Local Kids Enjoy 'Tricks-N-Treats' at Chesterfield Municipal Offices

Local trick-or-treaters got a head start filling their goodie bags with handfuls of Halloween candy Saturday during Chesterfield Township’s annual “Tricks-N-Treats” event held at the on Sugarbush Road.

Dozens of children dressed in a variety of colorful, creative costumes, including bumblebees, mummies, firefighters, Mickey Mouse and Thomas the Tank Engine, attended the event with their families.

A few parents even joined in on the fun by donning Halloween-themed hats and headbands while helping kick off the fall holiday with candy, crafts and a magic show.

Jodie Claycomb, recreation leader for the Parks and Recreation Department, said Saturday that things were running smoothly during the event's first year at the township’s municipal building.

For the past eight years, the event was held at ; but hosting it at the township building allowed for 16 outdoor trick-or-treating stations, as well as an indoor craft station and Halloween magic show from Gordon the Magician.

“It’s just a good, safe, fun event to come do with the family,” Claycomb said at the craft station, where trick-or-treaters made Halloween-themed door hangers to take home.

Organizers planned two separate sessions for the evening. All 100 available tickets to the event were sold out, Claycomb added.

Chesterfield Township resident Rob Murawski brought his 3-year-old daughter Megan, who was dressed as Daphne from Scooby-Doo, and 5-year-old son Matthew, dressed as Toad from the Super Mario video game series, to the event to enjoy Halloween activities.

“We do the Chesterfield thing every year,” he said while Megan and Matthew collected candy outside of the township building. “We like to go because the kids can get dressed up and run around and get candy.”

Gordon the Magician entertained trick-or-treaters in the packed Township Board Room with his “Spooky Monster Magic Show.” Children gathered on the floor to enjoy the show, which included Halloween-themed comedy and magic tricks. The younger trick-or-treaters had fun mimicking the spooky sounds of witches and ghosts along with the magician.

Jeanine Lukowski, of Fair Haven, said she plans to take her three daughters trick-or-treating on Halloween, but wanted to bring them to the Chesterfield event to spend time with them and see them have fun. Two-year-old Claire, 3-year-old Natalie and 5-year-old Alaina went trick-or-treating dressed in colorful princess fairy costumes complete with crowns and wands.

“It’s nice and it brings everybody together,” Lukowski said while watching the girls collect their treats.

Several volunteers were on hand to help man the activity stations, including Chesterfield Township resident Taylor Gardner, who handed out treats while dressed as a Slytherin student from the Harry Potter series. The student decided to lend a hand in an effort to enjoy the holiday activities and earn community service hours, which she hopes will help her get accepted to one of her choice colleges, which include Stanford University, New York University and Princeton University.

“I love Halloween,” Gardner said. “I like seeing the little kids dressed up. They’re really cute."