Annual Downtown Moses Lake Trick or Treat sees huge turnout
Thousands of people came through the Downtown Moses Lake Trick or Treat put on by the Downtown Moses Lake Association on Saturday. The estimated number of 3,000 to 4,000 people was up significantly from last year’s 1,200.
Rebecca Pettingill/Columbia Basin Herald
Mike Creighton hands candy to a person dressed in a blow-up T-rex costume in front of the Ballet Academy of Moses Lake on Saturday during the Downtown Moses Lake Trick or Treat event.
Tom Silva is dressed as a burning building, his wife, KaiLani, is dressed as fire, while their son Henry is dressed as a firefighter.
The Downtown Moses Lake Association (DMLA) held its annual Downtown Moses Lake Trick or Treat event on Saturday, which had a significant increase in numbers compared to previous years — resulting in many booths running out of candy by the end of the two-hour event.
James Shank with Edward Jones said he was shocked to run out of candy because the firm started with 2,000 pieces and had brought another 1,000 pieces. After all 3,000 pieces were given out, it was not quite 5 p.m., when the event was scheduled to end, and there were plenty of people still in line for candy.
This was Edward Jones’ second year participating in the event as a business, but Shank said the event has happened at least two decades. Shank said he and his wife brought their children to the event when they were young and their children are in their early 20s now.
Lexi Smith, executive director of the DMLA said there were probably close to 3-4,000 people who attended the event. She also said she did not expect such a huge turnout this year. Smith said last year’s numbers were only about 1,200, but it was a drive-thru event.
Other towns and cities around the Columbia Basin had trick-or-treat events during the weekend, as well. On Halloween, the Soap Lake Police Department had a trunk-or-treat in the Akins Fresh Market parking lot. Quincy had a trick-or-treat at The Cambridge on Friday and the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce put on a trick-or-treat in downtown Quincy on Saturday.
