Leaves on trees change from green to shades of orange or brown and begin to fall, the weather begins to get colder, days get shorter, and the evening of Oct. 31, 2024, draws closer. Children of all ages prepare for a night of trick-or-treating excitement. Dressing up in a variety of costumes and going door-to-door to receive candy with family or friends is a core memory for a lot of children. Unfortunately, there are many families who live in a neighborhood where trick-or-treating is not the safest event to take part in. With these families in mind, Viterbo University’s Education Club is putting on their annual safe trick-or-treat event on Oct. 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to provide a safe space for all children to enjoy Halloween.
Lindsay Koza, the president of the Education Club, is in charge of organizing and overseeing the safe trick-or-treat event to make sure everything runs smoothly. She says, “[W]e target all kids who want to come trick or treat, play games, and just enjoy Halloween fun overall. Even though we target it as a safe trick-or-treat, there are crafts, outdoor games, music, and other goodies, so its like a big party. If we get really technical, I suppose elementary-age kiddos are the intended audience, but really anyone who wants to come is welcome.”
Koza describes how the event will have cardboard doors that are decorated with themes for Halloween. Children who attend the event can walk around to these decorated doors and receive candy from the Education Club members and other volunteers standing next to them. They will have designated allergy-friendly candy buckets, so that all participants can enjoy trick-or-treating in the daylight. Alongside trick-or-treating, children can enjoy a variety of games, such as yard bowling. There will also be music, some craft activities, and treats available for the families to enjoy. Everything will be age-appropriate, and parents can bring their children to the event and let them enjoy Halloween while not having to worry about their safety.
Anyone who would like to enjoy a Halloween trick-or-treat party put on by the Education Club is welcome to attend. The safe trick-or-treat event will take place on Oct. 26, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the Assissi Courtyard on Viterbo University’s campus. In case of rain or other weather that may affect an outdoor event, it will be moved into the Mathy Center.