The Treat Trail — also called the Tree Trail by organizers — is scheduled a few days after this episode was recorded in October and will involve more than 40 downtown Tehachapi businesses, organizers said.

The event, which chamber and business leaders said began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a safer, centralized alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating, has grown from about 15–20 participating businesses in its first year to roughly 41–42 businesses this year. Organizers expect heavy foot traffic, citing prior counts in which volunteers tallied roughly 1,500 children in a single previous year.

Claire Scottie, executive director of the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber coordinates permitting and insurance for participating businesses and helps facilitate out-of-downtown booths by placing them in Railroad Park so non-downtown vendors can join safely.

“The tree trail is just a few days away as we speak,” Scottie said on the podcast, adding that the chamber and downtown businesses aim to create a safe, family-focused route through the core retail blocks.

Organizers said the Treat Trail’s downtown footprint focuses on the F Street and Green Street corridors and stretches near Curry and portions of Tashpee Boulevard, letting parents and children visit many storefronts on a single walk. Several businesses on Green Street and F Street will participate; the chamber said it has worked with the city to avoid conflicts with new string-light displays on F Street.

The chamber and participating businesses will distribute 100 “goodie bags” to the first 100 children who arrive at the ceremony, organizers said. The event will include civic and nonprofit partners, such as amateur radio volunteers and local animal-adoption groups, and a selection of downtown and park vendors offering activities and candy.

Organizers advised parents and guardians to plan for crowds and to check the chamber’s social media and event listings for the official route map and hours. The chamber also encourages businesses from outside the downtown core to register if they want to set up in Railroad Park; the chamber said it assists those vendors with documentation and insurance requirements.

Background and context: hosts and guests said the Treat Trail grew out of pandemic-era limitations on home trick-or-treating and that expanding downtown retail and evening lighting have increased pedestrian traffic and nighttime footfall, which organizers view as a long-term benefit for local merchants.

— Progenitors and organizers: Funky Junk and Go2Girls Estates, in partnership with the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce.

— Estimated previous attendance: volunteers counted about 1,500 children in a past year; current-year attendance was not provided.

— Event footprint: core downtown blocks around F Street and Green Street; Railroad Park used for additional booths and vendors.

— Logistics: chamber handles vendor documentation and insurance for non-downtown participants; first-100 goodie bags planned.

— Sponsors/partners mentioned on the podcast: Tehachapi Amateur Radio, Koinonia adoption services and nearby downtown businesses.

Organizers encouraged families to follow the chamber’s social channels for the final route and any weather or safety updates.