Trunk or Treat returns to Myers Park this weekend

Put on your costume, grab your candy bag and join other Lansing residents at the annual Lansing Community Trunk or Treat, happening Oct. 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Myers Park. Loveta Geesey, one of the event’s organizers, said this year’s Trunk or Treat will look very similar to last year’s, only with a lot less worry over COVID-19.

Geesey lives in Lansing with her husband, Dowain Geesey, and their four children. Dowain is a pastor at Asbury Church, where Trunk or Treat started. The event was first held in 2017, organized by members of the church and other residents to create an experience that the whole community could enjoy.

“We are a small community, and so many different groups and clubs and organizations are putting a lot of effort and energy into doing something,” Loveta said. “So, our whole brainchild was, ‘why don’t we make it so that everybody’s energy is working together? And then, that way, people have a really big event that no one group could do on their own, but then we can do this collaboration.’ And that’s kind of what it’s turned into. It’s a very huge event, but it’s only so big because so many people are working together to make it happen.”

Last year, as covered in Tompkins Weekly’s 2020 Halloween article (t.ly/94YQ), organizers were unsure if they’d be able to hold the event at all with COVID-19 concerns still high. But with hard work and a lot of collaboration, organizers managed to make it happen, albeit with many changes for safety. And the response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive.

“It was really great, actually,” Loveta said. “There was a lot of uncertainty because we’re in this new COVID place. And so, we wanted to make sure that people could feel safe, that they could have a fun time, and trying to take the uncertainty out of it. And we made it a different location, so there was a lot of space.”

Roughly 600 people attended last year’s Trunk or Treat, but thanks to the spread-out setup, it didn’t feel crowded, Loveta said. With fewer concerns regarding COVID-19 this year, organizers have opened more time slots and are expecting a significant increase in attendance.

While last year’s Trunk or Treat looked very different from 2019’s, including moving the event to Myers Park, requiring registration and putting attendees into certain time slots, this year’s is set to look similar to 2020’s. Loveta said that many of the changes made due to the pandemic turned out to be good ideas that they could apply to future events.

“Registering was one of those things where we’re like, ‘Wow, this was a good idea going forward, because it’s spread out the crowds,’” she said. “In the first four years, people can tell you that sometimes they’d get there and there would just be a huge line because 200 other people decided that was the time to come.”

Though much of the routine will be kept the same as last year, Loveta said that there is “relaxing of the shoulders a little bit” thanks to high vaccination rates and the experience from 2020.

“We know how to do this,” she said. “We know how to do this well. And we can do it confidently. Last year was a lot of, ‘OK, well, if we do this, and if we do this, and then jump through this hoop and make sure this is OK.’ And this year, it’s like, ‘OK, we know how to navigate this.’ And there’s a confidence that comes in being able to do something well and know that it’s appreciated because people were really appreciative last year of us being able to do a quality event.”

And residents certainly are looking forward to it, as the time slots organizers first made available filled up quickly, and more time slots had to be added.

Trunk or Treat is more than just handing out candy, Loveta said. Attendees this year can also look forward to a trunk decoration contest and a pumpkin carving contest. Loveta said that anyone hoping to submit their carved pumpkin for the contest should drop off their pumpkin, already carved, at Asbury Church or Lansing Parks and Recreation in the days leading up to Halloween.

The official deadline to register a trunk for Trunk or Treat has already passed, but Loveta said that any readers interested in adding their trunk to the line-up still have a chance to join.

“If you read this article, and you’re like, ‘oh, my goodness, it’s been my lifelong dream to put trunk for trunk or treat,’ I set the map up on the 28th and let all the trunks know where they’re going to be stationed, so you have 24 hours to get ahold of me,” she said. “If you really, really, really want to, we’re not going to tell you no.”

Trunk or Treat is undoubtedly a big community event, and Loveta said that the credit for making all of it run smoothly really goes out to all the volunteers.

“I cannot brag on our community enough because I get to be the spearhead, but it’s not me that makes it happen; it is the volunteers,” she said. “It is the people that are like, ‘Yes, I would love to spend two hours handing out candy to kids. Yes, I would love to design an awesome trunk.’ We do prizes and awards for the favorite trunks, but they just give because they enjoy doing something for the community. And they’re amazing. … I feel so privileged to be able to work with these people who are doing amazing things.”

In that spirit, Loveta encourages others to volunteer as well, whether it be for Trunk or Treat or other efforts in their community.

“For those of you reading this that are in communities where you volunteer, thank you, because most of what happens in communities is from those volunteers,” she said. “And if you have thought about volunteering and helping out with organizations within your community, do it, because we’re a really fun group of people. And we enjoy being able to work together. And I cannot say enough that the people that I get to work with on this event are the heroes of our community, and I am so appreciative for it.”

Those interested in attending the Lansing Community Trunk or Treat can register for a time slot for free at lansingrec.recdesk.com/Community/Program. For more information about the event, visit facebook.com/lansingcommunitytrunkortreat.

In Brief:

Haunted Trail

Join Scouting Troops 39 and 48 for a spooky trail walk Oct. 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The trail starts at the Lansing Town Hall, 29 Auburn Rd. Entry is free, though donations are appreciated. Masks are required for entry.