Trick-or-treaters in Luverne move to 'Street of Treats' for Halloween candy

Luverne’s popular Trunk ’N Treat event typically draws hundreds of costumed children and parents downtown where businesses and organizations set up Halloween displays and hand out candy.
This year the pandemic makes that type of gathering unsafe, but the Luverne Area Chamber has plans to make Halloween special.
“Our children have missed out on so much this year,” said Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere. “We’re going to try to make Halloween as special as possible.”
With the “Street of Treats,” trick-or-treaters will experience Halloween, drive-through style.
From 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, the one-way street along the east side of the high school will be lined with costumed businesses and organizations who will display their Halloween spirit and wave to passing vehicles.
Car radios can be tuned in to Halloween music and spooky sounds from a special short wave broadcast station.
At the end of the “parade route,” the Luverne Fire Department will hand out pre-packaged bags of candy donated by and assembled by community businesses and volunteers.
Lanphere said the plan meets Covid-19 health and safety protocols.
“They’ll be wearing face shields and gloves,” she said. “It’s about the safest thing you can do for your kids.”
And, she said, trick-or-treaters on the “Street of Treats” may end up with more candy than ever, given the donations of candy and cash the Chamber has received for the event.
“They’ll have at least 50 pieces of candy, if not more,” Lanphere said.
She said mostly Chamber members and organizations are involved, but local residents are helping, too.
“We’ve had individuals come in to donate,” Lanphere said. “They’ve said they can’t open their doors to trick-or-treaters, so they wanted to bring their candy here to give to the kids.”
Included in the candy bags will be Halloween booklets with games and coloring pictures that list sponsors who helped with the Street of Treats.
Businesses and organizations have until Thursday, Oct. 22, to sign up to participate. See luvernechamber@co.rock.mn.us or call 507-283-4061.