GLOCESTER – Dinosaurs, little princesses and witches of every stripe dominated downtown Glocester on Saturday at the ninth annual Trick or Treat on Main Street event put on by the Glocester Business Association, a tradition that serves as a fundraiser to benefit the Glocester and Foster food pantries.
Among the throng of trick or treaters was a family of friendly dinos –Neal Fontaine and Carlene Fontaine of Woonsocket with their children.
“We come every year since they were tiny. They look forward to it,” said Carlene, mother of Nathan, 10, and Abrielle, 11. “It builds community, makes little Chepachet on the map as an historic town that no one knows about.” She carried her animated pet puppet dinosaur that along with her human family of dinosaurs elicited plenty of double takes from passersby on the crowded street.
Many more creative costumes were also seen along the sunny roadway.
A local man costumed as a bird that he said he believed might be a vulture was walking along with the bustling trick or treaters.
“I think it’s a blast,” John Kenny said of the annual event.
The bird-man was attracting attention, and the choice of costume was a result of “sheer chance” rather than planning, said Kenny. With him was local Brian Houle.
“Everybody’s friendly. Great costumes,” Houle said of the day.
For the Glocester Business Association, the day brought an extraordinary “outpouring of the community to help out,” observed volunteer Vinny Lepore.
“The generosity is just awesome today” agreed volunteer Kim Michalik.
A family of volunteers was also helping at the GBA table: Alan LeBlanc of Burrillville, his daughter Jenn Morin, and her son Paul.
“It’s fun for the kids and very safe,” said Darleen Joseph of Wakefield, who attended the festive afternoon with family, and was dressed as Dorothy from the film The Wizard of Oz.
“Dorothy’s” adult son, Dana Joseph of Burrillville, said the family regularly attends the early Halloween on Main Street.
“It’s a lot of fun, a nice event, and it brings food for the food bank,” Joseph said.
Likewise, local Melissa Margres said, “we enjoy it every year. It gets the kids to come out of the house and have fun and see the scarecrows and meet up with friends.”
With her was Tyler Williams of Connecticut, who also attends annually.
“It’s good for the kids,” he said of the festive event.
The children in the family Corbin, 9, Evelyn, 10, Quinn, 6, Rhett, 6, and Shelby, 4, posed for a photo with a “witch” and “Templar knight.”
In real life, the duo are local dental professional Kirsten Romani, and her son Daniel Romani.
“I love it,” Daniel said of the annual tradition in Chepachet. He said he helps his mother greet the public, and likes that the event has “good tables, good food, and is good for the community.”
The annual gathering has a deeper meaning than fun, said the orthodontist, pointing to donations collected for the food bank. Her office also collects food, partnering with the GBA for the month of November.
Sideways Down Antiques & Gallery owner Caitlin Lanphear was “loving seeing everyone dressed in costumes.” She and her sister were giving out treats of stickers, bracelets and rubber ducks.
“It’s my favorite day of the year. I love seeing all the kids in their costumes and giving back to the community,” said Staci Lanphear.
The father of the sisters, Clayton Lanphear, was once a doctor at the location and converted the house into an antique store several years ago, the ladies said.
“I love today, the smiling faces, the wonderful costumes, and just how happy everybody is,” said circulation librarian Pat Svansson, who was giving out treats outside the Glocester Manton Library.
Her fellow librarian, Gayle Wolstenholme, seemed also delighted with Trick or Treat on Main Street.
“It’s a wonderful follow-up to the Scarecrow Festival with a day like today,” said Wolstenholme. “It’s a great family event with all the little goblins, and the adults in costumes, too, and it’s part of why we love our community.”
The Burkett family of Chepachet was strolling down the street.
Trick or Treat on Main Street is “good for the kids,” said Larry Burkett, father of Eden, 15 months; Anne, 2; and Fitzgerald, 4. “They are very excited.”
“It’s great that the town puts it on, and nice to see everyone give local support to small businesses,” said Lauren Burkett, the mom.
October “is a great time of the year for the kids to get outdoors. We come every year,” said local resident Larissa Boutin, who stopped to give a comment as her youngsters Coraline, 10, Bram, 8, and Kalliope, 5, received treats at the Glocester Republican Town Committee’s table.
John Luszcz stopped by and noticed the sizable crowd on the street.
“Great turnout. Everybody’s looking good and happy. Everyone’s coming together,” he said.
Cassidy Greathouse, manning the table said he was “glad we had good weather. And that it’s a great turnout.”
Trick or Treat in Chepachet is “a wonderful event,” said Kristina Hogan, a local teacher. “It’s great sense of community, bringing people in from town and from all over the state. Especially in the world today, we need this.”
Peter Tympanick of Pascoag made his way through the crowd with Leona, 3, and his wife, Rena Tympanick.
“It’s great for the little ones – a free community event that gets everyone out in the fresh air, and out to the businesses,” she said.
“I enjoy the small town life, and getting out of the chaos of everyday life,” said Michael Rudis who was with his wife, Toriana Rudis, and their children Maddie, 4, and Evie, three months.
“This has been the best one we have been to weather-wise, and for the vendors too,” said Toriana Rudis.
Following the day’s festivities, an announcement on the GBA website declared the event “a monstrous success.”
“At least 1,000 ghouls and goblins attended with their families,” the organization noted.
The GBA collected “many, many boxes of food for the Glocester and Foster food pantries,” along with $487 in donations from the community, and $1,400 in donations from local businesses. More donations, they noted, are on the way.
Whether attending clothed as man or beast, all seemed to appreciate both the beautiful fall day and the charitable purpose, including the ten-foot-tall orange T-Rex, strolling down the street with tail bobbing along behind him.
