Costumed kids from Philomath and the surrounding area will be able to get a jump on candy collecting at the annual Trunk or Treat event in the downtown vicinity on the afternoon of Halloween.
Trick-or-treaters are invited to collect treats from local businesses and organizations on Main Street between 12th and 17th streets with vehicles to be set up between 12th and 14th streets. The event, which is hosted by the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce, is free and will be held rain or shine.
Lisa Watkins, chamber executive director, said 25 businesses and organizations have signed up to participate out of vehicles, which are assigned to spaces along Main from 12th to 14th. Several other businesses down to 17th also participate by giving away treats from storefronts.
“That’s a little more than normal,” Watkins said. “Last year, we had a huge turnout — probably close to 1,000 kids.”
Philomath’s weather forecast predicts that rain will be moving through the area on Monday.
“Hopefully, it won’t rain during the event but I don’t think that’ll slow kids down,” Watkins said, who predicted maybe 800 to 1,000 at this year’s event. “We could still get a lot of kids because Corvallis is doing their trunk or treat on Saturday and sometimes we overlap but they’re on Saturday and we’re on Monday. So I think we could still pull in a lot of people … we’re anticipating a really good showing.”
Beyond candy collecting and enjoying all of the costumes, participants will find some other surprises along the route. Mid Columbia Bus Co., will bring back its haunted bus, for example, and at least one business plans to have games.
Philomath’s Trunk or Treat event is in its 12th year with the chamber of commerce taking it over in 2015 from the Philomath Downtown Association, which started it in 2011. It typically takes place every year on Halloween day after school.