Boo! Trunk or Treat at CPD 012

Just down the street from Maxwell Street Garden, on October 18th, the CPD 012 station welcomed families, neighbors, and volunteers for a Trunk or Treat. This event included candy, costumes, games, decorated cars, and a Maxwell Street Community Garden run mini pumpkin painting station. Pumpkins originally set aside for the MSCG Harvest Fest, which had to be canceled because of weather, found a new purpose in the hands of kids with paintbrushes, big ideas, and plenty of Halloween spirit.

This event brought together the kind of small details that make a community gathering feel memorable. Volunteers passed out candy with smiles. MSCG helped keep the pumpkin painting table moving. Families walked from trunk to trunk, admiring decorations and greeting familiar faces. Kids showed off costumes, adults joined in the fun, and neighbors had a chance to pause, talk, and enjoy the season together.

A neighborhood event close to Maxwell Street Garden

The location made the gathering feel especially connected to the neighborhood. CPD 012 is located down the street from Maxwell Street Garden, close enough that the garden community could easily show up, help out, and bring some of its Harvest Fest spirit along.

Kids who might have expected only candy also got a hands-on art activity. Families had another reason to slow down and stay awhile. MSCG and other community partners had a chance to share something seasonal with the broader community.

Gardeners and volunteers kept the fun moving

A good community event often depends on the people behind the scenes. At this Trunk or Treat, community members from all areas did the work that made everything feel welcoming and easy.

Some helped pass out candy. Others supported the pumpkin painting area. People answered questions, handed out supplies, encouraged kids, and kept the activity table moving as families came through. The setup may have looked simple, but anyone who has helped with a children’s activity knows how much care it takes.

We cannot talk about this trunk or treat without mentioning the behind the scenes help from gardeners Robin, Kathleen, and Briana (see Briana's gardener spotlight post!) who took the time to pack up 400 bags of candy for this event.

The pumpkin painting station needed more than pumpkins. It needed space for kids to sit or stand, paint to share, brushes within reach, and adults ready to help without taking over. It needed patience when a child wanted just one more color. It needed someone to make sure finished pumpkins had a place to dry. It needed people who could keep the mood light even when the table got busy.

That is exactly where our MSCG gardeners and volunteers shine.

One of our MSCG gardeners, Ticina (see her gardener spotlight blog post!), and one of our MSCG volunteers, Sofia, lead the charge. They created a space where kids could be creative without pressure. No pumpkin had to be perfect. Some were covered in bright colors. Some had spooky faces. Some may have started as one idea and turned into something completely different. Pumpkin painting gives children a chance to make something their own.

Costumes brought out personality across the community

Trunk or Treat events are built for creativity, and this one gave kids, adults, and a few cars a place to show it off.

Costumes are one of the best parts of Halloween because they make room for personality.

That kind of social ease matters. The event also gave adults a reason to enjoy Halloween beyond supervising from the sidelines. Many caregivers spend the season planning costumes, managing schedules, and making sure kids have a good time. At this gathering, adults could relax a little, chat with neighbors, admire the trunks, and be part of the fun.

The best community events make space for everyone. Kids need activities and excitement. Adults need chances to connect. Volunteers need a clear role and a sense that their work matters. This Trunk or Treat brought those pieces together in a way that felt easy and neighborly.

Fun trunk designs turned cars into Halloween stops

The decorated trunks added another layer of creativity to the gathering. Trunk or Treat works because each vehicle becomes its own little Halloween scene. Instead of walking house to house, families move from trunk to trunk, with each stop offering a different design, theme, or surprise.

A sweet reminder of what community collaboration can do

The Trunk or Treat at CPD 012 showed how much can happen when people stay flexible and work together. A weather cancellation could have ended the Harvest Fest plans completely. Instead, gardeners and volunteers helped carry a little piece of that event into another neighborhood gathering just down the street from Maxwell Street Garden.

Kids got candy, pumpkins, and a place to show off their costumes. Adults got a chance to enjoy the day, connect with neighbors, and see the care behind the event. Volunteers helped make the experience feel organized, creative, and warm. The decorated trunks gave the space color and character. The pumpkin painting station turned unused supplies into one of the highlights of the celebration.

The biggest takeaway is simple. When plans change, community can still show up. Sometimes it shows up with candy. Sometimes it shows up with costumes. Sometimes it shows up with a table full of pumpkins that were meant for one event and found a perfect home at another.