Halloween is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a trunk or treat! This twist on trick-or-treating started as a safer alternative for families, where kids go from car to car collecting candy instead of door to door. These days, trunk or treat events have grown to include themed car decorations, games, and even inflatable slides and ball pits. A local martial arts studio and a local church both hosted their own twist on trunk-or-treat, which brought out Halloween spirit in a big way, complete with student volunteers, fun activities and community bonding.
The owner of Iron Fist Martial Arts, Patrick Tatevossian, went all-out for his studio’s first-ever trunk-or-treat event. “Usually, right before Halloween, we have the kids dress up in costumes on the mat. This year, I decided to do something bigger, something more fun, and here we are,” he said. Tatevossian, who started Iron Fist because he loves working with kids, shared, “The staff were all my students growing up. I always like doing events to bring the whole studio together like a family.” Though planning the large event had its challenges, Tatevossian explained, “I tend to go overboard on everything… I was here at night and came in at 12:30 noon today. We got down to the wire, but it paid off and it was fun.” He looks forward to expanding the event, saying, “We plan to go bigger next year.”
Gavin Kleinman, a West Ranch junior who volunteered at the Iron Fist Martial Arts event trunk-or-treat, has been a Halloween staple since childhood. “I’ve been attending here since I was young. I ended up volunteering as I grew older,” he said. Gavin described the event as “really fun” and full of activities worth recommending. When asked if he’d return next year, he said, “I would volunteer again if there was another opportunity. I wouldn’t change anything.”
At Bethlehem SCV Church, Pastor Joe Beran has made trunk-or-treating an annual tradition. “Our biggest event is to both help out the community and to point to the light of Halloween,” he shared. Pastor Beran explained how he loves the idea of Halloween going back to All Hallows’ Eve, giving families a chance to enjoy it meaningfully. Reflecting on the community’s excitement for this year’s event, he said, “It’s definitely grown over the years in terms of participation and people turning out.”
“Overall, I think more families just want something that they can take their kids to that’s a loving, safe place.” A unique feature of this year’s event? “Tesla reached out to us to bring a Cybertruck. It’s become such a big event that we’ve even got the community wanting to contribute,” Pastor Beran laughed.
Whether it’s the nostalgia for childhood traditions, the excitement of a new event or the joy of building community, these trunk-or-treat events are adding a whole new level of magic to Halloween. With tons of candy, fun activities and memorable decorations, they’re here to stay, lighting up Halloween for families across the community.
