Monday night, Friendship Park was packed with costumed young people ready to participate in a variation of the traditional act of trick-or-treating.

While the true history of trick-or-treating is a topic of contention, possibly being the result of influences from Celtic festivals, early Roman Catholic holidays and even medieval practices, according to History.com, one thing is true; it’s a tradition children love and parents sometimes grudgingly endure.

Some adults may find something a bit unnerving about going door to door with their progeny begging for candy they could just as easily buy themselves at the grocery store. But the tradition gives their children a reason to dress up as their favorite fictional character and tromp the neighborhoods in search of the houses with the best treats.

For residents of rural neighborhoods, participating in the tradition often entails long trips to more populated residential areas, hopefully with some form of police presence. So to have venue that is both public, secure and heavily attended meets all of those needs.

The Picayune Police Department provided security at the inaugural event, which helped allay fear of harm befalling the children.

The manager of the local Wendy’s, who did a great job in planning the successful event, suggested the event at a City Council meeting.

In addition to children being able to receive treats from a number of community members in a controlled environment, there were several activities available, including jump houses and a hayride.

Due to the effective planning and involvement from the business community, Picayune may have another successful annual event to offer to residents.

If that involvement continues, there’s no doubt that Trunk or Treat may replace the need for children to walk door to door in residential areas where any number of hazards await.