Thousands of trick-or-treaters flock to the Veterans Memorial Museum

An estimated 2,800 trick-or-treaters, along with their parents or guardians, descended upon the Veterans Memorial Museum on Sunday for the museum’s fourth annual Trunks with Treats event on Sunday, according to the museum’s executive director, Chip Duncan. 

After starting at 4 p.m., the event ran out of candy by around 7:30 p.m., he added. The candy, around 1,600 pounds worth, was all donated by both local residents and businesses, including large donations from Walmart and UNFI. 

Gemini Events owner Ashley Stotts helped create the event. 

“You can literally quote me when I say it’s all her fault,” Duncan said. 

Originally, Duncan was hesitant to host the event, but now in its fourth year, it is now well-established and draws thousands of people each year. 

“The first year we ran it … that was the one where we ran out and ended up running to Walmart, and the museum forked out like $1,800 (for candy), just cleared their shelves, and they just looked at us like we were crazy and we’re like, ‘yup, we’re the ones blocking I-5 with the traffic, sorry,’” Stotts said. 

A total of 55 vehicles were involved, decorated and filled with candy for trick-or-treaters. Additionally, Duncan said local volunteers from the Civil Air Patrol’s Lewis County Composite Squadron helped direct traffic and parking for the event. 

The Veterans Memorial Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

A nonprofit, the Veterans Memorial Museum is dedicated to preserving the memories and telling the stories of veterans.

For more information, visit https://www.veteransmuseum.org/ or find the museum on Facebook.