Costumed children could be found outside and inside places around Oconto County on Oct. 25 as they played games, searched for candy and more.
Oconto Falls brought folks to the West Side Beach, where a wooded trail led families to various businesses with games and goodies. There was also an activity area outside the woods where fortune tellers, food and an undead petting zoo provided entertainment for young and old alike. An estimated 500 people came out to the event each year.
Many businesses volunteer their time to make the Oconto Falls Trick or Treat Trail a spooky success each year. For Ryan Kennedy, of Oconto Falls, it was his first year taking part.
“I expected a lot of kids,” Kennedy said. “I expected to see a lot of locals, too. A lot of people in the area come out here to visit the community. I’m just trying to help out and be part of the community and help out the kids and make it an event where everyone is involved.”
Even though Kennedy had high hopes for the event, he said working it blew past what he imagined.
“It’s awesome to see the number of kids that come out, and the number of people in the community who contribute to it as well,” Kennedy said.
The trail also saw Barb Salscheider just outside the woods, disguised as a fortune teller while handing out Chinese fortune cookies and other tasty treats for children who stopped at her table. Many of the Halloween items were things she’d found at thrift stores.
“We had a beautiful day,” Salscheider said. “You couldn’t ask for a better day.”
This is the second time Salscheider has taken part in the trail event, but not in consecutive years. After first taking part in 2023, she knew she wanted to do it again.
“This is an event for the kids,” Salscheider said. “I believe in helping the kids.”
While Oconto Falls’ event provided wide-open spaces in the outdoors, an Oct. 25 event at the Suring Fire Station brought families together under one roof to enjoy some treats, pick up some books offered by the local library and give junior high and high school students the opportunity to host games for the younger children.
“The Business Association (of the Suring Area), has been hosting this for the last nine years,” said Katy Kegel, the association’s secretary. “We started at the golf course (Red Maple Country Club), but we’ve been doing it at the fire department for four years now.”
Anywhere from 175-200 children come through each year, and this year’s event preceded the village of Suring’s designated trick-or-treat hours. Kegel said it takes about $2,000, easily obtained through fundraisers, to make the event possible, but the true success comes from the older kids volunteering to party with the younger ones.
“We couldn’t do the event without them,” Kegel said. “It’s a community effort.”
Kegel’s desire to keep the event going stems from when she was a child, and a similar event was put on by the Lioness Club.
“When I had my kids, I just wanted to put something on that was memorable for them, so each year I started gathering more games and more prizes, and now we have businesses and organizations sponsoring the event,” Kegel said. “The kids all free prizes, candy, crafts. This year, they’re getting a free pair of gloves, and they always get a free book. We’re just trying to keep it fun and make it a little different every year.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
