HUG's Trunk-or-Treat
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were to mix spooky costumes, car trunks bursting with creativity, a candy-fueled crowd, and a whole lot of HUG energy?
I’ll be the first to tell you: a thrilling HUG Trunk or Treat that feels like walking onto the set of Halloweentown would happen!
HUG’s Trunk or Treat Halloween Party transformed the HUG Office parking lot into a haunted wonderland of laughter, lights, and pure joy. Hosted by the Friends of HUG Social Group, this spooktacular celebration brought together HUG friends, families, and volunteers for an evening full of sweet treats, silly scares, and nonstop smiles.
From the moment guests arrived as the sun prepared to set, the lot came alive with car trunks decked out in creative, creepy, and downright committed Halloween themes. Every car was its own mini adventure, from spooky graveyards and crazy carnivals to witchcraft and wizardry and even monster mash-ups. Our HUG friends arrived in a range of iconic costumes, dressed as everything from superheroes to skeletons, ready to feast and fuel up before taking on such a journey, visiting each thrilling trunk.
What an experience it was to see our friends show up and show out, including Ryan as the most chilling carnival clown around, Drew as the iconic Riddler, Ande starring as Reputation Era Taylor Swift, Kobe as Fred with Scooby in tow, and Andrea rocking iconic accessories from her pumpkin hat to spooky charmed jewelry!
Don’t fear, dinner time was anything but scary. Thanks to a HUG fan-favorite, Wendy’s Biggie Bags, everyone enjoyed a delicious meal prior to filling their trick-or-treat bags. Old and new friends gathered across the outdoor seating, sharing fries, stories, and compliments on each other’s costumes.
The excitement certainly didn’t end with the Biggie Bags! As our friends wrapped up dinner, they began flooding into the parking lot, floating between games, trunks, and candy galore. HUG’s toad-ally amazing Melinda, and her partner dressed as a life-sized Yoshi, greeted friends left and right at their Super Car-io Brothers trunk!
Some friends made their way to the photo booth early on, while others went in careful order of the numbered trunks and finished their trek with a photo strip souvenir. It was no surprise that many cars were revisited, and eventually, the treat handout began to slow.
As the sun dipped behind the skyline, it was time to take the party indoors.
Inside, the HUG office transformed into a cozy movie den where friends could either kick back and watch Hocus Pocus (a classic, of course) on one side, or head straight over to the dance floor. A decked-out cowgirl (AKA HUG’s team member, Sarah) led a game of “Sarah Says” in which the eager-to-dance HUG crew followed along with moves including the Monster Mash and Dracula Disco. The room was a sight to behold as tons of HUG Friends grooved and gabbed in costume.
Eventually, everyone needed a chance to catch their breath, so a round of Mad-Libs guided by Robin, in full French fry attire, commenced. Laughter rang out as the silliest story about the HUG friends taking over the HUG Office on the night of Halloween was pieced together.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper HUG party without a dance floor finale! Thriller came on, and the energy turned up. Everyone took turns showing off their best moves and costumes in the dance circle, and were hyped up in return.
As the evening wound down, cameras flashed at the Halloween photo booth, capturing more picture-perfect memories of ghouls, ghosts, and grins. Every snapshot was a reminder of what makes HUG nights so special: connection, community, and celebration for all.
By the end of the night, the moon was out, the candy bags were overflowing, and the dance floor had yet to cool down. Eventually, it was time for the night to wrap up with hugs (obviously) and chatter anticipating the next HUG event.
Our friends brought the kind of vibrance that makes ordinary nights unforgettable. At HUG, we celebrate individuality loud, proud, and in full costume, because when our community comes together, the only rule is to have fun being exactly who you are.
Written by Sarah Bryan
