After speculation over whether Wright City would host its annual trunk or treat event this year, city officials gave a thumbs up to move the event to Ruge Park to allow for more social distancing.

As has become tradition, the trunk or treat event will be hosted Halloween night, Oct. 31, starting at 6 p.m. Unlike tradition, a number of new measures will be in place to encourage social distancing and reduce direct personal contact.

For example, any groups that want to hand out candy this year are being asked to pre-register for a limited number of spots around the park. They’re also being asked to set up “contactless” candy pickup, such as spreading the treats on a table and allowing kids to take them.

Liz Schubert with Wright City Parks said the plan, weather permitting, is to have vehicles park along the gravel track around Ruge Park at safe distances from one another, allowing trunk-or-treaters to be spread out as they visit each stop.

“There won’t be as big of a crowd in one spot as there typically is at Diekroeger Park. We can space the vendors out. We have more parking, we have more walking space,” Schubert said.

Pre-registration to hand out candy at the trunk or treat is due by Oct. 28 and can be done by calling the Wright City Parks Department at 636-745-2804, or emailing parks@wrightcity.org.

There is no fee to participate.

Trunk or treat might not have happened

Up until last week, Wright City park officials weren’t sure the city’s trunk or treat was going to happen. At a board of aldermen meeting Oct. 8, Parks Director Josh Cole said he didn’t want to make a plan without the blessing of the aldermen and the Warren County Health Department.

City Administrator Jim Schuchmann said he recently spoke with the health department, which recommended a drive-thru trunk or treat as the safest type of event.

However, Wright City aldermen said they want an event that is as close to normal as possible.

“We just did Strassenbash, we had Woofstock in the park, we had the Fatheads car show in the park. These have all been greatly attended by people in the community,” said Ward 1 Alderman Michelle Heiliger. It would be a reversal, she said, to not take a similar approach for trunk or treat.

“I, personally, would just do our regular trunk or treat,” Heiliger continued. “People who aren’t comfortable with the idea don’t have to attend.”

After deciding on Ruge Park as a new location this year, Liz Schubert added that the larger park setting could actually make a good permanent location for trunk or treat. The well-lit baseball fields there could make good spots for side events at future trunk or treats, and the circular track is better for directing foot traffic, Schubert said.