Local park hosts annual Halloween treat event for children

Allyson Putman
Staff writer

Photo courtesy of froggy103.com

Halloween festivities will be in full swing Monday at Central Park as Trail of Treats entertains little ghouls and goblins from all over the city.

Trail of Treats is an annual program hosted on Halloween by Murray-Calloway County Parks in conjunction with Froggy 103.7. The event allows kids to trick-or-treat together and enjoy two hayrides. This year, there will also be a costume contest for kids and a theme contest for the organizations passing out candy.

Trail of Treats is nothing new to the city of Murray. Tab Brockman, director of Trail of Treats, said it has been going on for more than a decade and has been successful over the years.

“This is a great program for the park, and a good way to do something free for the community,” Brockman said. “Everybody likes free.”

Brockman said he is expecting the changes this year to render an even better turn out than previous years.

Since the program has achieved such great success, this year the event has been moved from Chestnut Park to Central Park.

“We changed the location because it allows for more room for parking and a longer hayride,” Brockman said.

He said that groups from all over the community participate in this program, including student groups from Murray State, churches and more.

“We are shooting for about 30 groups to participate overall,” he said. “Last year we had 15.”

This year, Brockman estimated eight student groups participating in Trail of Treats. He said these are mostly first-year participants.

The Student Government Association is among those groups.

D. Andrew Porter, sophomore from Scottsville, Ky., is a member of SGA and the Campus Activities Board non-traditional/commuter committee.

“We’re very excited about being involved,” he said. “We felt like this was a good way to serve the community and reach the nontraditional students who may be bringing children to the event.”

Porter said SGA will participate in the theme contest dressed as classic characters.

The contest is one incentive for the adults passing out treats to get more involved. First place for winning the theme contest is $250, second place is $150 and third place is $100.

SGA is not the only student group participating this year, as the sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha will also be present.

Jill Marshall, senior from Hopkinsville, Ky., is a sister of Alpha Sigma Alpha. She said this is Alpha Sigma Alpha’s first year participating.

“Since all of our philanthropies have to do with kids, we really wanted to get involved with it,” she said. “Trick-or-treating is a fun way to do that.”

Getting involved with the community is a major part of Greek life, and Marshall said the ladies look forward to being a part of the trick-or-treat experience.

The ladies will pass out $100 worth of treats at the program while dressed as ladybugs.

Though the deadline to participate in Trail of Treats has already passed, students are welcome to check out this free community event.

Trail of Treats is from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday. For more information, contact Brockman at tab.brockman@murrayparks.org.

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