Trunk or Treat set to be biggest yet

More than 30 trunks are participating in the city’s Halloween Trunk or Treat, making it the most the event has ever featured.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Kim Phillips, event committee member, said. “That means we’re getting people involved and I think that’s pretty necessary right now.”

Trunk or Treat, a community event sponsored by the City of Sidney, provides an area downtown for kids to safely trick or treat, Phillips said.

In its first year, the event attracted more than 2,000, and last year brought nearly 1,500 to Hickory Square.

Phillips anticipates treats will be available for as many as 1,000, but participants are prepared to receive more.

The event, in its fifth year, was started by then SPD Chief B.J. Wilkinson.

“He brought it in, thought it was a safe way for kids to treat or treat in our town and we just carry the tradition on.”

As in previous years, each participating vehicle has an assigned space.

“They’ll pull in, they’ll get their trunks ready and decorated, and when the kids start coming down they just go to each trunk and get their candy,” Phillips said.

Participants and their vehicles will be costumed, along with city employees, Phillips said. The event will continue a city theme this year celebrating Sidney’s 150th anniversary.

The city is pleased to continue a tradition that provides a safe, fun space for the community, Phillips said.

“We think it’s pretty awesome,” she said. “The last couple of years we’ve really gotten into it. We dress up and take pictures.”

It is important, Phillips said, for the community to have activities they can become involved in.

“Especially right now,” she said, “we need to get some continuity, and band together and make a safe place for the kids to trick or treat.”

SPD Chief Joe Aikens offered several tips for having a safe Halloween:

Be conscious of your surroundings; always wear costumes you have a full range of visibility with, that doesn’t obstruct your vision, so you can see traffic coming; wear light colored clothes; if you can attach a light to your outfits while walking, do so, it helps motorists keep track of where you’re at; young kids should go with an adult or responsible person; always wait until you get home to inspect your candy before you eat them so you can be sure they’re not damaged.

Aikens encourages the community to enjoy Halloween and applauds the success of Trunk or Treat.

“We have more and more kids show up on an annual basis. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” he said. “We invite the whole public to come out and join us in the celebration.”

On Tuesday, 10th Avenue will be blocked off at 7:30 a.m., and will remain closed through the day. Set-up will start at 3 p.m., and the event will begin at 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.