Trunk or treat is a Halloween variation where candy is handed out from the trunks of decorated cars in a designated gathering spot, rather than door-to- door. It originated in the United States in the 1990s, often as a safer, more controlled alternative organized by churches, schools, or community groups, typically in parking lots or other central venues. Families and children go from car to car to collect treats, sometimes with themed decorations and activities at each “trunk.” Key points
- Purpose: Safety and community-oriented celebration, reducing street routing and potential hazards.
- How it works: Participants park in a common area, decorate their car trunks, and hand out candy to children who visit each trunk.
- Common settings: Churches, schools, community centers, and parks during the Halloween season, sometimes around the days leading up to October 31.
- Variants: Some events are labeled as “Halloween tailgating” or “trunk or treating” to emphasize the car-centered format.
- Global spread: While rooted in the U.S., trunk or treat events have appeared in other countries as awareness of the format grows.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific place or provide ideas to organize a safe, kid-friendly trunk or treat event ( decorations, activities, safety tips, and crowd management).
