Jaycees’ Trunk or Treat, haunted house slated for Halloween weekend

Sue Sitter/PCT A ghost hangs eerily behind a window in an abandoned warehouse the Rugby Jaycees will make even spookier Oct. 28 and 29.
Pint-sized ghosts and goblins will descend on Rugby’s North Main Avenue Oct. 31 for the Rugby Jaycees’ annual Trunk or Treat from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Larger monsters will be welcome, too, according to Jen Swanson, one of the event’s organizers.
Business owners and residents with treats to give will park their vehicles in a section of Main Avenue north of its intersection with Second Street Southeast and distribute the goodies from their trunks.
The event is free for all ages.
The Jaycees will also transform their haunted warehouse into a not-so-scary haunted house for youngsters as well during those hours. Admission for the not-so-scary haunted house is $5.
The Jaycees Haunted Warehouse will be open for more intensive frightening Oct. 28 and 29 from 7 p.m. to midnight both days. Admission for the Jaycees Haunted Warehouse is $10 per person, or $9 for those who bring a non-perishable food item to contribute to the Pierce County Food Pantry.
The Haunted Warehouse is located north of Hartley’s Mall, near the railroad tracks near Second Avenue Southwest and West Dewey Street.
There is no parking charge for those who distribute treats from their vehicles, Swanson said.
“The only thing that we have asked is that people bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Pierce County Food Pantry,” she said. “It’s not mandatory. It’s just to help the food pantry. We’ll have a table set up with baskets for them to put their food items in.”
Swanson urged those who planned to distribute treats to contact her at 208-1660.
“The sooner we know, the better, but we have half of Main Avenue, so we should be able to fit plenty of trunks,” she said. “So far, we have 18 trunks.”
“If the businesses want to have fun and bring games to play, they could do that if they wanted to,” she added.
Swanson said the tradition began with the Rugby Jaycees in 2009. It’s been a hit ever since.
“I think it’s a really fun event,” Swanson said. “It’s something that gets the businesses participating. It’s fun to see everyone’s creativity and what they come up with.”
“And it’s fun to see the really young kids who don’t go door-to-door, fun for them to dress up and see other kids dress up,” she added. “They have fun going for a short trick-or-treat. I think it’s really good for the little ones for sure.”