Trunk or Treat Oct. 25
Haunted bus and larger than life Very Hungry Caterpillar new attractions at HCC event
A haunted bus and a larger-than-life Very Hungry Caterpillar are just two of the many new attractions planned for this month's annual and ever-expanding Trunk or Treat pre-Halloween celebration at Holyoke Community College.
The haunted bus, courtesy of the King Ward Bus Lines, and Very Hungry Caterpillar Volkswagen Beetle, courtesy of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, will be on display at HCC's third annual Trunk or Treat on Friday, Oct. 25, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., in Parking Lot R behind the Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation on the main HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave. Close to 30 HCC clubs, departments, programs, area businesses and community groups have already signed up so far to decorate vehicles for this year's event, organized by HCC's Education Club and Education Department.
"Last year we had a steady flow of trunk or treaters and estimate that we hosted over 300 children," said HCC Early Children Education program coordinator and Education Club adviser Sheila Gould. "This year we hope to see even more."
Trunk or Treat 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. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
In the event of rain, Trunk or Treat will be held in the Campus Center cafeteria, on the second floor, and students will be available to direct visitors. Last year, more than 20 HCC clubs and departments, area businesses and community groups sponsored cars and decorated them for the event. Prizes are awarded to vehicle sponsors in various categories like Best Executed Theme, Scariest Trunk, Best Costumes and Most Original.
This year's vehicle sponsors include: From HCC: Education Department, Institutional Advancement, Admissions, Vet Tech, Psychology Club, Game Development Club, Students on the Autism Spectrum, Radio Club, Social Science division, Latino International Students Association, Latinx Studies, Student Engagement, Dance Club, Campus Police.
From the surrounding community: Holyoke Chicks with Sticks, Holyoke Public Schools, Descant Music and Art Studio, Dept. of Children and Families, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, King Ward Bus Lines, Learn in Motion, Westfield State SEAM.
More vehicle sponsors are welcome.
To sign up, please contact Sheila Gould at sgould@hcc.edu
Check out our Facebook photo gallery from last year's Trunk or Treat ...
Check out the story from our first event ...
And photos from the inaugural Trunk or Treat event in 2017 ...