Trunk or Treat, Hayride and Prizes Set for Robertsdale Library Halloween Fun Night Oct. 27

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Costumes, candy and a hayride are on the calendar later this month as the Robertsdale library Halloween celebration returns. Robertsdale Public Library will host a Halloween Fun Night on Tuesday, Oct. 27, offering an evening of trick-or-treating, games and other activities for children ages 12 and under.

The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the library, 18301 Pennsylvania St. in Robertsdale.

What’s planned

The evening will include:

• Trunk or Treat: Trick-or-treating from decorated vehicles, a popular, contained alternative to going door to door.
• Games and prizes for young guests.
• Food and candy.
• A special hayride provided by the Robertsdale Fire Department.

Children are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite costumes and bring their Halloween spirit for an evening of fun.

Event at a glance

• What: Halloween Fun Night
• When: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27
• Where: Robertsdale Public Library, 18301 Pennsylvania St., Robertsdale
• Who: Children ages 12 and under
• Highlights: Trunk or Treat, games, prizes, food, candy and a Robertsdale Fire Department hayride
• Library phone: 251-947-8960

A head start on the holiday

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so the library’s Tuesday-evening event gives families an early chance to break out costumes and collect treats several days before the holiday weekend. For children who enjoy dressing up, it also offers a trial run to make sure costumes, masks and shoes are comfortable before Oct. 31.

Why Trunk or Treat events are popular

Trunk or Treat events have become a fixture of Halloween in many communities, especially in smaller towns and rural areas where homes can be spread out and sidewalks are limited. Instead of walking from house to house, families move along a row of parked cars whose trunks or tailgates have been decorated, collecting candy in a single, well-lit location.

For parents, the format offers a few practical advantages: children stay in one place, adults can keep an eye on them easily, and young trick-or-treaters avoid crossing busy streets after dark. Pairing the candy with games, prizes and a hayride, as the Robertsdale library is doing, turns the evening into a small fall festival.

The fire department’s role

The Robertsdale Fire Department’s hayride adds a hometown touch. Fire departments across Baldwin County regularly take part in community events, and appearances like this one give children a chance to meet firefighters in a friendly setting. October is also Fire Prevention Month nationally, making it a natural time for firefighters to connect with families.

About Robertsdale Public Library

Robertsdale Public Library, built in 1992, is a city library in central Baldwin County. It honors all Baldwin County library cards and offers free library cards, books and other materials for checkout, magazines, audio and video materials, and public computers with free internet access. The library also hosts children’s and community activities throughout the year. Its regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to the City of Robertsdale.

Borrowers can check out up to 25 items at a time for 14 days, with online renewal available when no one else has placed a hold. Reference help is available without a library card, and the library’s 11 public computer terminals are free to use, with a one-hour limit when others are waiting. Library cards are free, which makes an event night a good time for families who do not yet have one to ask about signing up.

Halloween Fun Night is the latest in a string of free family programs at the library. In September, the library offered a princess tea party for preschoolers and a Lunch & Learn safety program for adults presented by Robertsdale’s police chief.

About Robertsdale

Robertsdale sits at the crossroads of Alabama Highway 59 and Highway 104 in central Baldwin County. The town grew up after the Louisville & Nashville Railroad built a line through the area in 1905, and it was named for B. F. Roberts, an official of the Chicago-based development company that founded the community. Robertsdale was incorporated in 1921, and the 2020 census counted about 6,800 residents.

Halloween safety tips

Whether families attend the library’s event or trick-or-treat closer to home, a few common-sense steps can help keep the night safe:

• Be visible. Add reflective tape to costumes or treat bags, and carry a flashlight or glow stick after dark.
• Choose costumes carefully. Make sure costumes fit well enough to avoid tripping, and that masks do not block vision; face paint can be a good alternative.
• Stay together. Younger children should be accompanied by an adult, and older children should go in groups with a set plan and check-in time.
• Check treats. Look over candy before children eat it, and set aside anything that is unwrapped or looks tampered with. Be mindful of food allergies.
• Watch for traffic. Drivers should slow down in neighborhoods and near event sites, where excited children may dart between cars.

Check before you go

Hurricane Isaias made landfall on the Gulf Coast on Oct. 9, and recovery work may affect schedules across Baldwin County in the weeks ahead. Families planning to attend Halloween Fun Night can confirm details by calling Robertsdale Public Library at 251-947-8960.