Trunk-or-treat events have become a popular alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, especially in recent years, as families seek safer and more community-focused Halloween experiences. With cars decked out in creative themes and kids collecting candy from trunk to trunk, these events are a fun and festive way to celebrate Halloween. Whether you’re organizing a trunk or treat for your neighborhood, church parking lot, or school, these Trunk or Treat ideas will help you plan an event that your children and community will love.
Updated September 8, 2024
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Organizing a successful trunk or treat event requires planning and coordination.
Start by securing a venue, such as a school or church parking lot, and then recruit participants to decorate their car trunks.
Promote the event through social media, local businesses, and community groups to ensure a good turnout.
Don’t forget to create rules for trunk decorators and provide guidelines for candy distribution to ensure a smooth event.
Consider offering prizes for the best-decorated trunks to encourage creativity.
Trunk or treat events have become a popular alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, especially in recent years as families seek safer and more community-focused Halloween experiences.
With cars decked out in creative themes and kids collecting candy from trunk to trunk, these events are a fun and festive way to celebrate Halloween.
Whether you’re organizing a trunk or treat for your neighborhood, church lot, or school, these tips and ideas will help you plan an event that your community will love.
The concept of trunk or treat began in the early 2000s as a safe, community-based alternative to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating which had it’s dangers.
Originally organized by churches, schools, and neighborhood groups, these events aimed to provide a secure environment for kids to collect candy.
Over the past few years, trunk or treat has expanded into a beloved Halloween tradition, where families use Halloween decorations to decorate car trunks to match fun and spooky themes, offering a festive twist on the holiday.
My Shark Attack-Inspired Trunk
While traditional trick-or-treating involves walking door to door through neighborhoods, trunk or treating is a more condensed experience where cars are parked in a parking lot, each decorated with its own theme.
One of the biggest differences is the emphasis on community and safety.
With kids walking short distances between parked cars, parents can keep a closer eye on them, reducing the risks of running into traffic or getting lost in the crowd.
However, many families still enjoy combining both experiences for double the Halloween fun!
A Trunk-or-Treat Event, also known as trunk or treating or Halloween tailgating, is when individuals decorate the trunks of their vehicles to fit a certain theme or idea.
Participants often dress up in costumes to fit the theme and hand out candy.
Children walk (or run) to each vehicle collecting candy. It’s one of the times they can move around and interact with others more than just playing with their outdoor toys.
Many trunk-or-treat events also have other fall or Halloween-type activities to complement the trunk-or-treat portion.
My Shark Attack-Inspired Trunk or treat costume –
My costume didn’t fit the theme, but my husband dressed like a lifeguard! We also played the theme song from “Jaws”!
While traditional trick-or-treating involves walking door to door through neighborhoods, trunk or treating is a more condensed experience where cars are parked in a parking lot, each decorated with its own theme.
One of the biggest differences is the emphasis on community and safety.
With kids walking short distances between parked cars, parents can keep a closer eye on them, reducing the risks of running into traffic or getting lost in the crowd.
However, many families still enjoy combining both experiences for double the Halloween fun!
A Trunk-or-Treat Event, also known as trunk or treating or Halloween tailgating, is when individuals decorate the trunks of their vehicles to fit a certain theme or idea.
Participants often dress up in costumes to fit the theme and hand out candy.
Children walk (or run) to each vehicle collecting candy. It’s one of the times they can move around and interact with others more than just playing with their outdoor toys.
Many trunk-or-treat events also have other fall or Halloween-type activities to complement the trunk-or-treat portion.
My Shark Attack-Inspired Trunk or treat costume –
Consider children’s bedtimes when planning an event that is geared towards children.
Sometimes, Halloween falls mid-week, so you want to ensure your start and end times are still early enough. Otherwise, you will have many unhappy and fussy children and even more tired parents the next day.
Creating a standout trunk is all about creativity and fun.
Some top trunk or treat themes include superheroes, fairy tale castles, pirate ships, and even haunted houses.
For a truly impressive display, consider coordinating your costumes with your car’s decorations.
If you’re looking for something easier, popular movie characters or classic Halloween themes like witches and pumpkins are always a hit.
Remember to keep your decorations safe and sturdy, especially when kids are walking around your trunk collecting candy.
When attending a trunk or treat event, safety should always come first.
Ensure your child’s costume is visible, especially if the event takes place after dark.
Reflective tape or glow sticks can help.
Stick close to the designated event area and avoid venturing too far from your parked car.
Always inspect candy before allowing kids to eat it and be mindful of food allergies.
Some trunk or treat events now offer non-candy options for children with dietary restrictions.
A Candy Land-inspired trunk!
Parking Lots are best, but if they are public, you will need permission from your City through permitting.
Could you do your research and get written permission from anyone, especially a private parking lot?
Many trunks or treat events use a parking lot at churches or recreation centers. Over the past few years, these events have grown in popularity as a safer alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.
Nothing is worse than playing dumb when you are asked for a permit and don’t have one.
Your event could be shut down, and nobody wants that—especially the hundreds of children who will go home sad and without Halloween candy.
Finding volunteers can be challenging for any event, but most people love to help community-driven events.
Many high school curriculums require students to serve a certain amount of community service volunteer hours.
Could you be sure to contact the local high school and get permission to post a notice on a job board?
Senior homes are also great resources if you are looking for individuals to pass out candy.
Local businesses can play a big role in making your trunk or treat event a success.
Businesses can sponsor trunks, donate prizes, donate candy or provide themed decorations.
Some may even offer free samples or coupons to attendees, giving them exposure while supporting the community.
These partnerships can enhance the event and give it a professional touch, while helping local businesses engage with families in a fun and festive setting.
Some businesses ask for recognition, while others have no expectations and love to give to the community.
If you are still looking for sponsors for the event (especially a first-time event), ask the trunk-or-treat hosts to bring their candy.
Otherwise, you will need to plan and budget for candy. In that case, always buy bulk if you can.
This can be tricky, especially for a community that has never heard of such an event or for trick or treaters looking for a new experience.
You can Google other examples of trunk or treat ideas and show them to potential participants to show them what a decorated trunk can look like.
Seeing is believing, and they will be hooked by the potential of what their trunk could look like.
Could you create a registration form to keep track of how many cars will be at the event?
Ask for their email address so we can send them event information, including set-up times and other essential details such as lousy weather plans, contact information, etc.
Better yet, find a group of competitive friends, and they will come out in droves to participate in an adult version of “Dress Up” for a chance to win or beat their friends.
Also, could you ask your local Police and Fire Departments to participate?
They love to bring out their vehicles and interact with families.
Trunk or Treat events are a great family activity that includes firefighters and police officers and their families.
They honor the heroic spirit of all participants in the event and learn more about police and firefighters.
If you are going to give away prizes at the event for different categories to the decorated cars, consider recruiting a few judges to relieve some of your pressure.
Ask prominent individuals in the community who can promote the event by word of mouth.
Consider giving away a Grand Prize for the Best Trunk and run a Costume Contest at this Halloween Party event.
If you have a budget, consider bringing in these activities or trunk-or-treat event ideas to create a giant festival feel to attract more attendance (Note: Make sure outside vendors have insurance for their services or activities naming you as the additional insured):
While collecting candy is a big part of trunk or treat, consider adding more activities to engage participants.
Pumpkin painting stations, costume contests, and Halloween-themed games like ring toss or a spooky obstacle course can keep everyone entertained.
Non-candy treats, such as stickers, small toys, or Halloween-themed pencils, are great alternatives for kids with dietary restrictions.
These added activities ensure that everyone has a fun and memorable time, even if they aren’t focused solely on getting candy.
This is adorable and cool idea. I need to do truck or treat. It’s fun idea for sure. Thanks for sharing – Vanessa
Such a great idea for a fun family event! Parades hosted by local businesses is also a fun way to celebrate Halloween during the day. Thanks for sharing on Wonderful Wednesday blog hop! – Candace
Most of our area churches host Trunk or Treat every year. They are such fun family friendly events. The decorated vehicles and costumes are a sight to see. Pinning this to my Fall Harvest/Trunk or Treat board. – Shirley
Looks like fun thing to do. Thank you for linking up with us at #HomeMattersParty. See you again next week. – Sahana
Promote the event as a safe and fun alternative to trick-or-treating to the public. Highlight that trunk-or-treating allows children to achieve Halloween satisfaction by quickly gathering large amounts of candy with minimal effort.
If you don’t have a marketing budget, you will have to get creative, but no worries, with community events, there are several opportunities to get the word out.
Many local newspapers will write about it because it’s a unique event.
Use social media to promote the event.
Post Trunk or Treat flyers on community bulletin boards in local businesses.
Many will let you do so if the event is FREE.
Hosting a trunk or treat event offers many benefits for both organizers and attendees.
It’s a great way to build community spirit, as everyone comes together to create a memorable experience for children.
The controlled environment of a single parking lot makes it easier for parents to supervise their kids, while reducing the risks associated with walking door to door.
Additionally, trunk or treat events are convenient for families with younger children who may not be able to handle long walks through a neighborhood.
Make sure your vendors know when to show up and how much time they have to decorate their trunks on site.
Give a few hours to give them time to do so.
Have fun music playing and encourage guests to visit all the trunks.
Document that all the trunks can be stamped, and participants can drop off the completed card for a chance to win a prize if they visit all the trunks.
Have your judges decide on the contest winners and take photos on site to use for post-promotion!
Have fun and relish in your success!
If you want to make your trunk or treat event more eco-friendly, consider using recyclable decorations and avoiding single-use plastics.
Decorate your car with items you already own or materials that can be reused, such as fabric, cardboard, or natural elements like pumpkins and hay bales.
When it comes to treats, consider handing out snacks in biodegradable packaging or small toys that can be used again. Encourage participants to use minimal packaging in their trunk designs to reduce waste.
Over the years, trunk or treat events have evolved to meet new challenges, such as health and safety concerns.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many communities shifted to drive-through trunk or treats, where families could enjoy the decorations from their cars while still car collecting candy.
Even as things return to normal, some of these adaptations have remained popular for their convenience and added safety measures.
Trunk or treat continues to be a flexible and fun way to celebrate Halloween tailgating in a variety of settings.
Just because the event is over doesn’t mean the promotion has to end.
Could you publish pictures and announce the winners on social media and other press outlets? Highlight the differences between traditional trick or treating and trunk or treats to engage your audience.
Be sure to announce next year’s event date and encourage people to start thinking of their trunk ideas soon. This traditional trick can help build anticipation and excitement.
A Candy Land-inspired trunk!
Hosting a Trunk or Treat for Halloween takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but it’s worth it in the end. Explain what is trunk or treat to those unfamiliar with the concept to attract more participants.
Seeing the community come together to produce and enjoy such an event was truly rewarding.
Have you ever attended a trunk or treat event?
If so, what was the funniest trunk you saw?