Jaycees Trunk or Treat Draws More Than 1,000 Visitors

By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Madi Tibke

A crowd of people, many in costumes, participating in a Halloween event on a sunny day. Children are holding pumpkin-shaped baskets while walking along a pathway lined with decorations and vendors.

More than 1,000 people stopped by this year’s Bennington Trunk or Treat, bringing families, local organizations and businesses together for an afternoon of Halloween fun on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Hosted by the Bennington Jaycees at Bennington Elementary School, the annual event was initially planned for the school’s gymnasium because of the weather forecast. However, when conditions turned out to be favorable, organizers moved the festivities outdoors to the parking lot, where participating groups welcomed families with candy and Halloween-themed displays.

For Madi Tibke, a Bennington Jaycees member who organized the event for the second consecutive year, the turnout was an encouraging sign of the community’s enthusiasm for the annual tradition.

“This event was much busier than the past year!” Tibke said. “The library said that they clicked in over 1000 people stopping by! So many booths ran out of candy and one group said they went through 17 lbs of candy!”

Two women are standing at a table set up for the Bennington Public Library, displaying books and crafts, with a pumpkin on the ground and a sunny sky in the background.

The strong attendance left organizers excited about the event’s continued growth and the opportunity to connect residents with the organizations that help make Bennington a vibrant community.

This year’s Trunk or Treat brought together 25 organizations, giving families an opportunity to visit booths, collect candy and learn more about the businesses, teams and groups serving the area.

Tibke coordinated preparations by creating a Google Form for participants, conducting social media outreach and emailing organizations. She also worked with the Bennington American Legion Auxiliary post, which typically hosts its own event on the same day, to bring the activities together for a larger community celebration.

“Anyone can participate in our event, it’s free and truly the best way to share about our amazing businesses, organizations and teams we have in the area!!” Tibke said.

The event’s success also depended on the participating groups’ willingness to adapt when plans changed. Although organizers had initially expected to hold the event indoors, the decision to move outside came together on short notice. Tibke expressed gratitude for the organizations that adjusted their plans and embraced the change.

“I just wanted to say how appreciative I am for all of the organizations for being so flexible with keeping it outside in a moment’s notice at this year’s event!” she said. “Hearing the excitement of not going inside was super helpful and I am just thankful we had great weather!”

Two participants also earned recognition through voting associated with the event. Yellow Brick Road (pictured below, left) won the Google Form voting, while Hay Jay (pictured below, right) won the social media voting for best booth.

Three women posing together at a festive event, wearing colorful skirts. A table in front of them displays candy and decorative items, with a trunk decorated with balloons in the background.

A group of four people dressed in costumes stands in front of a decorated car with balloons. The costumes include a silver tin man, a princess in a pink dress, a figure in a black cloak, and a young girl holding candy. The car is adorned with a sign reading 'Happy Coffee' and has Halloween-themed decorations.

While Trunk or Treat provides families with a fun way to celebrate Halloween, Tibke said the event also represents a larger mission for the Bennington Jaycees: giving back to the community.

“The mission of the Jaycees is to give back to our community as much as we can!” she said.

The organization helps support community events and initiatives, including scholarships. However, Tibke warned that the Jaycees are at risk of closing their chapter because of low membership numbers, which could affect the future of the events and activities residents have come to enjoy.

“This event is so important because we are at a huge risk of closing the organization that puts on some of the community’s favorite events,” Tibke said. “Without this organization this event, the firework stand, beer garden tents, firework stands and so many more events wouldn’t happen!”

Beyond organizing Trunk or Treat, the Jaycees hope to continue expanding their reach and encouraging more residents to become involved. Tibke said she plans to increase the organization’s social media activity to help raise awareness and attract new members.

The group also hopes to eventually return Trunk or Treat to Warehouse Street, although that move would require support from the businesses in the area.

For now, this year’s turnout demonstrates the enthusiasm local families have for gathering together and celebrating the season. Tibke’s message to the community is simple: get involved.

“PLEASE get involved!” she said. “I am going to try and get the social media more active and get more people involved because we don’t want to close the chapter for low numbers. We want to continue to fund scholarships, host these events and give to our community!”