Bring on the candy

City of Newburgh welcomes back Trunk or Treat after year hiatus

By Alberto Gilman
Posted 11/4/21

Ghosts, ghouls, music and trunks full of candy lined a section of Broadway in the City of Newburgh for the Trunk or Treat celebration hosted by the Church at the Bridge.

Led by Church at the …

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Bring on the candy

City of Newburgh welcomes back Trunk or Treat after year hiatus

Posted

Ghosts, ghouls, music and trunks full of candy lined a section of Broadway in the City of Newburgh for the Trunk or Treat celebration hosted by the Church at the Bridge.

Led by Church at the Bridge Pastors Jose and Annette Vasquez, they first started the Trunk or Treat event back in 2014. With the Trunk or Treats expansion over the years, Pastor Jose recollects in the very beginning that city residents were going to other towns and areas to trick or treat with their kids. Vasquez looked at the surrounding areas in the city and noticed that city lighting was an issue. Going forward and speaking with city hall, Vasquez said that the city would give him the recreation department parking lot to use for the event. In that first year, over 900 families with children came out. And as the years have gone by, more and more families have come out to take part in Trunk or Treat. Prior to the shutdown, Pastor Jose said Trunk or Treat served over 3,000 families with kids. For Pastor Jose, this event is a part of this city.

For the event that night, more than 15 trunks were set up on Broadway between Liberty and Grand Street. For the trunk or treaters, they would start on the side of Broadway where City Hall is located and loop around the trunks and come back out on the other side of the street. The line just to get in stretched down the sidewalk in front of City Hall and around and down the block. There were several hundred families and residents who showed up for the event.

The Trunk or Treat celebration was put on pause last year, following health regulations and protocols with the on-going pandemic. “It was hard,” Pastor Jose said. For Pastor Jose, seeing the city come out again and enjoy Trunk or Treat and families enjoying their time safely brings joy to him. “We love you Newburgh. As a community, we need to be together,” Pastor Jose said. “We believe that we need to give our children a safe space. We need to give our families a safe space.”

Quickly rushing back and forth to check on staff, guests and other trunk or treat details was Pastor Annette who briefly spoke with the Times about the event. “The community was ready to come out. I’m elated. I’m excited. I’m excited for the community,” Pastor Annette said. “We love this city. We want to see this go all the way up Broadway, that would be amazing.”

Renée George from the City of Newburgh Steelers football program was one of the first trunks you would have a chance to meet as you made your way through the line. She has been participating in Trunk or Treat for the last several years. With last year’s shutdown, George is happy to see her community back out and enjoying themselves. “It’s different but it’s good to see everybody coming back out,” George said.

Next to George’s trunk was Councilman At-Large Anthony Grice’s Spider-Man themed trunk who was also happy to be back for this event. “I am so thankful. I’m a member of Church at the Bridge and we always do a lot for our community. This is one of our premier events,” Grice said. “Last year we had to put a pause on it because of COVID but now we are back and going strong.”