The season of spooky fun came to a close Halloween night with several family-friendly events, offering a safe alternative to traditional trick or treating.
Masonic Center
Sarah; Beau, Andrew and Lilah Pagotto of Terre Hill, Lancaster County, enjoy a Trunk or Treat event Friday at the Masonic Center in West Reading. (Michelle Lynch – Reading Eagle)
Things started early at the Reading Masonic Center, 400 S. Seventh Ave., West Reading, with the organization’s first Trunk or Treat event. Members of the six lodges that meet at the facility and their appendant groups decorated open vehicle trunks and filled them with goodies.
The idea started with the suggestion of Mason Gary Mullen, said Steve Pagotto, a fellow Mason and an organizer of the event.
“As Masons, we try to do as much as we can for the community,” Pagotto said as he handed out hot dogs and hot chocolate to the stream of families stopping by.
Pagotto’s grandson, Beau, 2, shyly reached into a nearby truck, snagging a small treat before hiding his face against the chest of his father, Andrew.
The little boy; his sister, Lilah, their father and mother, Sarah, drove from their Terre Hill, Lancaster County home to spend some time with Poppop Steve and Mommom Janet of Spring Township.
Berks History Center
Trick or treaters descend the stairs at the Berks History Center’s Trick or Treat event Friday. (Michelle Lynch – Reading Eagle).
At the Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, Muhammad Bowen, 9, and his sister Maiyuri, 8, each took a piece of candy before moving to the next station.
“We have 15 different areas where the kids can trick or treat,” said Amanda Lynn McCoy, director of the museum and archive dedicated to preserving Berks County’s history.
McCoy said the areas were selected to give Halloween visitors a taste of the many exhibits.
The Bowen siblings came to the event with their older sister, Niyla Fuller, 11, and mother, Danielle Fuller of Reading.
Danielle said she was introduced to the center as a child while on a school field trip.
“It is so nice to be able to bring my own children here and let them learn about our local history,” she said.
Muhammad Bowen, 9, and his sister Maiyuri, 8, each take a piece of candy at one of 15 stations selected to give Halloween visitors to the Berks History Center a taste of the museum’s exhibits. (Michelle Lynch – Reading Eagle)
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Araceli Alvarado, 11; Kaley Leon, 11; and Daniel Aguilar, 11; take a break after viewing a model of Colonial Reading at the Berks History Center in Reading. (Michelle Lynch – Reading Eagle)
Centre Park
The Centre Park Historic District held its annual Trick or Treat in the Park event in Reading’s Centre Park. Residents and neighbors of the historic district enjoyed steaming grilled hot dogs and hamburgers as well as soda. Each child was given a bag stuffed with candy and snacks.
A volunteer hands out goody bags at Centre Park Historic District’s trick or treat event Friday. (Michelle Lynch – Reading Eagle)