It was a bright and beautiful Saturday when the Community Youth Empowerment Group held its fourth annual Trunk-or-Treat event Oct. 28.

According to Events Coordinator Darien Fernandez, the organization began holding the event following the Covid pandemic when kids were still unable to go door-to-door.

Since then, the organization has continued to hold the event. Fernandez said the best part of hosting every year is “just seeing all the kids' smiles on their faces.”

Founder and CEO Jowuan Gamble said it's a free event open to families and for their fifth year the event will be even bigger. 

“It's just a fun event that everyone should take advantage of.” Gamble said. 

Darcy Fernandes, Asher Hamilton and Emily Kilili filled their trunk with Christmas decorations. 

Hamilton said, “I think Christmas is the best time of the year. It's a great way to get people thinking about it early, and it's easy. It was one of the easier things to come up with.”

Fernandes said they also wanted to be multicultural to ensure everybody is represented in the holiday. 

Among the Santa Clauses and gingerbread men were stockings with young girls of color. 

Avery Gomes, 5, was with her family who were hosting a trunk at the event.

Gomes said her favorite part about Halloween is the candy, especially Kit-Kats.

Dior Jalo, 3, dressed as a witch for the event.

“I love Halloween,” Jalo said. 

She said she also loves that witches ride around on brooms and even had her own broom.

She said her favorite car was a black and lime green one that took the shape of Frankenstein’s monster. 

Jalo added she loves the pink lights used to decorate for the holiday. 

Dressed as Zelda, Brielle Melo, 5, said she loved the Little Mermaid trunk.

“What I like about Halloween is I get to eat candy,” she said. 

Coi Degraffenreid, 7, and his cousin Johanna Nickerson, 8, were dressed as Beauty and the Beast.

Degraffenreid said the best part of the event is “we get to see the fire department and police department,” adding those were his favorite trunks to visit. 

Nickerson said she loved seeing all the costume people were wearing, but especially the blow up dinosaur one. 

In regard to the event, Degraffenreid said, “It’s really fun.”