PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Numerous families came by the Aroostook Centre Mall for a “Trunk-or-Treat” event on Saturday, an alternative way to celebrate Halloween during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several people decorated the trunks to their car, giving out candy to the various children who passed by them. It was one of the larger crowds seen for an event in Presque Isle since the COVID-19 pandemic began — seemingly hundreds came through the parking lot through the day and into the evening.
People came in all types of costumes: witches, pirates, ladybugs, clowns, police officers, dinosaurs and Vikings. Some came in Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) regalia, complete white face paint and clothing featuring skulls.
Others turned the night into their own personal Comic-Con, going as several characters, including those from the Super Mario Bros. video game series, “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Batman.
The event couldn’t have occurred without the work of organizer Chantal Dumais, who runs the Belly & Beyond Birth and Doula Services pregnancy care center.
After some of her friends expressed interest in organizing a trunk-or-treat event that could be an alternative to standard trick-or-treating, she pitched the idea to Aroostook Centre Mall management, who thought it would be great for the community.
While some families may have felt uncomfortable trick-or-treating door-to-door, the Aroostook Centre Mall event provided a safe alternative. All of the vendors and many who attended wore face coverings.
“I wanted to bring something to the kids that would really boost up their spirits,” Dumais said. “It’s been hard with the whole coronavirus thing.”
At the event’s conclusion, Rep Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, and Presque Isle City Manager Martin Puckett moderated a trunk competition, choosing a trunk that had been modified to feature the characters of Sully and Mike Wazowski from “Monsters, Inc.”
Both Stewart and Puckett said they were happy to participate in an event that helped bring some normalcy to the Presque Isle area.
“Halloween is one of those things that’s a safe activity in an environment like this,” Puckett said.” It’s great to see the kids out and the parents too.”
A child in a tyrannosaurus rex costume holds a bag of candy during the Trunk or Treat event in Presque Isle on Saturday. (David Marino Jr. | The Star-Herald)
A child gets candy from a candy chute at Presque Isle’s Trunk or Treat event at the Aroostook Centre Mall on Saturday.
Galen Weibley distributes candy from his homemade candy chute at Presque Isle’s Trunk or Treat event at Aroostook Centre Mall on Saturday. (David Marino Jr. | The Star-Herald)
A family dressed in various costumes — including a character from the television show “The Handmaid’s Tale” and a Canadian Mountie — pose during Presque Isle’s Trunk or Treat event at Aroostook Centre Mall on Saturday. (David Marino Jr. | The Star-Herald)
Various people, including Rep. Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, left, and Presque Isle City Manager Martin Puckett, right, pose in front of the winning trunk at a Trunk or Treat event in Presque Isle at Aroostook Centre Mall on Saturday. (David Marino Jr. | The Star Herald)
