Best of AC Content on Halloween Trunk or Treating

Trick-or-treating is the tradition of Halloween, but what about a safer alternative? Trunk-or-treat is gaining popularity and I know that many of our local churches participate. The best way to describe it is decorated vehicles parked in a circle (trunks/tailgates inside) with people standing by to literally pass treats to the children out of the trunk. This alleviates the door-to-door trick-or-treating and worrying about strangers. I have read through many articles about this activity and have included my top ten from Associated Content Contributors.

How to Organize a Trunk or Treat in Your Community by Associated Content Contributor Max Stout

This article gives some wonderful ideas to start your basic trunk or treat. He emphasizes the need for a host, good location, and inviting people.

Fast, Easy and Cheap Trunk-or-Treat Decorating Ideas for Your Car by Associated Content Contributor Elizabeth Valentine

The key to a good trunk or treat is the car, and this article has some creative and simple ways to do it. She suggests going with a theme and using items that your kids probably have around the house such as stuffed animals, toys, or sports equipment.

How to Organize a Trunk-or-Treat by Associated Content Contributor William Browning

Tailgating Halloween-style is how this producer describes a trunk or treat. I like how he focuses on the safety-conscious parent and the community in this article.

How to Organize a Trunk-or-Treat by Associated Content Contributor Christina Wilson

This is a fabulous article that focuses on participation. She suggests that the organization putting on the trunk or treat purchase small gift certificates to local venues and give them out as awards for things like best costume and best decorated car. She also stresses that this is a great opportunity to reach out into the community by having a canned food drive as an entrance fee.

Trunk or Treat: Halloween Alternative at Church by Associated Content Contributor Mamie Alley

This article focuses on the approach that many churches take when holding a trunk or treat. Main thing is that nothing scary is allowed. She states that you can keep the focus as a celebration of Fall's harvest such as using pumpkins, gourds, apples, corn stalks, and mums. She mentions that this activity can be used as both a Halloween alternative and/or outreach ministry of church.

7 Top Things to Do with Your Small Children on Halloween by Associated Content Contributor Cavi

Number 3 on this Contributor's list is a trunk or treat. She suggests that the participants bring their candy, chairs, and their own snacks/beverages and that the children come dressed in their favorite costumes. She also suggests that if this is a community event, that the only participants allowed to give out candy must have been invited to join.

How to Host a Trunk-or-Treat by Associated Content Contributor Bridget Ilene Delaney

This article makes a good point of making sure that you have a guaranteed group of people willing to participate in the trunk or treat to make it successful. She also suggests having an idea of how many and what kind of vehicles will be there to figure out parking. She mentions that it may be a good idea as well to figure out the types of candy that people will be bringing.

How to Organize a Trunk or Treat for Kids This Halloween by Associated Content Contributor Gayle Crabtree

This Contributor mentions that this is not only a great way to celebrate Halloween safely and let the kids get candy, but also a way for adults to meet others and have fun as well. She mentions that some added events to a trunk or treat would be karaoke, costume contest, and/or car decoration contest. She also suggests to be aware of other events like this in your area because you do not want the events to conflict and only draw a partial crowd.

Organizing a Successful Trunk-or-Treat in Your Area by Associated Content Contributor Chrystal Gubanche

This article includes your normal set-up of a trunk or treat plus a few extras that caught my eye. She mentions that this is a great time to raise money for a local charity. Each family could bring in a non-perishable food item to support the local food bank or piece of clothing per child to support a homeless shelter. She also mentions a security measure that you can take by writing the same number on every person's hand in the same family and checking hands before anyone can leave with a child (like Kid Check at Chuck E Cheese). Another idea is to take photographs of your participants and after your event is over and donations have been delivered you can send thank you notes to each participant and include their picture. I have to agree with her and say that this would definitely have people watching for your event the next year.

Trunk or Treat by Associated Content Contributor Danny Hauger

This Contributor has a wonderful idea of getting the older kids who have outgrown the traditional idea of dressing up to participate. He suggests that someone sketch out a basic idea for decorating the car and get the whole family involved. Let the kids express their own ideas and see it come to life.