You know all about trick-or-treat, of course, but here's a newish Halloween tradition that may be showing up on your radar: trunk-or-treat. Intended as a safer alternative to trick-or-treating, it's become a favorite for many families, especially those with young kids. Here's what you need to know about trunk-or-treating, whether you're thinking of roll up to a local event this year, or hosting one of your own
What Is Trunk-or-Treat?
Participants gather their cars in a parking lot and decorate their open trunks in scary, silly, or sweet Halloween themes. Kids go from car to car for treats, games, and other Halloween fun. It's a twist on traditional door-to-door trick or treating that doesn't involve wandering through neighborhoods after dark, and can involve the whole family.
How Did Trunk-or-Treat Start?
Trunk-or-treat appears to have gotten its start in the 1990s among church groups aiming to offer a fun, safe substitute for trick-or-treating. Gradually, the idea caught on with other community groups
How Do You Coordinate a Trunk-or-Treat?
Most trunk-or-treat events are run through an organization, whether it's a school parent organization, a church group, a scout troop, or even as a fundraiser for a local charity. If you're put in charge of coordinating a trunk-or-treat, here's what to do:
Choose a venue
A big parking lot is all you need to host a trunk-or-treat—it helps if the lot has a fence or other enclosure around it, so kids can run freely without adults worrying that they'll stray too far. Ideally, you should have separate, clearly delineated spaces for the trunk-or-treat cars and for the cars of families who are just coming to participate. You'll also want to make sure you have bathroom access and plenty of trash cans for all those copious amounts of candy wrappers.
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Choose a date
You don't necessarily have to plan for October 31: Many organziations trunk-or-treat on other weekend evenings in October. (Bonus: Your kids will get more than one occasion to wear their costume, not to mention gathering more candy.) You may also want to plan a rain date, in case the fall weather is uncooperative.
Decide the rules of the celebration
Is your trunk-or-treat a free get-together for your community, or are you selling tickets to fundraise for your organization? Will you supply the treats, or should participating cars provide their own candy?How many cars can comfortably fit in the lot (with plenty of room for people to mix and mingle)? And are you offering prizes for folks who have the coolest and/or spookiest car designs?
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Get the word out
Let people know about the trunk-or-treat well in advance: This ensures maximum attendance and allows participants to come up with a stunning trunk design.
Line up volunteers
You'll need extra hands to help set up, run the ticket/check-in desk, staff the treat tables, hand out water or drinks, judge the cars (if there's a contest), and of course, clean up. (Even if you put out trash cans, the lot will still be littered with the spoils of your festivities—and also the odd Batman mask or magic wand.
How to Create a Cool Trunk-or-Treat Design for Your Car or Truck
While you can enjoy the Halloween fun just by showing up and letting your kids revel in the decorated cars (and all that candy), it can be even more festive to figure out a cool design (and maybe even win a prize). Here's how to plan an epic trunk-or-treat design.
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Let your costumes decide your trunk-or-treat theme
If your crew is dressing as Barbies and Kens, they'll probably look more at home in a pink-themed car than a spooky haunted house. Think of a theme that works for your family—whether that's a scary trunk-or-treat design for your team of zombies, or a castle-themed trunk for a cast of Disney princesses.
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Consider your audience
Speaking of scary stuff, since most trunk-or-treats serve the elementary-aged crowd, you don't want to go overboard on the thrills and chills. Keep the vibe fun and whimsical for all-ages appeal.
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Add something interactive
The best trunk-or-treat displays feature an interactive element, such as a carnival-style game (for instance, throwing beanbags into a monster’s mouth), an easy craft, or even an array of "creepy" items that your visitors can close their eyes and touch. (Are those peeled grapes ... or eyeballs?)
Make it multisensory
To really up your game, play music that suits your theme (use a bluetooth speaker so you don't drain your car battery), create a tactile experience by having visitors reach through creepy faux cobwebs for their treat, or even waft a scent through your car (think apple-cinnamon for a fall bounty-themed car).
Keep your crafting skills (and budget) in mind
You’ll find lots of cool (and often very elaborate) ideas for trunk-or-treats on the internet. But if your woodworking skills are limited, you may not want to build wings to turn your car into a spaceship.For inspiration, check out the examples below, which are highly impressive but don't require an engineering degree.
Reuse and recycle
Find ways to get creative with cardboard boxes or tubes, old sheets, or household items. Borrow some of your home Halloween decorations for the evening, instead of buying new. And you may want to consider holding on to your trunk-or-treat pieces from one year to the next—you may be able to repurpose faux gold coins from a pirate's bounty into galleons for a Harry Potter goblin bank.
5 Easy Trunk or Treat Ideas That'll Wow Them
Make the brainstorming and creating a family affair. Here are a few ingenious ideas to get you started.
Mummy Trunk
A few rolls of white crepe paper (or even toilet paper!), a pair of paper plates, and black construction paper are all you need for this sweet and spooky trunk-or-treat design.
Shark Trunk
Use poster board or foam core to create the shark's pointy teeth (and the "swim at your own risk" sign). A bunch of blue balloons create the ocean water that hides the rest of your great white.
Frog Trunk
Green sheets, tablecloths, or even crepe paper can be wrapped around the car to form the face and body, while paper plates and construction paper make the eyes. Use an old red scarf or red crepe paper for the tongue. (The balloons for this one are coptional.)
Monster Trunk
Raid your party supplies and your costume drawer for this one, which uses feather boas and balloons to form the monster's face; cardboard for the horns, teeth, and eyes; and party fans for the eyelids.
Dinosaur Trunk
Greenery, caution tape, and a mighty inflatable T. Rex are all you need for a truly historic prehistoric display.
Willy Wonka Trunk
Warm up your printer for this one: You can print out "golden tickets" and labels to decorate the "candy" (colorful balloons and paper lanterns).