Little ghouls, ghosts, witches and goblins will have plenty of opportunities for Halloween fun this month in Jefferson County.
Numerous organizations and businesses will hold free trunk-or-treat events throughout the county, each one offering children a one-stop chance to collect candy and take part in other fun activities.
Arnold chamber
The Arnold Chamber of Commerce will hold a Trunk or Treat from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in the Fox Elementary School parking lot, 739 Jeffco Blvd.
The event is free, but the Arnold Food Pantry truck will accept donations of nonperishable food items to benefit the Arnold Food Pantry.
“This is our second year of collecting donated items, and people may also donate money to the Food Pantry,” chamber executive director Stephanie Engle said.
At the event, chamber members will decorate their vehicles or reserved spaces and hand out treats to children.
As of Oct. 4, about 20 trunk-or-treat spots had been reserved, said Engle, who hopes to see at least 30 spaces filled for the event.
A trophy will be awarded to the best-decorated space. Rock Township won the prize last year.
In addition, a DJ will play music near the parking lot exit, and representatives from the Arnold Police Department, Rock Community Fire Protection District and Rock Township Ambulance District are scheduled to be at the event.
Engle said those who want to reserve a trunk-or-treat spot may contact the chamber at 636-296-1910 or by email at director@arnoldchamber.org.
First Baptist Church of Arnold
The First Baptist Church of Arnold, 2012 Missouri State Road, will hold its free trunk-or-treat event from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29.
Amber Hempen, the church’s communications director, said she hopes to have up to 30 spots reserved to people who will hand out treats.
“It is a great place for families to come dressed up in their costumes and get lots of free candy,” she said. “It is just a great time.”
Along with trunk-or-treat activities, the event will include performances by the Kinetic Tapestry Barnstormers Youth Circus Troupe, as well as inflatables and food trucks.
“We had the circus troupe last year,” Hempen said. “It is youth performers who ride unicycles, juggle and walk around on stilts. They do really cool performances.
“We will have three inflatables for various age levels.”
For more information, go to fbcarnold.org or call 636-296-7729.
Jefferson County 911
Jefferson County 911 Dispatch’s annual trunk or treat is moving this year from the dispatch’s parking lot to Northwest High School, 6005 Cedar Hill Road, in Cedar Hill. The event is scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, on the school’s upper parking lot.
Kara Lewis, dispatch accreditation and public relations manager, said record crowds at last year’s trunk or treat had her looking for a bigger venue. “We had 500 kids last year,” she said. “We were able to invite a lot more departments and first-responder partners this year.”
Lewis said representatives from local fire and ambulance districts and police departments will be on hand, and many of the agencies will have vehicles or other apparatus at the event.
The Yo Dawg and Salty Medics Kitchen food trucks will be at the event, selling food at the event. For more information, call 636-797-9797.
Big River VFW Post #5331
The Big River VFW in Cedar Hill will hold a full day of Halloween festivities on Saturday, Oct. 28. The last farmers market of the season will be held that day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A fall festival will be held from 2-4 p.m., with games and prizes. Then, a trunk or treat is set from 4-8 p.m. First- and second-place trophies will be awarded for the best trunk-or-treat designs.
Salty Medics food truck will be at the VFW from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 636-274-5001.
Jefferson College
Jefferson College will hold a trunk-or-treat event from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, on the blue parking lot at its main campus, 1000 Viking Drive, in Hillsboro.
The event will offer free candy, games, prizes and the Animals R Us Petting Zoo. Only college-approved trunks are allowed at the event.
Several food trucks selling their wares also will be there. For more information, go to jeffco.edu or the Jefferson College page on Facebook.
Jeffco Shop With a Cop
Jeffco Shop With a Cop will hold its trunk-or-treat event from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Hillsboro Community Civic Club and Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Business 21.
At the event, trick-or-treaters will receive free candy, but it also will serve as a fundraiser for Jeffco Shop With a Cop, an organization that offers children in need the chance to shop for Christmas presents.
Local fire, police, ambulance and 911 representatives will be at the event and will decorate vehicles with a game show theme. Attendees pay to vote for the best-decorated vehicle.
“It’s $1 a vote,” said Festus Detective Sgt. Jessica Griffaw, the organization’s president. “The winning apparatus gets a plaque. Also, Autumn Ridge (Residences, Herculaneum) will give out free cotton candy.”
For more information or to donate to Jeffco Shop With a Cop, go to the Jeffco Shop With a Cop Facebook page or call Griffaw at the Festus Police Department at 636-937-3646.
Twin City Little League
The Twin City Little League will hold its fourth annual trunk-or-treat event from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at its complex, 155 Little League Drive, in Crystal City.
Free candy will be given to trick-or-treaters, and there will be a kid’s costume contest. The contest is open to those 13 and younger. A best-decorated trunk contest also will be held.
For more information, go to the Twin City Little League page on Facebook.
Zion Lutheran Church/Pevely
Zion Lutheran Church and Cub Scout Pack 467 will host a Halloween party and chili cook-off from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at the church, 310 Central St., in Pevely, with trunk or treat, pumpkin painting, bobbing for doughnuts and other games. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. For more information, go to the Zion Lutheran Church in Pevely page on Facebook.