
Treats from Trunks and More Community Halloween Happenings
October, 2019By Stacy Milbouer
Fiddlehead Contributing Editor
Halloween is coming and so is trick-or-treat. The trick is to find a way for kids to stay safe, the treat is the community celebrations that make it easy and fun. And that’s where trunk-or-treat celebrations come in.
On Oct. 31, the village of New Boston transforms itself into Halloween central. Festivities include a scarecrow contest, a display of carved pumpkins, trick-or-treating and trunk-or-treating.
“It’s a great event which allows children who live on the outskirts of town to go trick-or-treating,” town Recreation Director Michael Sindoni said recently.
Trunk-or-treat is a fairly new twist on the traditional doorbell method of gathering candy — kind of like tailgating for costume-clad kiddies. Participants decorate the trunks of their cars in creepy finery and sometimes Halloween games.
Tiny ghosts, goblins and superheroes make the rounds of cars in a parking lot. Many towns, schools and church communities have transitioned to a trunk-of-treat event to keep a close eye on their children without reducing their Halloween joy.

Photos courtesy New Boston Recreation Department
It’s especially popular in rural communities where trick-or-treating can mean a huge hike from home to home. And in some communities, like Bedford, it’s used as a fundraising event to help children and families.
The MOMS Club of Bedford hosts an annual trunk-or-treat event and collects money to contribute to local organizations like Families in Transition.
Trunk-or-treat also allows creative grownups some crafty inspiration. Ordinary trunks have been transformed into a pirate’s treasure chest, a mad scientist’s lab, Noah’s Ark, huge spider webs and mini-carnivals to name a few trunk themes. Pinterest is full of ideas.
“It’s become very popular,” said Sindoni. “We cone-off spots for eight to 12 cars in the Town Hall parking lot for trunk-or-treaters.”
Participants must be town residents and must register in advance. Registration forms are available at newbostonnh.gov.

Photos courtesy New Boston Recreation Department
New Boston gets an early start on the holiday. For the entire month of October, the town green becomes Scarecrow Alley with a display of spooky creations by locals. Townspeople vote for their favorites and prizes are awarded.
“They must be taken down for Halloween day because downtown can get very crowded,” said Sindoni.
On Halloween revelers are encouraged to bring their carved pumpkins to display on the gazebo in the town center. Trick- and trunk-or-treaters are encouraged to visit the Old Engine House, where the department of recreation will be handing out treats and the surrounding neighborhood as well.
“People who live in the village might get anywhere from 800 to 1,200 trick-or-treaters,” Sindoni said. “We collect donations of bags of candy for the whole month of October to prepare. People are very generous, so on Halloween if somebody in the neighborhood is running out of candy, they just drop by the Old Engine House and we can help out.”
Celebrate Halloween and all things Jack at pumpkin festivals and community events in your own town or city and across the state. Here is just a sampling of planned celebrations. Event details are subject to change so always confirm dates and locations before making plans.
Milford Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 11-13
Milford
milfordpumpkinfestival.org
Monadnock Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 12
Swanzey
monadnockpumpkinfestival.org
Somersworth Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 12
Somersworth
nhfestivals.org
NH Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 18 & 19
Laconia
nhpumpkinfestival.com
Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off & Regatta
Oct. 19 & 20
Goffstown
goffstownmainstreet.org
Halloween Howl
Oct. 25
Concord
intownconcord.org
BOOthlehem Halloween Bash
Oct. 25 & 26
Bethlehem
bethlehemevents.org
Ghosts on the Banke
Oct. 25 & 26
Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth
strawberybanke.org
Children’s Halloween Costume Parade
Oct. 26
Claremont
thevillageclaremont.com
Kids Trick-or-Treat the Maze
Oct. 26
Scamman Farm, Stratham
scammanfarm.com
Keene Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 27
Keene
pumpkinfestival.org
Halloween FunFest
Oct. 31
Lebanon
lebanonnh.gov
Portsmouth Halloween Parade
Oct. 31
Portsmouth
portsmouthhalloweenparade.org