The Town of Queen Creek announced yesterday, April 9, it will no longer produce Trunk or Treat, but said they still "strive to offer family-friendly community events to provide a high quality of life" for residents.
"Special events have been one area of focus, offering opportunities for residents to gather and connect through three signature events. After careful consideration, effective this year, the town will no longer be producing the annual Trunk or Treat event.
"Over the years, the town’s signature events have evolved, most notably Trunk or Treat. As the event grew in popularity, efforts were made to reduce lines and provide alternative activities while maintaining the core components of the town’s signature events. Last year, Trunk or Treat drew 20,000-plus attendees, a testament to the community’s desire to come together. While last year’s event was successful, it continued to move away from the core components of the town’s signature events, and was becoming more logistically challenging.
"An event with 20,000-plus attendees that spans more than a quarter of a mile and includes a wide range of activities makes it difficult for friends and neighbors to meet up and socialize. As the Town Center continues to develop, parking options north of Ocotillo Road are becoming more and more limited. In addition, the size and scope of the event required a two-day closure of Ellsworth Road to safely set up and take down. The extended closure resulted in increased traffic congestion in the heart of the community. The event itself was also becoming increasingly expensive to produce – even with scaling back activities and reducing the amount of candy, the event was projected to exceed budgetary constraints for 2024.
"Trunk or Treat has been a great event, providing years of memories. The town extends its thanks to everyone who has made Trunk or Treat possible – from sponsors, vendors, community groups and residents. The town encourages families to participate in the various neighborhood and community events taking place that time of year, in addition to getting to know neighbors through trick or treating.
"As the town continues to focus on community events that provide an opportunity for residents to engage and connect, the town is excited to announce that the Queen Creek Hometown Christmas Parade will transition from a Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce event to a town event in 2024 – stay tuned for more details."
