Trunk or treat event brings Halloween fun to Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Center

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The Ridgefield community came out in droves for some spooky, Halloween-themed fun on Saturday, Oct. 29, as Alyssa Curran Realty Group, the Ridgefield National Honor Society and parents hosted a trunk or treat party.

Trunks in the parking lot of the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex were decked out in a variety of decorations that featured Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat and a pinball machine that was made out of a picnic table that protruded from the back of a car.

Another trunk was modeled after the house featured in Disney’s movie “Encanto.”

“(It took us) about 10 hours,” McKaylee Childs, the car’s owner, said.  “I was very committed.”

Childs crafted the house out of cardboard, which utilized boxes from Amazon and Costco, and then painted it.

“I have four kids and my family does a family theme every year. And so I kind of usually go with whatever my pickiest child picks, and she picked Encanto, and everyone else kind of went with it,” she said.

Childs said Halloween is her family’s favorite holiday. They came to the trunk or treat event to see people they already knew and to meet new people along the way.

Although candy was the main item given out at the event, some people decorated their cars to educate the kids in attendance. Mitzi Stakar and Dave Wright came to the event in support of the Friends of Ridgefield Community Library. They gave away over 600 books to children who passed by, Stakar said.

“We like to support libraries, books and book readings, so we volunteer from time to time,” Wright said. “I’m just an occasional volunteer. Some of these folks really go, go, go at it. We like books, we like libraries and we want to encourage kids to read.”



Stakar noted families were receptive and excited about their display.

“The response has been great. The parents have been excited, the kids have been thrilled,” Stakar said, adding some kids were more excited about the books than the candy that was given out at other vehicles. 

Ridgefield’s Mayor Jennifer Lindsay attended the event as Thing 1 from The Cat in the Hat. Lindsay had a table, which covered her trunk and was surrounded by white and red balloons.

“This is my second time doing trunk or treat,” Lindsay said. “Last year was the first year that they did it and it’s just a great way for the community to come together. I just love being creative and doing fun stuff and I love being here.”

Last year’s event featured a lot of younger kids so that inspired Lindsay to sport her Cat in the Hat-themed costume this year. She wanted to take a fun approach, instead of going a scary route. 

Alyssa Curran, one of the organizers of the event, dressed as Mary Poppins. Curran was impressed by the many families who came out to partake in the festivities.

“I’m a local realtor, and we started this last year, and we decided it was such a success (that) people wanted it again, so we just decided to put it on again,” Curran said. “It was a great turnout and the whole city was involved. The fire department, the police department, the mayor was here.”

She said the National Honor Society helped with facepainting and other activities.

“I like that (the event) brings everybody together: teenagers, grownups, the city, the school. I mean, it just brings everybody together in a fun way,” she said.