MERIDEN -- Halloween night got a little dreary in Meriden when it rained, but the weather didn't dampen spirits of the more than 1,000 people who showed up to the New Life Church's ninth annual Trunk-or-Treat event. It is billed as an alternative to trick-or-treating, and is a one-stop shop.
"Instead of going door to door, we have people park their cars, open their trunks, decorate, wear costumes and then hand out candy from their trunks," said event organizer Marie Mordarski.
Kids dressed in their Halloween's best--skeletons, pumpkins and, of course, Elsas.
Some like 9-year-old Gurneet Ahuja, who was dressed as a "bat fairy," weren't too jazzed about their costumes. "My mom picked it out. I wanted to be something else," Ahuja said. But an abundance of candy brightened the mood immediately.
Gurneet's mom, Gurinder Ahuja likes the annual event because it's safe. "You don't have to go door-to-door and friends come here all the time, so it's fun seeing all the family and friends all together," the elder Ahuja said.
While many little ones had sweets on the brain, the adults made sure to plan some sweet activities too, including hayrides and a photo booth, which was new this year.
"We've been here before and we think that this is a really cool place to go to because there's like games that we can play to win candy and prizes and stuff like this," said Riley Mena, 9. He dressed as his favorite video game character.
New Life's Trunk-or-Treat is free to all.