Woody from “Toy Story” was there. So was Ant Man. The Beast, Paul Revere and Alice made the trip from Wonderland. Heck, even Hall of Fame NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor attended. But no ghosts, ghouls or goblins appeared. And they won’t, either. This was the annual trunk-or-treat event sponsored by Boothbay Baptist Church who initiated the pre-Halloween celebration to provide a family-friendly option to All Hallow’s Eve. 

“The church wanted a safe alternative to Halloween. Some parents don’t feel safe in unfamiliar neighborhoods and this gives them a controlled environment,” Meredith Fowlie, a longtime trunk-or-treat volunteer said. And despite Halloween being associated with spooks and ghouls, there are no scary costumes at trunk-or-treat. Fowlie described it as a “positive, uplifitng event.”

Besides lots of candy, kids play games, play in three bounce houses and eat hot dogs. Years ago, the event was started in the church’s parking lot, but late October weather can be unpredictable which led to a new home in Boothbay Region YMCA’s field house. 

This year’s edition was filled with action heroes, royalty and one smore. Avery Fowlie, 9, came as Transformer Octumus Prime. “I like him. He is cool,” he said. Fowlie also likes Skittles. As for trunk-or-treat, he likes that, too. “It’s fun. I like getting candy and playing games.”

His cousin, Maxwell Cusumano, 5, came as Ant Man, one of the Avengers. “I like him because he can shrink into an ant,” he said. Cusumano is also a fan of Skittles. “I really like going out trick or treating and getting candy.”

His brother, Matthew Cusumano, came as a game, “Halo.” “It’s a video game. I play with my friend. Me and him like it a lot,” he said. As for Halloween, Matthew is a big fan. “I like all of it,” he said.