Park Ridge kids got in on the candy-grab a week ahead of Halloween with the city’s Walk Thru Trunk or Treat Friday in the Centennial Fitness Center parking lot.
The event featured vehicle trunks filled with candy for the kids, and coupons and brochures for the adults, sponsored by dozens of area businesses. The children were decked out in their Halloween costumes.
The event is a holdover from the pandemic, when the Park District organized trick-or-treating as a drive-through to keep families safe from possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Meghan O’Neill, the Park District’s youth and special events supervisor, said going trunk-to-trunk instead of door-to-door has been popular since its inception, and that popularity has kept the recent tradition alive.
She estimated the event this year, which required a ticket to participate, drew about people and 30 host businesses.
“The businesses are able to interface with the participants and the kids are able to play games,” she said.
The event kicked off Friday evening at sunset. The clear skies and the crisp fall temperatures made for perfect Halloween weather.
“It’s a nice community event,” O’Neill said. “It’s a perfect fall night for doing this.”
The attendees agreed. Spread across half the parking lot, people wandered in small packs, some with neighbors, others with family members. In one corner, by the hearse the Kiwanis sponsored because one of its members owns a funeral home, kids played cornhole and other games.
John Yee attended with his wife and young children.
“We have someone who’s now of age,” said Yee, pointing to his son, Sebastian. “We wanted to take it all in.”
Yee said his family recently moved to the area, so they were excited to get involved in small-town offerings.
“We wanted to take advantage of everything,” he said.
Business owners seemed happy to set out the welcome mat. The Harp and Fiddle restaurant’s vehicle included a skeleton in the sunroof, either escaping or just having a good time. Jerry Kowalczyk, general manager of the restaurant, sat nearby handing out treats — candy for the kids, a drink ticket for parents.
“Tell your mom this will help her sleep better,” he joked with a kid.
He said the restaurant has been participating for years.
“It’s a good community event,” he said. “We get a chance to meet customers and newcomers.”
Business representatives praised the wholesome vibe of the event, and the chance to cut loose a little bit and get silly.
“This is our second year,” said Sarina Farrell, manager of operations at Northwind Exteriors roofing company. “It’s nice seeing familiar faces.”
Farrell said her business has been in the community for years, so quite a few families have had their homes remodeled by Northwind Exteriors. But for Halloween, it was more fun than work. Though the company used a work truck, a couple of skeletons rode the ladders up top.
“Our summer interns,” Farrell said, jokingly.
Halloween came early in Park Ridge as kids in costumes snagged candy from local business owners’ open trunks
