ESCANABA — A newer local Halloween tradition known as Trunk or Treat will take place Saturday for its third year.

“It’s something fun and safe for not only the kids, but anyone,” said Kelly Walch, one of the coordinators of the event.

The Halloween event — where treats are passed out from decorated vehicles — is put on by a combination of local businesses and organizations.

According to Walch, it’s a combination of Sav-Mor IGA, Sign Up, Radio Results Network and the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, people can walk along Ludington Street between 14th and 10th Street to trick or treat and vote on the best of the best decorated vehicles.

Trunk set up is from 12 to 12:45 p.m.

Walch said the trick or treating will start at the trunk closest to 14th Street.

She explained this year there will be a designated starting point so everyone can get a good look at all of the hard work put into the decorations.

Every trunk will have a number, and as people walk along they can make note of their favorites and vote for them.

The top three trunks win prizes, Walch said.

“Everyone who goes through can vote,” she said. She stressed how important it is to vote because the people and businesses in the community participating are committing time and money for the event.

She explained the trunk decorations can vary. She said last year someone had a vehicle decorated to look like a shark and they had handed out Swedish Fish to the trick-or-treaters.

Although just in its third year, the Trunk or Treat event continues to grow every year.

Walch said it all started when she and her family moved back here from North Dakota. She explained Trunk or Treat was an activity her kids really enjoyed during their time in North Dakota and thought something like this would be beneficial to Escanaba.

The first Trunk or Treat was held in the Sears parking lot.

According to Walch, the event was bigger than expected, so it was moved the following year to Ludington Street to get away from the highway.

She said the size of the event continues to grow. She noted last year more than 600 kids participated.

Walch said it’s been nice having the community and local businesses embracing this new event.

The event will occur rain or shine or freezing weather.

“Be sure to stop out and check out everyone’s hard work and vote for your favorite trunk,” she said.

Also scheduled Saturday, the Memorial United Methodist Church is putting on its annual Trunk or Treat and Halloween Carnival.

The church, located at 1920 Lake Shore Drive, Gladstone, will host the event Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.

The event is free to the community and includes games, prizes, food and face painting.

The Trunk or Treat portion of this event is from 1 to 2 p.m. and will be held inside if it’s raining.