What is Trunk or Treat?
Trunk or Treat is really exactly what it sounds like, Trick or Treating at car trunks. Yep, and it’s really a lot of fun for the whole family.
There are annual Trunk or Treat events with prizes for the best trunk decorations. You wouldn’t believe the number of creative ways folks decorate their car trunks.
What is Trunk or Treat?
Trunk or Treat is considered to be a safer alternative to house to house trick or treating.
Participants park their cars side by side in a designated area of the parking lot. Most folks decorate their trunks for the event. Candy is handed out by the participants.
Some folks actually sit amongst their decorations, some bring yard chairs and some stand to hand out the candy.
Trunk or Treat could be described as a child’s version of a tailgate party with the ultimate food being free candy!
Where can you find a Trunk or Treat event?
Trunk or Treat events are generally sponsored by a local church, apartment complex, shopping mall or other organization.
Most churches invite the public and prepare for crowds. I have seen churches with several thousand guests to show up for their Trunk or Treat event.
When is Trunk or Treat held?
Some organizations sponsor the event on Halloween night and some schedule it prior to Halloween, usually on a Saturday.
Churches tend to host a Trunk or Treat as party of their Fall Festival. Check with your local churches for Trunk or Treat events in your area.
These events are usually Free as they are considered an outreach ministry of the local church.
Why is Trunk or Treat considered to be more safe?
- Most host organizations screen who is allowed to give out candy to the children
- Some organizations collect the candy and inspect it prior to allowing distribution
- The smaller confined location allows parents to keep up with their children better
How To Trunk or Treat
The host organization will hand out their rules for participation.
Decorating your vehicle for the event is generally expected. Some hosts will also sponsor a vehicle decoration contest to encourage more creativity. Be very creative!
Bring a lawn chair so you can sit by your vehicle and hand out candy. Bring lots and lots of candy!
Can the children wear costumes?
Yes! Check the rules of the event you plan to attend.
Some churches may ask that participants not wear anything considered to be frightening with insinuations of blood or gore. Many organizations will have costume contests.
Where to find Trunk or Treat Events
- Local businesses
- Elementary schools
- Your apartment building may be sponsoring a Trunk or Treat
- Recreation department
- Fall Festivals
- Churches
Trunk or Treat Decorating Ideas
12 Cute Trunk or Treat Decorating Ideas
21 Clever Trunk or Treat Decorating Ideas
Even More Trunk or Treat Decorating Ideas
Bible Costumes & Trunk or Treat Ideas
Follow intelligent domestications’s board Trunk or Treat on Pinterest.
This DOES sound like a great alternative to trick or treating! My church always held a fall festival when I was growing up, which I absolutely loved.
Thanks for sharing on Hump Day Happenings!
Those Fall Festivals at church are just the most fun and create wonderful family memories!
A saw a sign on the sign at a Church up the street from us and wondered what that meant. Mystery solved! Our church doesn’t do this. We will be spending our Halloween at a cousin’s home with family and friends.
Amanda, go look at all the trunk or treat designs on that Pinterest link. It’s amazing the creativity that people have, just makes it more fun.
I have never heard of the name Trunk Or Treat, but our Church too does an alternative party. More and more families from the community come.
Anna, it was only a few years ago when I first heard of Trick or Treat. It was added to the Fall Festival at our church and has been a bit hit. The amount of public attendance probably more than doubled. It is fun to do!
Yes, it is and such a fun place to be on Halloween.
Our church does a Trunk Or Treat every year – such a fun event!