City Hall Sees Hundreds of Trunk or Treaters!

Malta's City Hall Gymnasium was the place to be for Halloween last Tuesday, October 31, at 4 p.m., as Independence Bank, Phillips County Hospital, and KMMR Mustang Radio hosted the 2023 Trunk or Treat event.

"It went really well," said Ashley Stuart of Independence Bank and one of the event's coordinators. "I can not believe how many people came out."

Right around 400 children and many parents romped around the gym collecting candy, candy, pop, and more candy in costumes that included Mario Bros., Albert Einstein, Coach Deion "Primetime" Sanders, a person riding an ostrich, a box of popcorn, and multiple renditions of Wednesday Addams of the Addams Family.

"It was a huge success," said Susan Bibbs of Phillips County Hospital and one of the event's coordinators. "We are definitely looking forward to doing it again and continue to merge it. It was nice to have it downtown still, but also out of the elements."

When asked if she had a favorite costume that she saw, her answer was a reflection of her costume.

"I thought it was interesting how many people were Wednesday Addams, because low-key I was Wednesday Addams too, so I was really proud of myself," Bibbs said.

Bibbs said that the groups have received plenty of feedback on how to improve the event in the future.

The event was originally supposed to be held outside, downtown by Veteran's Memorial Park, but the snow and potentially cold weather forced the event's coordinators to bring things inside.

"When we saw that it was going to be 27 degrees as a high with 10-mile-per-hour winds, I contacted the City Hall to even see if using the gym was an option."

She said that the City was more than gracious and even helped set the event up.

Last year, PCH and Independence Bank held Trunk or Treat events independently, but this year the groups merged and added KMMR Mustang Radio, who kept the gym in the spirit of Halloween with a catalog of themed music.

"Well, there are only so many Halloween songs that you can choose from," Tharp said. "But I got it narrowed down to a good set."

That set included Thriller by Michael Jackson, Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell (vocals by Michael Jackson), The Addams Family Theme Song by Andrew Gold, Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt Kickers.

Tharp believes that the event went well and that it had a good turnout, but he is already thinking of ways to improve the experience.

"Next year, I want to amp it up a little bit," Tharp said. "I want some lights and I am going to bring everything down here and be a little more organized next year."

Indie Bank provided a photo booth for the event, where families and friends took pictures together to commemorate the moment.

"We just wanted to do something different this year, compared to last year because we offered a photo booth last year," Stuart said. "We spiced it up with the "BOO" and different colors and it was a group effort at the bank."

Prior to the event, Independence Bank dressed up as Toy Story characters.

Several companies and families from around town put up booths where trick-or-treaters grabbed plenty of candy. These groups included PCH, Mustang Foundation, Bruce and Jennifer Babcock, U.S. Border Patrol, Sunshine Montessori, Marie Alexander, Dana Sue Alexander, Independence Bank, KMMR Mustang Radio, Malta Kids Club, Tiah Coil, Zach and Tessa Handley, United Country, Amy and Sterling Beck, and the Phillips County Sheriff's Department. Trick or Treat bags were donated by Eastern MT Community Mental Health Center.

"We just put it out there for families or businesses, or whoever wanted to participate in the event," Bibbs said. "We planned for 350 kids... We do know that several booths ran out of candy."

By holding the event, Bibbs said that the event gave many families that live out of town and never get trick-or-treaters, a chance to see many as booth holders or participants.

Best booth awards were provided by PCH and the winners were selected by Independence Bank. The winner of the top prize was United Country/Northwest Realty, second prize went to Zach and Tessa Handley, and third went to Bruce and Jennifer Babcock.