Resident urges council to close Downtown 8th Street for trunk-or-treat on Oct. 31

A resident who identified herself as Elaine urged the Ballinger City Council to close Downtown 8th Street for the city’s annual trunk-or-treat and to set the event date. Elaine said organizers prefer Friday, Oct. 31, despite a competing out-of-town game, and described prior event start and end times.

"When trunk or treat first started, the different churches had it on their parking lots. I remember doing one at First Baptist..." Elaine said, explaining how the event coalesced downtown and saying organizers in recent years began around 5:30–5:45 p.m. and intended to end by 7:30 p.m. She added that by 7 p.m. the event had often thinned.

Council members and staff said they had not finalized who would be the primary organizer (chamber, park board or city) and noted the council would need to approve any street closure. Council discussion included the logistics of permitting and a porta-potty trailer request tied to the event that had already been approved on the consent agenda.

No formal date change was adopted during the meeting; staff suggested the city could assume management if requested but that organizers and the council should confirm timing and logistics in follow-up communications.