Kids, parents and community members of various ages participated in a Halloween themed evening at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church’s third annual Trunk or Treat. From 6 – 8 p.m. little Elsas, Supermans and Marios could be found wondering the parking lot of St. Luke’s. Gabby Mosier, winner of the sixth through eighth grade costume contest, was excited for the event.
“I got first place overall for my age group,” Mosier said. “My competition was a boy dressed as a character from Minecraft.”
Mosier was dressed head to toe in a red and blue Supergirl outfit, complete with a red tutu.
“It was a fun contest,” Mosier said. “I won a $5 gift card to Wal-Mart.”
In addition to the costume contest, everyone could win prizes playing various games. Inside the church, the kids and adults played beanbag toss and mini-golf to win prizes. These prizes ranged from candy and fruit snacks to balloons, glow sticks and mini Frisbees.
Outside, attendees played more games and walked from trunk-to-trunk gathering candies and treats. Big Poppi Bicycle Company brought their Spooky Bus as another form of entertainment for kids.
“It is a miniature bus decorated with webs and spiders and a fog machine,” Melanie Apel, buyer at Big Poppi’s, said. “We want something that most kids would want to do but still keeps in season with the spirit of Halloween.”
The Spooky Bus was surrounded with shrieks and giggles filling the air. Over the sounds of kids at play, the popular Frozen song, “Let It Go,” could be heard from one trunk. Gretchen Hendrickson, director of music at St. Luke’s, has been attending St. Luke’s church since third grade and was delighted to participate in Trunk or Treat.
“This is my second year at Trunk or Treat,” Hendrickson said. “My trunk theme is Frozen because it was something I knew the kids would recognize.”
Hendrickson was decked out in a sparkling blue dress complete with Elsa’s signature braided hairstyle and an “ice” puddle of blue tool under her feet.
A few spots down from Hendrickson, Beta Theta Pi freshmen, Jonathan Granstaff, Samuel Ehmke and Trenton Kennedy were hosting a trunk of their own.
“This is the first year that Beta house has done it,” Granstaff said. “St. Luke’s is nice to let us use their parking.”
Ehmke also said that it is a form of gratitude.
“It’s what we could do to show our thanks,” Ehmke said.
Charity Olson, director of Christian education at St. Luke’s, said the purpose for the event was for the community to come together for a night of fun.
“It is a time for our members to gather and socialize outside of our normal church activities,” Olson said. “Every age group from our church dresses up. (It) turns into something that is fun and out of the norm for our members.”
More than just being an event for St. Luke’s members, the Trunk or Treat is a family friendly event open to all community members.
“The goal is to get people to come to the church in a not so intimidating family atmosphere,” Olson said. “Hopefully while they are here on our campus they will get to see our facilities and come away with a positive outlook on our church.”
