,” Brown said. “There were a couple more churches in the community that were also doing Trunk-or-Treat events. It has always been very popular with the kids and their parents.”
Things changed in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on public gatherings. When some of the restrictions began loosening up in 2021, Brown wanted to try organizing Trunk-or-Treat again, but found it difficult to find a single organization with enough willing volunteers to have a successful event. That was when she reached out to the Chamber office to see if they might be interested in helping.
“It turned out that the timing was perfect because they were looking for something to do for the community for Halloween,” she said. “The Chamber sent an ‘all call’ to its members to participate and the response was fantastic. There were between 27 and 35 vehicles the past couple of years. We have 25 signed up so far this year.”
The event is popular with planning for next year beginning while the current event is going on. This means planning for 2024 is taking place now.
“Each organization handles their own vehicle decorations and provides the goodies that they give away,” Brown said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for local organizations to reach out and connect with the community, and each other, in a fun and unique way. My role is to act as a facilitator by helping to organize and promote. It really isn’t much work for me because each organization is doing their part.”
As part of the festivities, nonperishable food items are collected for the local food shelf. In 2022, 126 pounds of food and $49 in cash donations were given to help feed the community.
So how many folks are expected to cruise through the Community Trunk-or-Treat? Brown said they have had as many as 1,500 adults and children come through.
“I usually suggest that the participants plan for 1,000,” she said. “If you can imagine each vehicle having enough candy for 1,000 kids. Well, that’s a lot of candy.”
In real estate, it’s been said it’s all about location, location, location. Brown said the same is true about the site for Sunday’s event.
“The Meeker County Fairgrounds allows us to use their paved parking lot directly across from Litchfield High School/Middle School,” she said. “The visitors park in the high school parking lot and come across for the event. Sometimes the line spans down the street.”
Facilitating the annual Trunk-or-Treat is a good fit for Brown because she has a passion for fostering community connections.
“I love meeting new people and serving others and it is especially wonderful to see so many of our local groups and organizations come together to create free, family-friendly events that are fun and accessible to everyone,” she said. “At the end of the day, it is everyone working together that makes it all so special.”
