Trick-or-treat trail returns to Battle Ground

Trail seen as a safer environment for young Halloween revelers

Posted

Battle Ground Festivals will host a trick-or-treat trail on Oct. 29, which runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The trail begins at the Wilco shopping plaza and travels east on Main Street and ends at the Battle Ground Community Center.

Kendra Laratta, owner of Ink Ability in Battle Ground, wanted to run the event out of her love for the city.

“When we first came here and opened our business four and a half years ago, the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce used to be the ones running the trail on Main Street,” Laratta said. “I was involved with the chamber and I thought it was so great that businesses got to open their doors and pass out candy to the kids. I also loved how the businesses supported the community and the community came out to support the businesses.”

She also said the trail would serve as a safer environment for the kids than going out into the neighborhood and knocking on doors. Once the Chamber of Commerce stopped hosting the event and joined the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) in 2019, Laratta took the reins to keep the tradition alive since the GVCC only does business-to-business events. From there, the Battle Ground Festival Association became involved to lend a helping hand.

Laratta said the trick-or-treat trail was also started so Battle Ground could have more grand-scale events aside from the Harvest Day Festival which takes place every July.

Businesses that are not located along the trail on Main Street are still welcome to participate.



Those businesses should contact the Battle Ground Festival Association and a pop-up tent to hand out candy will be made available at the Wilco shopping center. Businesses can also bring a banner for branding purposes.

“One of the things you’ll find the longer you live here is that the people are absolutely fantastic,” Laratta said. “They’re very warm and welcoming, and everybody has a heart. People shop locally and do what they can to support the businesses in this community, and I really appreciate that.”

At the same time as the trick-or-treat trail, the Annual Halloween Fright Night will also take place. Battle Ground Communications Manager Bonnie Gilberti said parents can take their children and play games at the family-friendly event. Some of the games include finding bones in a hay bale and ball tossing. One notable activity is the cakewalk, where kids can win a cake as a prize.

Anyone who wants to participate in the trick-or-treat trail or needs more information can email battlegroundfestivals@gmail.com.