West Plains, MO – Receiving full-size candy bars is a rare reward for most kids who will be out looking for candy this Halloween and a West Plains man will be continuing his long tradition of doing just that. Bruce Hershenson has given out full-size candy bars every Halloween for the last 25 years, with the exception of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Bruce will be continuing his tradition and shared some thoughts on this year’s festivities with Ozark Radio News.
News Director Nate Hudson (NH): It is wonderful to actually get to meet you, Bruce. This is Bruce Hershenson and he is the wonderful person in our community that is most well known for giving out full size candy bars during Halloween. So what kind of update do we have this year?
Bruce Hershenson (BH): Well, last year it got canceled because of COVID but this year Halloween is back on, so we’re back giving them away on Halloween from four o’clock to eight o’clock. And I not only give them to kids, I give them to anyone wearing a costume, and just come to the door, it’s the big house around the corner from Little Caesars and the city pool. And you’ll see a lot of cars there, and just come on and get some candy bars.
NH: And I’ve noticed driving down West Main, I remember in previous years, you typically have your house decorated before now. What’s been the issue this year?
BH: We normally start about two weeks ahead because people really enjoy seeing those decorations, but this year they have bad weather predicted for the Wednesday and Thursday before Halloween so we’re going to wait until Thursday and just have them up for a few days because bad weather is tough on Halloween decorations.
NH: Well, I know I am just one of many adults and many parents in this area that are very thankful for the decorations that you put up on Halloween and giving out full size candy bars. It’s not something that every person can do that does enjoy participating in trick or treating. So as a parent of two young children, I want to say thank you from myself to you.
BH: Thanks very much. We love it, we’ve done it 25 years now, so an awful lot of the people who come say they came when they were kids with their parents and it’s just a lot of fun. And the look on little kids’ faces when they see a full size candy bar, it’s really great.
