Some residents are showing support and others are opposing Queen Creek’s decision to drop the Trunk or Treat Halloween event this year.

“After careful consideration, effective this year, the town will no longer be producing the annual Trunk or Treat event,” a press release from the town stated Tuesday. Instead, the town will now add a Christmas parade.

On the town's Facebook page, at least one resident applauded the decision.

"We’ve lived in Queen Creek for 20 years and haven’t been able to attend the Trunk or Treat in 10 years, it just was too insane and crowded," stated Murielle Marquet Inman on the town's Facebook page. "We actually avoid most things in Queen Creek due to the insane amount of people coming. It’s too bad, we loved having a town of our own with celebrations. I don’t know what the solution is but I do understand why the town has to stop somewhere. Thanks for trying to get back to your own community members."

But anther poster blamed residents from San Tan Valley for attending the event.

"Queen Creek Town Hall make(s) it for QC residents only. I understand QC has grown but a lot of people from STV come to QC events. Or like someone else said sell limited amounts of tickets,” Meghan Cole Stopa posted.

Deb Mc responded to Stopa by stating, “STV was Queen Creek long before you moved here.”

The town wrote that as Queen Creek’s other signature events have evolved over the years, Trunk or Treat has exponentially grown to great lengths.

Regardless, Queen Creek stated in the press release that “Last year, Trunk or Treat drew 20,000+ attendees, a testament to the community’s desire to come together. While last year’s event was successful, it continued to move away from the core components of the town’s signature events and was becoming more logistically challenging.” 

With an event drawing more than 20,000 attendees that spans more than a quarter of a mile and includes numerous activities, Trunk or Treat “makes it difficult for friends and neighbors to meet up and socialize.”

“As the Town Center continues to develop, parking options north of Ocotillo Road are becoming more and more limited. In addition, the size and scope of the event required a two-day closure of Ellsworth Road to safely set up and take down,” the release stated. “The extended closure resulted in increased traffic congestion in the heart of the community. The event itself was also becoming increasingly expensive to produce – even with scaling back activities and reducing the amount of candy, the event was projected to exceed budgetary constraints for 2024.” 

Replacing Truck or Treat as the town’s third signature event will be the Queen Creek Hometown Christmas Parade, which will transition from a Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce event to a town event this year. More details are in the works.

“Trunk or Treat has been a great event, providing years of memories. The town extends its thanks to everyone who has made Trunk or Treat possible – from sponsors, vendors, community groups and residents,” the release stated. “The town encourages families to participate in the various neighborhood and community events taking place that time of year, in addition to getting to know neighbors through trick or treating.”