Freedom Cycles’ Halloween Spooktacular to benefit Children’s Mercy

Maneuvering around some of the 800 power sport vehicles at Freedom Cycles in Grandview on Oct. 31 will be a few ghosts and many of the favorite characters children enjoy becoming for Halloween.

The first-ever Halloween Spooktacular and Trunk or Treat event at Freedom Cycles, at 12501 South 71 Highway in Grandview, is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kristin Paxton, marketing director at Freedom Cycles, expects about 1,200 people will attend.

“It is a safe alternative from kids going door to door,” Paxton said. “They go from car to car, and each vehicle will have candy and treats to give out to the kids. It is a completely free event for every attendee.”

In helping to give back to the community, the event goes beyond just being a safe place for kids to get a few pieces of candy.

There will also be a contest that Freedom Cycles is calling Cupcake Warz.

“We call them benevolent bakers,” Paxton said. “We will have 30 benevolent bakers come in. They will have all their cupcakes premade. They will face off in four different rounds. We will have two winners at the end.”

People who show up can taste the cupcakes for a donation, and the money raised will go to Children’s Mercy Hospital.

In addition, Freedom Cycles is also accepting new toys that have a value of $10 or more from now through the day of the event. All the toys will go to Children’s Mercy Hospital.

“I love the hospital,” Paxton said. “I think they do a lot of great work in the Kansas City area. For Halloween, that is why I picked Children’s Mercy. It reminded me of children who may not have an opportunity to go out for Halloween, so we thought this was a good way to give back to this organization.”

Jenni Stanfield, wife of Freedom Cycles owner Mike Stanfield, said it is important for their business to give back to the community.

“My husband’s theory is we are in the community, we shop in the community,” she said. “They help us, so therefore we help the community.”

Freedom Cycles started when Mike Stanfield began selling Husqvarna motorcycles out of his garage. The first dealership opened its doors in 1976 in Warrensburg. Freedom Cycles opened a store in Grandview in 1981 and its inventory has continued to grow.

“We have more stock than just about any other dealer in the Midwest, not just Kansas City,” said Richard Caldwell, a sales associate at Freedom Cycles for six years. “If you can’t find it here, you may be looking for something you can’t find.”

Jenni Stanfield hopes the Halloween event is so successful that Freedom Cycles does one every year.

The cupcake contest definitely sounds interesting. Most of the cupcake bakers, Paxton said, are from the Kansas City area. Some have bakery shops. Others enjoy baking.

“We will have four judges, and one will be the public,” Paxton said. “I will count the votes after 3 p.m. and that will be a portion of the vote. We have one judge from the Victory (Motorcycle) Riders. We have a judge from Children’s Mercy Hospital and myself.”

Paxton expects 50 vendors to be at Freedoms Cycles selling various items from their businesses. Some have donated items for a silent auction. The money raised from the auction will also go to Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Early during the event, an Elvis impersonator will perform at 11:30 a.m.

Caldwell likes that Freedom cycles is offering another option for children in Grandview to celebrate Halloween.

“I think all parents are concerned about going into the neighborhood and not knowing what you are getting at somebody’s house,” he said. “Here, it is all supervised. To me, I think it is great.”

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Freedom Cycles’ Halloween Spooktacular to benefit Children’s Mercy."