VILLAGE OF MINOA – This Halloween season, a handful of Trunk or Treat events held locally saw community members open up their trunks and give out candy to costumed kids. The morning of Saturday, Oct. 19, the ESM Teaching Assistants’ Association (ESMTAA) held its third annual Trunk or Treat in Minoa’s Lewis Park, and in the words of the association’s vice president Diandra Western, the participants “really knocked it out of the park” with their trunk displays and costumes. Among the ESM-affiliated teaching assistants and other educators present, there were pre-K teachers from Park Hill School dressed as M&Ms, and another TA was playing music from a speaker like “The Purple People Eater” and the theme from “The Addams Family.” Tammy Hughes, the president of the association, said the event is close enough to village neighborhoods for people to walk to it, estimating that hundreds showed up judging by how much candy was passed out by the end. Hughes said that she and the other organizers are thinking of having a costume and decorated trunk competition next year so people can vote on their favorites. The Minoa Fire Department was also on hand for the ESM event, and 400-plus New York State United Teachers first books were given away while attendees brought with them almost 100 pounds of nonperishables to donate to Heaven’s Pantry. Also on Oct. 19, which was a warmer-than-usual fall day, Town of DeWitt Recreation held a well-attended Trunk or Treat of its own all around Heritage Landing. People handing out candy said they were glad they didn’t have to duck the rain like they had to last year and that it was warm enough for the children to wear their costumes without having to be bundled up in coats. “Everybody gets to come out and have a safe trick-or-treating experience, so you don’t have to be out at night and all these local vendors get to be face to face with everybody—it’s a win-win,” said DeWitt’s recreation director Patty Sawmiller. Brie Hall, a recreation aide and organizer of the town’s Trunk or Treat from the time it started a few years ago, said it’s a free, family-friendly event she plans to continue for years to come. “The amount of people and seeing everyone enjoying themselves is the best feeling in the world,” Hall said. “It’s an event that takes time to put together, but the amount of thank yous and emails I received of appreciation make it all worth it.” At that DeWitt event, East Syracuse Fire gave out cups filled to the brims with candy, and other local organizations and community members with bowlfuls of sweets had either stands or trunks decked out in decorations. At the Village of Manlius’ Trunk or Treat celebration on Saturday, Oct. 26, costumes included the trident-holding lord of the sea Poseidon, an octopus, and the Very Hungry Caterpillar, while officers from the Town of Manlius Police Department dressed as “Zootopia” characters and Mayor Paul Whorrall and the village clerks donned cowboy hats. In addition to that event, Manlius Library held its “Spooktacular Fall Fest” for all ages on Oct. 19, complete with ghost stories, crafting fun, a lotions and potions segment of the day, a temporary tattoo parlor, and a meet-and-greet with actresses from Royal Promise Productions portraying the Salem witch sisters from the 1993 film “Hocus Pocus.”