NEK Prepares for Halloween

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Created on Thursday, 14 October 2021 18:09

Written by Alexandra Huff

AROUND THE NEK - As the sun sets earlier each day, a looming sense of spookiness is starting to sweep over the Northeast Kingdom. Skeletons, ghosts, and witches are all coming together to plan community events for families.

The Your Place restaurant in Sheffield is planning two spooky events for Halloween. On October 17 at 2:00 PM, the community is welcome to stop by for the Paint-a-Pumpkin Expo. Pumpkins, face painting, and balloon animals are just some of the activities families can look forward to. The expo will also include educational workshops to teach the community how to make apple cider, pumpkin seeds, candy apples, and pumpkin puree. Your Place will also be holding a Trunk or Treat on October 31 starting at 4:00 PM.

Another Trunk or Treat event is scheduled in Sheffield across from the fire station. Families are welcome to stop by from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. 

Lyndonville has hosted an annual Trunk or Treat event in Bandstand Park since 2015, expect last year due to high COVID case counts in the area. However, Cheryl McMahon, the Secretary of the Lyndon Area Chamber of Commerce, is excited to bring the event back this year. "When we couldn't do it because of COVID, people were not happy, so that really expressed to us the value of having this kind of event," she said. The event is currently scheduled for Halloween Day from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 

The Trunk or Treat usually attracts between 600 to 900 children, with 20 to 25 trunks handing out candy. McMahon says some usual participants have opted out of the event this year, but she's had five groups commit so far. Anyone interested in hosting a trunk can contact McMahon by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or call (802)626-9696.

The Lyndonville Fire Department has held activities at the station during the Trunk or Treat in the past, such as pumpkin bowling, but McMahon says they will not be this year.

Northeast Kingdom Preschool and Childcare on Church Street, however, is moving forward with its annual Halloween Extravaganza. From 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on October 31, the preschool will be hosting various events like face painting, doughnut-on-a-string challenges, and a pumpkin bean bag toss.

Another Trunk or Treat in Lyndonville is being hosted by the Wild Child Emporium from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Halloween. The Kingdom Campground is also playing around with the idea of hosting its own Trunk or Treat event and is currently trying to gauge community interest. 

The Danville Chamber of Commerce is continuing their new tradition of a Trick or Treat Trail, which was started last year to bring the community together safely at the peak of the pandemic. Danville Chamber of Commerce Vice President Chelsea Hewitt said that over 300 kids and their families came out last year. The Trick or Treat Trail is scheduled for October 31 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Danville Green.

Hewitt told NewsLINC donations are needed to hold events like this. While the Chamber will be collecting donations for the food pantry at the trail event, they are also looking to assemble candy to give to older community members so they can give some out. "It gets a lot of the older folks out of their houses because they don't have to decorate; we can set up a table and candy for them," Hewitt said.

Hewitt is also planning a Double Feature Movie Night for ages 16 and up at the Town Hall on October 23. The Chamber has been hosting children's movie nights all summer, and Hewitt says it's time for the adults to have quality time. The movie night starts at 6:30 PM with Friday the 13th, followed by Halloween airing at 8:30 PM. Masks are required in the town hall auditorium, and seating with be limited with social distancing.

The St. Johnsbury Moose Lodge will be hosting its first-ever Trunk or Treat on Halloween from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This idea was brought forth by fraternity member Michele Magoon at a membership meeting, and others were quick to jump at the opportunity to serve the community.

Over in Burke, the East Burke Market will be hosting a Trick or Treat on October 30, hosting other businesses to hand out candy to families in the area. The Inn at Burklyn is planning a plethora of Halloween activities and snacks for children up to 12 years old on October 31 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, including crafts, maple cotton candy, hot apple cider, trick or treating, and s'mores.