PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Halloween came early for many local children on Wednesday, Oct. 24, when the University of Maine at Presque Isle opened its doors for a night of trick-or-treating and a walk through a scary new haunted house.
For 23 years UMPI has hosted trick-or-treating in Park and Merriman halls, the campus’s freshmen residence halls, and the tradition has grown to attract around 170 to 200 local families. Don Gibson, associate director for housing and residence life, said that around 100 students take part by dressing up and passing out candy to children who stop by their door.
UMPI has hosted the event a week before Halloween to make it more convenient for families who already have special plans on Halloween night. Gibson noted that he and students look forward each year to seeing the smiles on children’s faces as they collect bags full of candy.
“We see this event as a way for students to give back to the community and provide families with a safe place to have fun while trick-or-treating,” Gibson said.
Hundreds of children filled the hallways of the residence halls, hoping to make their packs heavy with sweet candy. Connor Violette, 7, dressed up as an M&M candy wrapper and attended the UMPI trick-or-treating for the first time with his mother, Jamie Violette.
“My favorite part is the candy,” Connor said, as he took a break to admire the stash he had collected.
Three-year-old Alice Ireland of Presque Isle was dressed head to toe as a superhero from the Disney animated film “The Incredibles” and received many compliments from students on her costume.
“We’ve been coming here trick-or-treating since she was born,” said Alice’s mother, Maddy Ireland. “It’s great that everyone dresses up and that there are lots of other kids that come.”
This year UMPI’s Student Activities Office added a haunted house to the evening’s festivities in the campus center, which they hope will become another fun tradition for families. Ten student actors dressed up as creepy clowns, zombies, mummies and ghosts and put on their scariest faces as families made their way through the darkened halls, which culminated in flashing strobe lights.
“We hope to get some feedback from community members and maybe set up the haunted house again next year,” said Violet Washburn, UMPI coordinator of campus engagement and international student services.
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- Three “zombies,” aka. UMPI student actors, (standing, left) were just some of the many scary creatures lurking around the haunted house at the campus center this past Wednesday. (Melissa Lizotte)
