MARS HALLOWEEN HEADQUARTERS CELEBRATES SUMMERWEEN WITH TOPEKA COMMUNITY

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Jun 18, 2025, 09:00 ET

The North Topeka Arts and Entertainment District (NOTO), GO Topeka and Mars welcome Topeka community to celebrate Summerween with trick-or-treating on June 26

TOPEKA, Kan., June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars, the authority on Halloween, and maker of some of the world's most beloved treats and snacks, is celebrating Summerween with the Topeka community and its Topeka manufacturing site—also known as Mars Halloween Headquarters. Summerween, which gained popularity on social media last year, is a way for Halloween enthusiasts to celebrate the holiday in the hotter months.

In partnership with NOTO, the arts and entertainment district in North Topeka, and GO Topeka, the economic development arm of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Mars is hosting a Summerween concert and community event on Thursday, June 26, beginning at 6:00 pm CDT at Redbud Park. Topeka community members are invited to come together for an evening of Mars treats made in Topeka, music, food and other festivities.

Mars has been Topeka Proud since opening its state-of-the-art production facility in Topeka in 2014. The site now sits at over 550,000 square-feet and currently employs approximately 600 Associates. As the Mars "Halloween Headquarters," the site produces a variety of beloved treats, including TWIX^®, M&M'S^® Peanut, M&M'S^® Milk Chocolate Minis and Fun Size candies like SNICKERS^®, 3 MUSKETEERS^® and MILKY WAY^® that are found in variety bags throughout the Halloween season and beyond.

"Mars is in the business of inspiring moments of everyday happiness, and it's been an honor to help create these moments here in Topeka," said Brian Pardo, Mars Wrigley Topeka Site Director. "Of course, we couldn't be the official Halloween Headquarters without our incredible Associates who make our beloved Mars treats. Mars has always been proud that our candy is a favorite during Halloween, among other seasons, and we love celebrating with our local community."

"NOTO is delighted to partner with Mars and GO Topeka to bring the spirit of Summerween to life in our vibrant arts district," said Staci Schnacker, Arts Administrator, NOTO. "Our community thrives on creativity and celebration, and this event is a perfect opportunity to showcase the unique charm of NOTO. We look forward to welcoming everyone for an unforgettable evening filled with music, art and the joy of the Halloween season."

"We are thrilled to celebrate Topeka as the home of Mars Halloween Headquarters for a second year in a row," said Molly Howey, President, GO Topeka. "Topeka has so much to offer, and along with NOTO and Mars, we're excited to bring the community together for a hauntingly fun and festive celebration."

Topeka community members are welcome to join the Summerween festivities on Thursday, June 26 at Redbud Park (924 N Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66608) running from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm CDT.

If you are interested in learning more about working at Mars, please visit https://careers.mars.com/us/en/.

Media Contact
Hannah Messinger
[email protected]
445-444-6970

About NOTO
Located in the heart of Topeka, Kansas, the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District is a vibrant hub dedicated to fostering creativity, culture, and community engagement. Celebrating local artists, performers, and entrepreneurs, NOTO offers a dynamic mix of galleries, shops, live music venues, and public art installations that reflect the rich artistic spirit of the region. Committed to revitalization and economic development, the district serves as a cornerstone for cultural tourism and a catalyst for community connection in Topeka.

About GO Topeka
GO Topeka creates county-wide economic success for all companies and citizens through implementation of an aggressive economic-development strategy that capitalizes on the unique strengths of the community. GO Topeka operates under the Greater Topeka Partnership and is the leading economic development agency in the area. For more, visit GoTopeka.com.

About Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN^®, PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, CESAR^®, DOVE^®, EXTRA^®, M&M'S^®, SNICKERS^® and BEN'S ORIGINAL^™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD^™, BLUEPEARL^™, VCA^™ and ANICURA^™ span preventive, general, specialty and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH^® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles—Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom—inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.