ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The spooky season is officially upon the area, and later this month, the Liberal Recreation Department will have an opportunity for some early Halloween fun.
This year's Trunk or Treat and Costume Contest will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 at the Liberal Recreation Center at 950 S. Grant Ave. As coordinator Claudia Garcia tells it, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the festivities.
“This is one of our biggest and most anticipated Halloween events of the year. Families can come out to enjoy decorated trunks, collect treats, show off their costumes, and enjoy a fun, safe Halloween experience together,” Garcia said. “Last year's turnout was more than 1,000 people, which really shows just how much the community has embraced this event. We were extremely pleased with the turnout and the support from our community, businesses, organizations, and families who helped make the night such a success. Seeing so many families come through, dressed up and enjoying themselves, is exactly why we continue to put so much effort into this event. It also gives us a foundation to build on each year. With the past turnout, we know people look forward to it, and we're excited to make this year's event another great experience.”
Garcia said Halloween’s natural fun makes for extra fun for the staff in coordinating the festivities, and she said she hopes to see large turnout for this year.
“Halloween is such a fun time of year, and Trunk or Treat gives us the opportunity to bring the entire community together,” Garcia said. “We're especially excited to see the creative trunk decorations and costumes this year. Every year, people come up with something new and fun, and we're hoping to see even more businesses, organizations, families, and individuals get involved. If you're looking for a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween, Trunk or Treat is the place to be. Bring the kids in their favorite costumes, bring your family and friends, and get ready for an evening filled with candy, creativity and Halloween fun.”
Garcia added she hopes to also see a lot of cars decorated for this year.
“We would love to see even more businesses, organizations, families and community members participate this year!” Garcia said. “Having decorated trunks is what makes Trunk or Treat so special. It's an opportunity to be creative, represent your business or organization, and create something that kids will remember. Anyone interested in participating can contact me at (620) 417-8150 or email me at
And for those who do want to participate with a decorated trunk, Garcia added it would be wise to sign up sooner rather than later.
“With more than 1,000 people expected, this is a great opportunity for businesses and organizations to get their name out in front of a large crowd while being part of a fun community event,” Garcia said. “The sooner you sign up, the better you can plan your theme, decorations, candy and activities. We want to give everyone plenty of time to come up with something creative and make their trunk one of the attractions of the night!”
Garcia said seeing the families at the event is the best part for her and her staff.
“As Recreation Department staff, we spend a lot of time planning and preparing for events, but seeing families arrive, seeing kids get excited about the decorations and costumes, and watching everyone enjoy themselves makes all the work worth it,” Garcia said. “We also love seeing the creativity from our participants. Every year we're amazed by the effort people put into their trunks and costumes. It's more than just handing out candy – it's an opportunity for our department to connect with the community and create memories for local families. Our biggest expectation is another great community turnout. Based on previous years, we expect more than 1,000 people again. We expect lots of families, children in costumes, creative trunks, plenty of candy and a fun Halloween atmosphere. We also encourage everyone to be patient and courteous because an event of this size can get busy. Our staff will work to keep things organized and safe so everyone can have a positive experience.”
With the event only a few weeks away, Garcia said she and her staff will definitely be hyping the festivities up as much as possible in order to have a successful evening.
“We'll use social media, flyers, community outreach and word-of-mouth to get the information out. We'll continue sharing reminders leading up to the event and encouraging local businesses, organizations and community members to participate,” Garcia said. “The Liberal Recreation Department's Web site also directs residents to its event listings and social media for the latest activities and announcements. We also rely on the community to help spread the word. If you see our Trunk or Treat information online, share it with your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors! This event truly belongs to the community. The Recreation Department can organize the event, but the businesses, organizations, families, volunteers and community members make Trunk or Treat what it is. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who participates, decorates a trunk, brings their family or simply comes out to enjoy the evening.”
