Henning, Ottertail, Deer Creek gear up for Halloween

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Ghosts, superheroes, goblins and princesses—oh my! An eclectic collection of costumes and children will be converging on the area next Thursday night. 

Decorative trunks will be filled to the brim on Halloween night for three trunks or treats, one at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Henning, the Henning City Hall and the Ottertail Community Center, as well as a trunk or treat at Trinity Lutheran Church in Deer Creek on Sunday night.

At St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, decorative trunks will line the church parking lot for children of all ages from 5-6:30 p.m. The event will feature a candy guess, photo opportunity and a free-will donation dinner featuring sloppy Joe or hot dog, chips, cookie and drink. The trunk or treat will collect donations to give to the food bank. 

The event is open to the public and not just members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The trunk or treat has been a staple at the church for a number of years as it provides a safe and friendly atmosphere to kick off truck or treating in the community.

A second trunk or treat will be held at the Henning City Hall on Thursday night. The fifth annual trunk or treat at city hall will take place from 5-7 p.m. and is being sponsored by the Henning Fire and Rescue, Henning Police Department and Henning Haunted House. 

The trunk or treat at city hall began in 2020 and is a good way to allow the little ghosts and goblins in the community to be in a safe, well lit and barricaded off street environment. The trunk or treat is open to all businesses and community members who would like to decorate their trunk and hand out treats. 

Participants can simply show up the night of the trunk or treat with their decorated vehicle, trailer, a table, tent or anything else to hand out some candy and treats. Prizes will be given to the first, second and third place winners of the people’s choice for the best decorated trunk. 

Alison Christensen, who is helping to organize the trunk or treat at the city hall, said businesses and groups can show up for as long or short of time as they would like. For example, if someone wants to decorate a trunk for just an hour they can do so, as opposed to staying the entire time.

Ottertail will also be hosting a trunk or treat event for the community next Thursday night. The Ottertail Trunk or Treat is being sponsored by the Ottertail Lions Club and will be held at the Ottertail Community Center from 5-7 p.m.

The event will feature 10, $50 cash prizes for the best decorated trunks, as voted on by the trick or treaters, as well as pumpkin decorating in the community center. The first 100 trick or treaters will get to take home a cookie decorating kit.

The night will also include free hot dogs, chips and lemonade until the items are gone. 

To enter a trunk into the trunk or treat contest, contact Kathy Grobeck at (402) 689-7694.

Deer Creek will also be hosting a trunk or treat in the Trinity Lutheran Church parking lot a few days early on Sunday, Oct. 27. The event is being sponsored by the Deer Creek Fire Department and Trinity Lutheran Church. 

The trunk or treat in Deer Creek on Sunday will take place from 4-5 p.m.