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The American Women's Club of Luxembourg (AWCL) is holding its "Trunk or Treat" Hallowe'en event at the Château de Differdange on Saturday 19 October 2024 from 12:00 to 16:00; this annual event continues to grow in popularity and is the culmination of many weeks work by AWCL volunteers, under the guidance of their Director of Events.

"Trunk or Treat" is an alternative to the traditional door-to-door "trick or treating". It is typically held in a car park where the children, dressed in their Hallowe'en costumes, walk, run or fly on broomsticks, from car to car, collecting sweets and treats from car boots ("trunks" in America). Each car is decorated Hallowe'en style, much like a house would be. There are also many games and activities planned for all the little ghouls, ghosts and goblins, including face painting, Cornhole, Fishing for Treats, Walk the Plank, Toss and Treat and Playdough Monster Mash.

This spooky event continues to grow in popularity. The AWCL expects 150 children to descend on Château de Differdange on Saturday. Twelve "trunks" are confirmed but fifteen or more are expected. Speaking to Chronicle.lu, Liz Darder-Bryant, Director of Communications at AWCL, stated: "Château de Differdange is a fantastic venue, its courtyard and historic charm truly capture the spirit of Hallowe'en. Additionally, there is public parking conveniently located across the street, and public transportation options are readily available. Overall, the setting provides a perfect backdrop for a spooky Hallowe'en celebration!" 

She is grateful for the supportive relationship AWCL has with Miami University Luxembourg Campus (MUDEC), which allows the use of their location at the castle for the event. 

Volunteers from AWCL and other organisations are central to the event's success. Volunteer duties include leading the games and activities, managing the snack and beverage table and ensuring all "trunks" remain well stocked.

Ms Darder-Bryant believes that the event initially started in the late 1990s, when a few American women celebrated a traditional Hallowe'en trick-or-treat in Strassen for their children. This evolved over the years to an official AWCL fundraising event for the AWCL "Gifts for Kids" initiative, which is dedicated to providing support and gifts to children in need, including those in Foyers, throughout Luxembourg. The highlight of this initiative is the delivery of gifts in time for Luxembourg's St Nicholas' Day on 6 December.

For further details and to register for this event, see https://awclux.com/event-5858664. The organisers have asked that people include the number of children attending, along with their first names and ages, when registering. The price per child is €20; accompanying adults go free.