On a cool Thursday evening, The Waters of Huntingburg opened its grounds at 1712 Leland Drive for a free, family-oriented Trunk or Treat and Chili Cook-Off that drew families, neighbors and community groups from across Dubois County. The two-hour event combined traditional Halloween trick-or-treating from decorated trunks with a friendly culinary competition that offered prizes for the top three chili entries.

Organizers encouraged participation by inviting both trunks for trick-or-treating and cooks to enter their recipes. Chili entries competed in three judging categories — Judges’ Choice, Resident Choice and Overall Pick — with awards for the top three chilis. Admission was free, lowering economic barriers to participation and helping make the evening accessible for families on fixed incomes, parents with young children, and local seniors.

Holding the event on the grounds of a community organization offered a supervised, centralized alternative to door-to-door Halloween activities, which many families find appealing for safety and social reasons. The combination of intergenerational activities — candy distribution alongside tasting and voting — created opportunities for interaction between residents, staff and visitors, reinforcing neighborhood connections at a time when communal gatherings are an important part of local life.

Beyond the immediate social benefits, the event had practical public health implications. Free, organized gatherings reduce the need for more dispersed, potentially unsupervised activities and can be structured to accommodate accessibility and food-safety concerns. Community hosts and food competitors are encouraged to follow food-handling best practices and to offer ingredient information for those with allergies or dietary restrictions. Events that provide clear contact and registration information, as this announcement did, make it easier for families to plan and for organizers to ensure adequate staffing, sanitation and accommodations.

From a policy and equity perspective, the event illustrated how local organizations can contribute to community well-being by providing low- or no-cost recreational opportunities. Small, community-driven events help address gaps in recreational programming, especially for families who may not be able to attend paid attractions. They also offer engagement points for older adults who may be isolated, promoting intergenerational exchange and mental-health benefits associated with community inclusion.

The grassy site at 1712 Leland Drive served as a focal point for the evening’s activities, and the free admission model removed a common barrier to participation. Those interested in future events or wishing to register a trunk or chili entry were directed to the contact information provided in the announcement, allowing organizers to plan setup and logistics.

As Dubois County communities plan seasonal programming, events such as the Trunk or Treat and Chili Cook-Off in Huntingburg demonstrate the value of accessible, supervised, and culturally meaningful gatherings. They offer a model for pairing festive celebration with practical public-health considerations and community-building goals.