For the first time in three years, Monroeville Parks and Recreation Department was able to host its annual Trail of Treats event.

“I love seeing community members back out in the community and being able to gather together, especially because we’re outdoors,” said Danielle Cole, program and events coordinator for the department, noting that the event was put on hiatus because of the covid-19 pandemic. “We weren’t able to do this trail, and we’re so happy to have it back.”

Festivities began at 4 p.m. Oct. 29, when children gathered with their parents at the beginning of the walking trail at Monroeville Community Park West. Volunteers were at the entrance handing out maps and pointing out the Book Walk provided by the Monroeville Public Library.

The library enlarged and printed pages of a Halloween story to post along the beginning of the trail. As guests made their way up the path, they stopped to read the pages.

The trail consisted of around 14 vendors plus community members who handed out candy from their cars. Halfway down the trail, children were able to stop and show their costumes to a panel of judges for a contest.

“We have some fantastic costumes coming through,” Cole said. “We have eight different categories, and we’re super excited to see everyone walking through. Our categories are ‘baby boo,’ scariest costume, funniest costume, cutest costume, most creative, most colorful, best group costume and most original costume.”

Cars along the trail were decorated with varying levels of festivity. From cobwebs and homemade signs to a blowup haunted house attached to a trunk, guests enjoyed each host’s creativity.

At the end of the trail, children made their way up to the parking lot between the soccer fields and amphitheater to wait in line for a “Haunted Train Ride.”

After guests were finished trick-or-treating, they were invited to the park amphitheater for Turner’s Tea and cookies handed out by Gateway High School student volunteers. Children gathered on the benches in front of the stage as Hope Benson, the head of children’s department and outreach at the library, read a Halloween story. Afterward, winners of the costume and trunk decorating contests were announced.

“We’re really lucky,” said Cole. “We got a lot of community support. Our fire companies, our police department, businesses and organizations: This definitely would not be possible without all of them.”

For those interested in becoming vendors for next year’s Trail of Treats event can, email parks@monroeville.pa.us or call the parks department at 412-856-1006. For more information about the parks and recreation department and upcoming community events, visit www.monroeville.pa.us.

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