Trunk or treat offers safe way to get candy, and serve the community

There’s more than one way to go trick-or-treating. Many local churches have adopted Trunk or Treats at Halloween time as a way for children to be able to dress up in their costumes, have fun and go on the hunt for candy without necessarily going door-to-door.

Aversboro Road Baptist Church is one of those churches that offers a Halloween alternative on Oct. 31 with its annual Trunk or Treat Harvest Festival.

“We wanted to provide them a place to come that is a safe environment and everything is all-inclusive,” said Jacob Sinclar, a church volunteer. “You don’t have to go around the neighborhood if you don’t want to.”

Trunk or Treats are centered around decorated vehicles with their trucks or tailgates open and candy available for youngsters who wander from trunk to trunk. Volunteers put together an average of 30 trunks for the event at Aversboro Road, and their creativity shines.

“Each trunk has a theme, and we try to have them let us know their themes so there is something different about each one,” Sinclair said.

Previous themes have included an all-N.C.State trunk with sports memorabilia, a pirate ship, Sesame Street, Star Wars, leprechauns and even a disco trunk with fog and lights. What you won’t find is a trunk with a gory theme.

“It is a happier feel,” Sinclair said. “We don’t try to do anything scary. Everything is kid-oriented and friendly. Everything has fun and happy twist.”

In addition to going from trunk to trunk, the free festival offers inflatables, games, an illusionist, live music and hot dogs and popcorn. Children and adults are all encouraged to come in costume. The activities go from 6 to 8 p.m. on Halloween night. Participants are welcome to arrive and leave at anytime.

The volunteers at Aversboro Road Baptist Church say they expect that 800 to 1,000 people will stop by. They like it this waybecause they consider their Halloween party a significant outreach to the community.

“We want to provide this opportunity for our church members but mainly for the community,” Sinclair said. “It’s a way for us to reach out to the community so they can see what our church is about and eventually see what Christ is about.”

This story was originally published October 27, 2017 at 2:32 PM with the headline "Trunk or treat offers safe way to get candy, and serve the community."