From Parking Lot Gathering to Ave Maria’s Biggest Halloween Tradition
Celebrating 10 Years of Trunk or Treat
Attendees participate in various costume contests.
Oil Well Craft Beer (OWCB) has long been a gathering place in Ave Maria. Known for weekly karaoke, bingo nights, Food Truck Fridays and “Painting with Sips” social events, the brewery has become a go-to spot for neighbors to connect and unwind. Ten years ago, owners Matt and Daneé Williams recognized another opportunity: with so many families living in their town, they wanted to create a festive event in the spirit of Halloween that brought together neighbors, friends and brewery regulars for a night of festive fun.
That first year [in 2015], Trunk or Treat took place in the parking lot of Ave Maria’s Park of Commerce. Fewer than ten trunks were decorated. It was a simple idea. A few families handing out candy from the backs of their cars, yet it captured exactly what makes Ave Maria such a close-knit community.
Ave Maria’s Town Center during the 2025 Trunk or Treat.
Over the years, the event grew. Each October, more residents volunteered, more families joined in and the decorations became more creative. Before long, the parking lot could no longer contain the sheer number of trick-or-treaters wandering from car to car and moved to a field nearby OWCB.
In 2023, the event officially transitioned to the Ave Maria Town Center, through a collaboration with Ave Maria Development and its event planning team. The change of venue transformed Trunk or Treat into a full-scale celebration. The entire Annunciation Circle has filled with 80+ decorated trunks from town businesses, local organizations and residents, DJ music, outdoor games and plenty of activities for families.
Daneé Williams.
“It’s hard to believe what began with a handful of cars outside our storefront has become one of the biggest nights of the year in our community. The best part is seeing kids come back year after year, now a little taller, but just as excited,” said Daneé.
This October marked the tenth year for Trunk or Treat, and the milestone was nothing short of impressive. An estimated 2,000 attendees filled the Town Center, making it the largest celebration yet. Families from Ave Maria, Golden Gate, Immokalee and other eastern Collier communities attended in their costumes ready to fill their treat buckets.
What stands out most, though, is not just the growth of the event, but the heart behind it. Daneé’s vision was never about drawing a crowd — it was about bringing people together. Her passion for community, combined with her love for Ave Maria, turned a small parking-lot idea into an annual tradition.
As Ave Maria’s Trunk or Treat continues to evolve, one thing remains… It’s a community-focused event still driven by the same connections which inspired its first night in a small parking lot a decade ago.