ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
Halloween is drawing nigh, and many agencies, businesses, organizations and churches provide some pre-Halloween fun for the young and young at heart.
For many years, Seward County United Way has hosted its annual Trick or Treat event, with some editions of the event taking place at Liberal’s Light Park, but with weather always an unknown factor in late October, a few years ago, the decision was made to move the event inside.
This year’s Trick or Treat for United Way will take place at Crosspoint Church at 204 N. Sherman Ave. in Liberal, a location the event has been at for a few years. Children, as well as some adults, can collect candy from the booths at the event from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, for the price of $1 per child.
SCUW Director Diana Esparza said the Trick or Treat event is particularly fun because of its ease of planning.
“There are many who come to it – just different businesses, agencies, organizations that come together to give out candy, decorate, dress up and be able to have these children get a safe and warm place for them to get candy for Halloween,” she said.
Esparza said many parents do not feel comfortable with the walking in the dark and the cold weather that often comes with traditional trick or treating, and this is part of what makes United Way’s event a good alternative.
“Usually, once it’s dark, it gets cold,” she said. “Honestly, I feel there are not as many people who give out candy, but there are a lot of events like this.”
Instead, Esparza said parents feel safer bringing their children to an event such as United Way’s, and it also helps knowing who is providing the candy.
“It is safer and more comfortable for parents to do so,” she said. “Since our event is indoors, they can show off their whole costume without a big coat covering it. We do have photo booths as well. They can get a good picture there. There’s games and activities. It has a lot of stuff and activities they could do as opposed to walking around in the cold.”
Likewise, Esparza said it is important for parents and children to have a safe, fun alternative for Halloween.
“We want to make sure parents feel comfortable, children feel comfortable, and for our event being indoors, we think it’s important for them to be warm and show off that costume, especially some parents make a big expense of them too,” she said.
With costumes being expensive, Esparza said SCUW officials want to help children show off their outfits.
“It’s so important to make sure everybody’s comfortable with everybody and they have fun,” she said.
For more information about Trick or Treat for United Way or to register as a vendor, call the SCUW office at 620-624-5400, e-mail
“We do have quite a few businesses and agencies already signed up,” Esparza said. “If you want to sign up, it is free. There’s no charge for a booth. You just have to let me know so I can put you down. They can call us, e-mail us, message us if they have any questions about it.”
Esparza said she is always excited for an event like Trick or Treat for United Way.
“It is a fun event,” she said. “I love seeing the children come in with their costumes, and even adults dress up with a whole family theme. It is super excited how creative and how involved children and families are, so I’m always super excited for this event.”
