Education Club at Holyoke Community College, in collaboration with nearly two dozen college clubs, departments and programs – and community groups – will be hosting its second annual “Trunk or Treat” pre-Halloween celebration on Friday, Oct. 26, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Last year, “Trunk or Treat,” attracted more than 200 area children and their parents to the HCC campus for a safe, fun, and early alternative to traditional trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

Like the inaugural event, the second annual HCC Trunk or Treat will be held in Parking Lot R behind the Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation on the HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave. Rather than going door to door seeking Halloween treats, children can instead go “trunk to trunk” to collect their candy, visiting cars decorated with seasonal themes and familiar stories and characters. Trunk or Treat is free and open to the public but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Last year, 17 HCC clubs and departments sponsored cars and decorated them for the event. Prizes were awarded to vehicle sponsors in various categories like Best Executed Theme, Scariest Trunk, Best Costumes and Most Original. HCC Early Children education coordinator and Education Club adviser Sheila Gould said she expects even more participants this year, including cars sponsored by groups outside of HCC. Already, Holyoke Public Schools, DCF Foster Outreach, the Hampden Country Sheriff’s Department, and 413 Family Fitness have pledged to take part. So far, Gould said, 22 HCC clubs, departments and community groups have signed up for the event and children can expect to see vehicles decked with themes such as the Wizard of Oz, Lilo and Stitch, SpongeBob Squarepants, Enchanted Garden, Willie Wonka, Haunted House, Just Dance, Magic School Bus and Milky Way. More vehicle sponsors are welcome. To sign up, please contact Sheila Gould at [email protected].