Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail brings holiday magic to patients and families

On Friday, Oct. 31, everyone at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford took part in creating a Halloween playground for the young and the young at heart — complete with a haunted house, 50 different trick-or-treat stops and caregivers with costumes galore.

It’s a place where kids — and their families and friends — could have Halloween fun even while being hospitalized.

“We are so glad to have the Trick-or-Treat Trail for the kids, as this is the first Halloween that means something special to my son,” said dad Jereme Claussen of his 3-year-old son Arthur. Arthur’s kid sister Alma was recently listed for a liver transplant, so it was nice that Arthur and Alma could have Halloween fun even though the family is away from their Portland home, Jereme said.

This year, little superheroes and princesses walked floor to floor, gasping with wonder as staffers passed out goodie bags stuffed with treats. Every inch of the hospital was covered with themes and decorations from kid-friendly classics – including Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and much more.

“The Trick-or-Treat Trail is a place where our patients can experience the same Halloween fun as if they were at home,” said Colette Case, director of child and family life services, whose team was the mastermind behind the extravaganza. “It’s wonderful for the kids to see their nurses and care staff dressed up, and get into the holiday spirit with them. We love providing this bit of Halloween magic for our patients.”

See our Trick or Treat Trail photos!