The region’s Halloween calendar is bristling with town-sponsored special events, and trunk or treats put on by churches and other organizations.
On Halloween in the Monadnock Region, some rural roads won’t see a single trick-or-treater, while other downtown neighborhoods will see hundreds of kids in a night. Residents of downtown Antrim and Francestown can even sign up to receive candy donations to better provide for their droves of visitors.
For every one of the region’s Halloween traditions, we interviewed at least one avid promoter to explain how it came about, and what they appreciate about it.
Francine Markham of New Ipswich helps to organize the trunk or treat event at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Markham said she’s only received one trick-or-treater in 15 years at her house on NH Turnpike Road, and understands why, four years ago, the church’s former pastor proposed a Trunk or Treat after driving his two young kids from house to house in a far-flung neighborhood.
“It’s cold, it’s dark, there are no streetlights, and they can only walk so far,” Markham said.
The church council loved the idea, and this year will be the small congregation’s fourth trunk or treat. She said they usually have five or seven participating “trunks,” and sees it as a great additional option for families driving kids to visit the library, fire department, or neighbors – and good outreach for the church. She said it’s a good way for people living in remote areas to engage, rather than just buying candy in case someone visits.
“Some people really decorate their cars,” she said, and has watched the concept grow in its appeal as a safe option for urban and rural areas, as well as a way to engage the families of employees at a workplace, for example.
In Antrim, the Tuttle Library has distributed candy donations for downtown residents for about a decade.
“I live downtown,” Library assistant Cass-Griggs said, and that sometimes the houses in her neighborhood see more than 100 kids on Halloween night. “Cars pull up, [it’s] like a busload of kids unloading. … We’d be hurting without the donations.”
Cass-Griggs said the library collects wrapped candy donations in a big orange bucket throughout October and divides the goods evenly among downtown residents prior to Halloween night. The program was started by members of the town’s Friends of Recreation group, and Cass-Griggs herself coordinates the redistribution now.
“It’s grown through word of mouth over the years. People who really need the help ask to be put on the list,” she said.
Many candy donors are parents from rural parts of town or retired teachers.
“People who give the candy seem to be happy to do it. They seem to feel good contributing,” she said.
Cass-Griggs said she wouldn’t know if recipients chose to pocket the candy, but that she does verify that people requesting the candy live downtown.
In Francestown, the Recreation Department coordinated candy redistribution to Main Street residences at a time when many homes were unoccupied by Halloween after seasonal residents left for the winter. Town Administrator Jamie Pike said that volunteers would stand outside unoccupied residences to hand out candy. Residents of the densely populated neighborhood continue to be able to receive candy donations today, even though most Main Street houses are now occupied year-round. Pike said the street is closed to traffic, and the Recreation Department additionally hosts a trunk or treat at the Town Hall.
Shane Sirois lives on a shared private drive in New Ipswich. He is planning to showcase his growing collection of spooky animatronics for the third year running, and said he’ll take Thursday off to set up and get into costume himself.
“It’s usually my character that’s the creepiest,” he said, noting he’s learned when to dial back the scares for particularly frightened kids and adults.
His past displays have included a graveyard and zombies, an homage to Stephen King’s IT, and a “girl with black eyes on a swing she just stares at you. She’s really creepy,” he said. “[The displays are] always a hit, but I want to have it a little different for the people who kept coming back.”
Sirois said that two of the other three houses put out big displays as well, and all cater to trick or treaters.
“We just get flooded with people. The cop car will come and hand out candy, and talk to kids through the megaphone,” he said.
“We buy a ton of candy, way more than we think we’re going to need. We always run out towards the end of the night but it usually works,” he said, and estimates he has spent a few thousand dollars on Halloween decorations.
“People take a lot of selfies with the different scenes,” he said, “They pop up on Facebook and it makes me happy. … I love interacting with the community and I love them coming to my door, a lot of people know what I do being a paranormal researcher. I enjoy it.”
Broderick Kaufhold moved to Pine Street in Peterborough five years ago. He said he quickly learned it was a hot spot for trick-or-treating, and “wanted to jump in on the fun, add a little of our own pizazz to the event.” This year he plans to recreate a haunted walk that takes visitors around his house. He said that 15 or 20 of his friends and family are now involved in the production.
“We have a good night and a lot of fun’s had by both adults and the kids. … It’s nice to hear from repeat customers,” he said.
Kaufhold estimates he receives 300 or 400 visitors, and that another family in the neighborhood has given out 500 cider donuts in a night. Other neighbors put on special events as well.
“You don’t really feel the pressure of maintaining everything, but we do feel like we’ve raised the stakes for everyone else,” he said.