Another Halloween is officially in the books and young ghouls and goblins had a plethora of chances to fill up on candy this year.
Following a successful lineup of events Saturday including the annual downtown trick-or-treating event from Emporia Main Street and Dia De Los Muertos activities, residents made their way to the David Traylor Zoo for the return on Boo in the Zoo Sunday afternoon. After having to be canceled last year due to COVID-19, Zoo Director Lisa Keith says she was over the moon to have the event back on the calendar.
While inside, families were able to trick-or-treat, see some of the residents of the zoo and take part in some fun Halloween-themed games. Zoo Education Coordinator Dehlia Sutton says not only does the zoo try to put on events that are fun and entertaining, they also do their best to slide a little education in as well.
It’s safe to say the zoo’s staff and volunteers weren’t the only ones excited for the return of Boo in the Zoo but so was the community as more than 1,400 residents made their way inside during the roughly 90-minute event.
After stopping by the zoo, trick-or-treaters made their way around the local community for some more traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. While most residents were dressed up to fill their bags with sweets, a few local organizations were looking to fill theirs with something else.
Emporia State University’s Locard Society of Forensic Science and the Emporia High Theatre Department teamed up to collect pantry items for Corky’s Cupboard and the Emporia High Spartan Stop. Donation totals are currently pending.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
