This is Halloween: Concord’s Annual Trick or Treat

Freshmen Cameron Karbo (right) was one of many  residential students who helped pass out candy at trick-or-treat.
Photo By James Hoyle

It is that time of year once again. Halloween has quickly become one of the largest holidays in the United States, to the point where it is only surpassed by Christmas in terms of money spent. A lot of that money is spent on candy for trick or treaters, and, to that end, Concord University hosted their annual trick or treat over the past week on Thursday, October 27. Children and their parents from Athens and the surrounding area could come to Wilson Hall on campus and trick or treat in a safe location. Students were encouraged to help out by providing candy and handing it out. 

    According to Arleen Xayasone, a Resident Assistant at Wilson Hall, the trick or treating this year was streamlined down from previous years in order to increase efficiency. There have been so many people showing up for this trick or treating in recent years that, in order to prevent issues of congestion, it was decided to move all of the trick or treating festivities to just Wilson Hall, as opposed to having trick or treating in both Wilson and Sarvay Halls, like in previous years.

    Xayasone added that Wilson trick or treat has been a Concord University tradition for several years. Approximately two hundred boys and girls were expected to show up for the trick or treating, though it was possible that more could have shown up. In addition, there was face painting for those interested. This is in contrast once again to previous years, where in addition to trick or treating, Wilson and Sarvay Hall would put on their own respective haunted halls in an effort to see who could scare the most people. As the things of that nature have since relocated to the Alexander Fine Arts Building, they decided to just eliminate Sarvay Hall from Halloween activities all-together.

    Xayasone said that the reception for this event is usually pretty solid. A great many of the children that come to the trick or treat at Concord come every year. “A lot of kids look forward to this,” she said, “Because they know that they are going to get a lot of candy. But it’s not just the kids. A lot of parents really love it as well. It gives them a sense of community and that we’re giving back to the community. A lot of our residents also really enjoy handing out candy and to participate in this.”

    When this reporter arrived on the scene, there was a great commotion outside. Kids were outside the hall in their costumes, waiting for candy. One of the people handing it out stated that they were worried about running out of candy. Considering that I arrived only a half-hour into the event, it is safe to assume that trick or treating was a smash, as always. It truly brings the student body together and gets people into the spirit of Halloween.