By Chris Spangler and Kim McDarison
Trick-or-treaters and their families arrived Monday at Jones Park, Fort Atkinson, to participate in “Trunk or Treat,” an annual event that saw record crowds this year, according to event organizers.
Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club President Greg Klug said that he believed this year marked the third time the event has been held in Fort Atkinson, and it was the first time the event was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.
Sizing up crowds, he said, “We don’t have an exact number of attendees for this event, but the repeat participants said it was the most attendees ever and in the thousands.”
Klug described the turnout as “amazing,” adding, “everybody ran out of candy.”
Additionally, Klug and fellow Kiwanis Club member Tim Weidenfeller were able to report that 40 registered participants, including individuals, businesses, service organizations, and public services, set up booths and stations to provide treats and prizes to attendees.
Recounting some history, Klug said the event was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the previous organizer approached the club to see if it might like to continue as the event’s organizer, he said, noting that events held in prior years were organized by an individual. The hope was that a club could offer the event more support.
Klug said the event, which operates to provide a safe space in which children can trick-or-treat, is in keeping with the Kiwanis Club’s mission, saying “to provide a sale event is right up our alley.” The Kiwanis Club board voted last year to take the event on, he said, adding, “Our plan is to make this a Kiwanis event moving forward.”
He added that the Kiwanis Club will continue to provide the event with approval from the city each year.
Annual approvals are required to allow the event to be held on city-owned property, he said.
Klug noted that the event is free to everyone; there is no fee to participate as a booth or station, and there is no cost to the event-goers.
“The goal of Trunk or Treat is to provide a safe and enjoyable event for participants, children and families to come together. There were no fees for participants and Kiwanis did not have fundraising in mind for this event. We just wanted to have some fun with our wonderful participants and the amazing Fort Atkinson community,” Klug said.
According to information about the club presented on its Facebook page, “Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.”
The Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club meets the first and third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. To learn more, visit or contact the club through Facebook.
According to national news accounts, Trunk or Treat events are a growing trend used to promote a safe holiday environment. The concept provides an option for candy distribution that is similar to tailgating, with participants offering candy to trick-or-treaters from the trunks of their cars.
The concept is designed to offer such activities in a confined area away from traffic, while offering a more traditional opportunity for an after-dark experience.
A story produced by National Public Radio (NPR) in 2013, suggests that the concept was begun in the 1990s as a trick-or-treating alternative by church organizations who found “discomfort” is some Halloween themes.
A link to the NPR story is here: https://www.npr.org/2013/10/31/241642597/a-new-way-to-do-halloween-chocolate-chunks-in-the-trunk.
Following are photos from Monday night’s event.
Attendees observe the work of Landon Stachel, not pictured, who, with help from his grandfather, is the creator of a “haunted laboratory.” The candy-distribution station featured lights, fog and moving exhibits.
Mary Stachel, at center, hands out candy to trunk-or-treaters.
Members of the nonprofit organization Heart of the City hand out candy and literature outlining “No Mow May,” an annual pollinator program, and other activities sponsored by the community organization.
Members of the Fort Atkinson High School FFA distribute treats to youngsters.
A truck, found at a booth sponsored by Blodgett Garden Center, provides event-goers with a full array of “treat” choices.
Bennett Walling, Fort Atkinson, presents his costume: a mouse in a trap.
Adorned with colorful balloons, Fort HealthCare’s booth carries a “Candyland” theme.
Trunk-or-treaters line up for candy at one of 40 booths made available Monday at Jones Park.
A pride gathers, among them, back row, standing, is the Fort Atkinson Lions Club mascot.
A wide-eyed Dalmatian, who also is the Fort Atkinson Fire Department’s mascot, assembles with a group of event-goers.
Fort Community Credit Union volunteers distribute candy.
Children stop for candy at an Addam’s Family-themed booth.
Young Scarlett Darr, Fort Atkinson, meets a Yeti.
Sarah Schultz, Edgerton, and a member of the Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club, at left, introduces youngsters to “Rip,” a therapy dog in training.
Children chase bubbles blown by members of the Fort Atkinson Kiwanis Club.
Chris Spangler photos.
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