TORRINGTON – City council approved the Trunk or Treat for Halloween 2024. Police Chief Matt Johnson spoke with the Telegram to tell us how they plan to keep trunk or treaters safe. 

Trunk or Treat is typically a collaboration between GoGoshen, the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department, and the Torrington Police Department. People from all over the community gather on main street to give the kids of the county a safe and enjoyable Halloween event. 

With Trunk or Treat taking place on main street, there is already a lot of lighting and adults to keep an eye out on our kids. Parents escort their kids throughout the event, so they are very safe. It is an enjoyable event for many ages, and especially safe for our young ones. 

There is a lot to see, many community members bring a lot of fun things for trunk or treaters. The police department enjoy engaging with the kids of the community. They use the DARE funds to provide trick or treat bags providing some safety things such as safety tips, glow in the dark gear to increase visibility, and police stickers because, according to chief Johnson, no event would be complete without police stickers. 

The fire department helps to block traffic. They set up at the ends of the event to prevent any cars from coming through and they do some stuff with smoke detectors. They help families learn to properly use smoke detectors and the batteries. 

“It’s just it’s a really great time for everybody in our community to gather together and have fun and we have a really high turnouts,” Johnson shared. 

Johnson said they typically give away 600 or more trick or treat bags to kids in the community which isn’t counting anyone who brings their own bags or parents of the kids. He says the event has grown from each year and it is a full event with a lot of people having a great time. He encourages people to come enjoy the event. 

“You should come out that night and see it. It’s really fun. The whole downtown is full of kids trick or treating and then just really fun businesses and groups and individuals and who show up to provide a fun time for the kids,” Johnson stated. 

He said he is looking forward to a safe and fun event. 

Torrington’s 23rd annual Trunk or Treat will take place on main street on October 31 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  

The Town of Yoder will also be hosting their own Trunk or Treat this year. Yoder’s Trunk or Treat will take place on their main street from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Boxed meals will be handed out. Their fire department will also be hosting a haunted house. The town Hall also shared how there will be at game taking place at Southeast and they will be accepting extra or unwanted candy for those kids who could not participate in trick or treating.