Halloween gathering draws 500 to Tuttle Creek State Park
Tuttle Creek event continues growing popularity of trunk-or-treat tradition
MANHATTAN, Kan. — More than 500 people are expected to attend the Tuttle Creek Friends Trunk or Treat event Saturday, the latest participation in a Halloween tradition that has grown increasingly popular across the United States over the past three decades.
The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at River Pond area of Tuttle Creek State Park. Participants will collect candy from decorated vehicle trunks and compete in a "Top 3 Best Decorated Campsite Contest," according to organizers. Children and adults are encouraged to wear costumes.
Trunk-or-treating began in the 1990s as churches sought to offer a family-friendly alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. Early mentions of the practice date to 1994, when the Hilldale Baptist Church in Center Point, Alabama, hosted an event featuring games, a ball pit and prize bicycles, according to NPR.
The tradition was created as a safer alternative to trick-or-treating, avoiding street crime and traffic dangers associated with door-to-door candy collecting. The practice also addresses challenges in car-centric suburban communities where houses are far apart and sidewalk access is limited.
What began as a church-sponsored activity has since expanded beyond religious organizations, with cities and community groups now sponsoring trunk-or-treat events.