Written by Abby Kellett
Halloween, or as some refer to the holiday, “All Saints’ Eve,” will be celebrated on Harding’s campus this year by university students, faculty and local churches, but not in a traditional manner. This year, the Student Association and College Church of Christ have joined forces to throw children in Searcy a “Trunk or Treat” festival.
College Church sponsored the festival in the past, but because Harding’s homecoming falls on the same day as Halloween, the SA plans to incorporate the holiday celebration with homecoming festivities.
“We thought it would be a good idea for the SA to do it because alumni always bring their kids, but they typically don’t have anything to do,” Alumni Relations Chair Melissa Ritchie said. “It’s Halloween, so we wanted to be able to give the kids something to do while their parents are here visiting campus.”
The “Trunk or Treat” name is inspired from the original saying “Trick or Treat,” used when children dress in costumes and go through their neighborhoods asking for candy. Many parents, however, feel uncomfortable allowing their children to accept candy from strangers, and as a result many churches have started offering an alternative to Halloween “Trick or Treating.”
“[The festival] is called Trunk or Treat because you decorate your car trunk, and then everyone gets their cars together and passes out candy in one spot,” Ritchie said. “It’s a safe environment, and we’re actually incorporating College Church in with it and some of the other local churches so that the community can also have a safe place to go, and then the college kids can be involved with the community kids.”
The SA’s Trunk or Treat event will take place after the homecoming game between the Reynolds Communication building and the Ganus Athletic Center. The timing of Harding’s homecoming and the location of the festival may allow more opportunities to entertain and celebrate with alumni’s children, but it also limits the amount of volunteers.
“It’s been difficult getting people to say that they’ll come do it and, like, for sure having people’s names down,” Ritchie said. “Everyone is so busy. It’s right after pledge week and then homecoming, and there’s so much going on with homecoming already that it’s not easy having people say that they will commit and come do it.”
To help attract more volunteers, the SA is encouraging volunteers to get costumes, dress up and bring games and candy to help make the celebration even more enjoyable.
“We’re encouraging everyone to dress up to show the little kids that college students still have a lot of fun, and so they can see that the big kids still have a good time with Halloween,” Ritchie said.
The parking lot will be blocked off, and everyone is invited to bring a vehicle with trunk decorations and candy to distribute. For those just wanting to dress up and be a part of the Halloween celebration, the SA will provide tables located in the parking lot for volunteers to use. Helpers are still needed and welcome to participate in the holiday festivities.
“We’re trying to make it as fun as we can and enjoyable for everyone, not just the little kids, but the people working, too,” Ritchie said. “But the most important and the best part is knowing these kids are going to be able to come have fun, and the parents won’t have to worry about their kids not being safe.”
To participate or for more information, e-mail Melissa Ritchie atmritchie@harding.edu
