Trunk-or-treat

MT. PLEASANT - Although the hunt for Halloween candy may have been a little more difficult this year, families in Henry County didn't miss much this past Saturday.

Many made a stop at Crown Motor Group's trunk-or-treat event where kids completed scavenger hunts, played cornhole, putt-putt golf and collected candy and prizes.

Melissa Peitz, who brought her three children to the event, said the family decided to go trick-or-treating this year but it wasn't quite like years past.

'Typically we go uptown around the square but that wasn't happening this year. This is a safe, fun, family event,” Peitz said.

Five-year-old Jada Smith, who excitedly danced on the makeshift dance floor at the car dealership with a mask on, said she was excited to be a Power Ranger.

'My favorite part was going to school and trick-or-treating,” she said.

Smith's mother, Denishia Hart, said she was feeling 'hesitant” about allowing her children to partake in Halloween this year but felt with proper precautions, it would be OK.

'I … wasn't going to let them come out. It's kind of scary with everything going on with COVID. But I'm glad they can have a normal Halloween. They got their masks on,” Hart said.

Katie Ettinger and Gigi Olsen, both 12-year-old Mt. Pleasant Middle School students, said the event was 'better than a school dance.”

School activities such as the middle school's Halloween dance had been canceled due to health and safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

The students, both in masks, said their parents were making sure they stayed safe as they enjoyed the Halloween festivities.

'My favorite thing so far has been the bat toss,” Ettinger said.

Cyndi McWilliams, who stopped by the trunk-or-treat after trick-or-treating with her 10-year-old daughter Rachel, said there were not as many houses handing out candy but there were 'still quite a few.”

'We usually trick-or-treat more so than go to things like this. But this is nice - it's not too crowded. Sometimes these things are really crowded,” McWilliams said.

Kelly Barnett, owner of Crown Motor Group, said the dealership went through 6,000 pieces of candy just one hour into the event.

'They started showing up at 5 p.m. even though we didn't start until 6 p.m.,” she said.

With the success of the first event, Barnett added she's looking forward to making the trunk-or-treat an annual activity at the dealership.

'It's been fun. The kids really like the games and the goody bags,” she added.