A line wrapped clear around Mill Pond Plaza in Westerly on Monday as hundreds of costumed kids and parents turned out for Casa Della Luce's fifth annual trunk-or-treat, a free Halloween bash that's become an annual community gathering while also serving as a food drive for local families.
A Tradition That Keeps Growing
Casa Della Luce held its fifth annual trunk-or-treat event in the Mill Pond Plaza parking lot on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, and hundreds of Halloween lovers flocked to the lot, according to WJAR. Organizers told the station the event gets bigger every year, and a line wrapped around the area. Children in costumes and adults alike collected candy, played games and enjoyed sweet treats during the event.
The celebration also included balloon animals, giveaways and a trunk contest, giving families plenty of reasons to linger beyond the usual trick-or-treat routine. Community members pitched in candy for the cause, and the station's report notes that several other Westerly businesses helped sponsor the event, turning a neighborhood gathering into a town-wide effort.
Candy Collection Doubles as Food Drive
Pizza shop owners behind the event asked attendees to bring canned goods or other nonperishable food items in exchange for the day's festivities, a request that has paid off before. Per the same account, last year's trunk-or-treat collected more than 2,000 pounds of food for a local shelter, a haul organizers are hoping to match or top again this year.
That kind of donation matters in a region where food insecurity remains a steady concern. The Jonnycake Center runs a client-choice food pantry at 23 Industrial Drive in Westerly, serving qualified residents of Westerly, Charlestown, Hopkinton and Richmond with a one-week supply of groceries. The center especially seeks canned soup, canned vegetables, canned fruit, coffee, tea and cereal, and it accepts nonperishables and produce from community donors year-round. The Jonnycake Center also began managing a volunteer-run Giving Garden in 2020 to help shore up food security across the area.
More Trunk-or-Treats on the Calendar
Casa Della Luce's event wasn't the only one drawing families out this Halloween season. The Westerly Sun reports that Charlestown Parks and Recreation held its own annual trunk-or-treat at Ninigret Park on Oct. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m., while Kidds & Co. hosted a $2-per-child event on Oct. 23 with proceeds benefiting classroom materials, toys and books.
Looking ahead to Halloween itself, the United Theatre plans a free trunk-or-treat as part of its HallUween celebration this Saturday in the Canal Street downtown parking lot near the Post Office, featuring a costume parade led by the United Music School Drum Corps, giant puppets, live music and a costume award ceremony. The First Baptist Church of Hope Valley will also hold a trunk-or-treat that day from 4 to 6 p.m., with games, a bounce house, raffles and door prizes rounding out the afternoon.
Separately, a listing from 32One Media describes a Casa Della Luce trunk-or-treat set for Oct. 28 at 105 Franklin St., Unit 19, in Westerly, open to the public and free of charge. That address differs from the Mill Pond Plaza location where Sunday's fifth annual event took place, so it remains unclear whether the two listings describe the same gathering.
