COVID-19 won’t stop Halloween, according to Hillsdale Business Association President Ken Joswiak. This year, several Hillsdale organizations are teaming up to host a trunk or treat on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 2-5 p.m. at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds.
“It’s going to be a drive-thru trunk or treat so the vehicles will be set up and the parents will be able to drive their kids through so nobody has to get out of their cars,” Joswiak said. “We are still encouraging kids to dress up, and obviously, any of the vehicles that are coming we encourage them to decorate.”
People can register their cars to participate through the Hillsdale Business Association Facebook page now through Oct. 30. All candy that will be passed out must be store-bought and individually wrapped.
The HBA is hosting this event along with the Hillsdale Media Group, the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds, and the Hillsdale Township Fire Department. Joswiak said the fire department has traditionally hosted the trunk or treat, but wasn’t able to do so this year due to COVID-19.
“The fire department usually does this on their property, but this year because of COVID-19 from a liability standpoint, they weren’t allowed to do an event on township property,” Joswiak said. “We wanted to find a way to do it regardless.”
With the Fair Food Drive-Thru earlier in October, Joswiak is certain there won’t be any issues with hosting a drive-thru trunk or treat.
“Halloween was always one of my favorites growing up as a kid, and kids need to have something normal this year,” he said. “We wanted to be sure to do something that won’t get canceled.”
In years past, when the Hillsdale Township Fire Department hosted its trunk or treat, Joswiak said as many as one or two thousand people would come through, and they are expecting to see about as many people this year.
Closer to campus, the Hillsdale College Student Athlete Advisory Committee is hosting a trunk or treat as well. SAAC is encouraging sports teams, sororities, fraternities, dorms, and any other club on campus to bring a trunk or two to the south parking lot by the Sports Complex on Oct. 31 from 3 to 5 p.m. to pass out candy to kids in the community.
There will also be a fundraising component to the event, as the Chargers are raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Every year Hillsdale athletics has a goal to raise $800 for the organization, so there will be donation boxes on the tables at the entrance and exit of the parking lot for people to bring spare change.
“We are super excited to offer a fun event to children in the Hillsdale community while also supporting a great cause. Since Halloween will look a little different this year, and the college dorms aren’t able to offer trick or treating to the kids, we are introducing outdoor trunk-or-treating,” SAAC president Elli Formentin said. “It is our hope that this opportunity will bring the campus and the community together while raising money for Make-a-Wish.”
The members of SAAC are looking for 30 or more trunks to participate, and registration will be open through the week leading up to the event. Decorating the trunk is not required, but it is encouraged.
Traditional, door-to-door trick-or-treating will still be happening in the city of Hillsdale as well.
“Our suggested time is from 6 to 8 p.m. on October 31,” Katy Price, city clerk, said. “We just ask people to be precautious.”
While much remains uncertain, the Hillsdale community can still expect a sweet Halloween with these new trunk-or-treats, in addition to traditional trick-or-treating.