Windham’s annual Trunk or Treat event promises spooky fun

By Masha Yurkevich

As the leaves change color and the weather gets cooler, preparations begin for a social and fun annual event for Windham: Trunk or Treat. This year, the event will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 in the parking lot behind the Windham Mall off Route 302.

This year Trunk or Treat in Windham will be from 5:30 to
8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 in thre parking lot located behind
the Windham Mall. Participants must register for the
free event at windhamrecreation.com
SUBMITTED PHOTO

“Since 1999 the Town of Windham put together an annual Halloween event for kids called ‘Halloween Adventure’,” says Kelsey Crowe, Deputy Director for the Windham Parks and Recreation Department in Windham. “This event continued until the first Trunk or Treat was created in 2016, and it was a great way to get more families, local businesses and organizations involved in the event as trunk hosts. As the event grew, we moved from Manchester School to Windham Middle School and by 2019 we outgrew Windham Middle School. We had to move the event to the parking lot behind the Windham Mall and each year the event grows, and we continue to add to it to make it fun and excited for the kids.”

As the Parks and Rec Deputy Director, Crowe is responsible for planning and organizing the larger community events for Windham like Trunk or Treat.

“Of course, our events would not be successful without the help of my director Linda Brooks, thee Parks and Recreation staff, local businesses and organizations and volunteers from the community,” she says.

Trunk or Treat has become a popular event nationwide, either as an alternative to or in addition to conventional trick-or-treating at neighborhood homes.

According to Crowe, for those who choose to host a trunk, they decorate and serve candy out of the trunk of their vehicles. For the businesses and community organizations that participate, it is a way to spotlight their mission and give back to their communities. For individual families it is often their way to give candy to trunk-or-treaters who might not otherwise visit them if their homes are in a rural setting, or they just want to have fun.

Crowe said the trunks are judged for creativity, originality and effort, and it is amazing to see what some of the trunks end up looking like. With the arrival of COVID-19 in 2020, they were forced to modify the event to be a Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat at the Windham Mall. Since then, the event has been growing and is guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind event this year.

The evening promises to be lots of fun and participants should expect an enjoyable, family-friendly event with lots of inflatables, spooky trunks and treats for everyone.

“This is a wonderful community event that brings so many different groups together to celebrate Halloween in a safe way,” Crowe said. “We do ask that participants pre-register so we have a better idea of how much candy the trunk hosts will need. Registration and information about the event can be found at https://windhamme.myrec.com/.”

This event is most certainly worth attending, she said.

“Personally, this is my favorite event of the year, not only because of all the lights, decorated trunks, inflatables and its fun for the whole family, but this event brings our community together,” says Crowe. “Local organizations and businesses decorate trucks and pass out candy, such as the Windham Police Department, Fire Rescue, Library, Summerfest, Drifters Snowmobile Club, Windham Raymond SACC, Girl Scouts of Maine, Lions Club, Varsity Cheerleading, Cumberland County Federal Credit Union, Maine Community Bank, and many more. It's a great way for these local business and organizations to connect with their local community members.”

Attendance for the event is free and all who want to be a part of the Trunk of Treat are asked to register at https://windhamme.myrec.com/.”<