Pop music played in the background as people walked around the school parking lot on the evening of Oct. 27, chatting with friends and exploring the cars, all decorated with different Halloween themes. Dozens of children came and went, running from car to car and filling up bags of candy, as they showed off their angel, mermaid and superhero costumes to friends and parents.

Trunk or Treat is an annual event that occurs the weekend before Halloween, and it consists of students and staff members decorating their cars and handing out candy. The event was first established in  2018 to provide a safer trick-or-treating opportunity for kids. 

“It’s a great way to do something that’s free for [the kids in the community], and they can come and celebrate Halloween, which brings the community together,” College & Career Center (CCC) adviser Brad Ward said.

This year, around eight cars participated, all decorated in different kinds of ways. A few notable ones this year were Ward’s camping theme — featuring Pennywise in a tent — as well as the senior class office’s Ratatouille theme. Many cars were additionally decorated with classic Halloween symbols such as spiders, cobwebs and ghosts.

This year was junior Rylee Stanton’s first time participating in the Trunk or Treat tradition.

“I like seeing all the creative ideas people have for their cars,” Stanton said. “I like what the senior class office did. They’re Ratatouille and the rats, and the cars are the kitchen and the sewer.”

Trunk or Treat commission head junior Emerson Pak said that while Trunk or Treat has been a tradition for many years now, the commission has considered replacing it with something else in future years — such as a haunted house event — as they believe it could interest students more.

“I think it’s good to have something as a community because we’re trying to get more involved and involve all types of ages,” Pak said.