Trunk or Treat a treat for all

Well over 1,000 trick-or-treaters gathered in the parking lot of the Kahnawake Sports Complex on Saturday for the fifth annual Trunk or Treat, raising nearly $2,000 for the community food basket.

The event featured decorated vehicles, food trucks, games, and activities for all ages, hosted by local businesses, organizations, and community members.

“Today was a bit chaotic getting everybody in place, but it worked out perfectly, and I think everyone is happy with how it turned out,” said Trudy Jacobs, one of the event’s organizers. 

She explained that she and her co-facilitator, Noreen Montour, were inspired to start the event because they seldom receive trick-or-treaters where they live. 

"We started on a small scale, and it has evolved into this humongous event for the community,” said Jacobs. “I’m flabbergasted by the number of people who have come out to enjoy the day. It’s amazing.”

In an effort to make the event more accessible, organizers introduced an "inclusion hour" last year. The initiative aims to create a quieter, more comfortable environment for individuals with special needs and sensory sensitivities, who may find large crowds and loud noises overwhelming.

From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., the music was lowered, and the number of attendees reduced, allowing those with sensory issues to participate without the usual hustle and bustle.

“It makes the experience a little less anxiety-ridden for them. We want everyone to enjoy it, so giving them that space was a plus for us, and we thank Connecting Horizons for bringing that to our attention,” said Jacobs.

Another popular feature of the event was the "Fear Factor" table, managed by Rebecca D’Amico, Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services' manager of prevention services. The table offered family-friendly challenges designed to test the senses, with participants braving four categories – smell, feel, taste, and dare, with items like simulated zombie guts, faux boogers, and mock fish eggs. 

“It’s my first time participating in Trunk or Treat,” said D’Amico. “I really just want to thank the community members and organizations that participated in this. That’s what makes these events so great – the participation from the community. We couldn’t do this without everybody’s help.”

Participants were encouraged to sign up and decorate their vehicles in one of two categories: scariest or cutest/funniest.

“It takes a long time to collect everything and set it all up,” said Patricia Barnes, a regular participant who enlisted the help of her three grandchildren in preparing their trunk.

Their trunk was transformed into the “Dead and Breakfast Inn,” complete with a tent for participants to walk through. It was decorated with a variety of Halloween items, including skeletons of various creatures, a caged raven, and a zombie doll.

A sign at the entrance read, “Check in anytime, check out never.”

The family went on to win the prize for scariest trunk.

“I like to get the kids involved, so that maybe in the future they’ll continue to do this,” said Barnes.

[email protected]