Fast, Easy and Cheap Trunk-or-Treat Decorating Ideas for Your Car

How to Have Fun as a Family on Halloween the Easy Way

Elizabeth V. Miller
While growing up, our local Church usually held an annual Trunk-or-Treat where everyone who wanted could come to the parking lot, open their decorated trunks, and let kids "trunk-or-treat" from car to car picking up candy along the way. A great alternative to regular trick-or-treating, these functions were always a big hit.

If you're thinking about going to a trunk-or-treat this year, you don't have to spend a lot to make your car fit for the party. It can be fun for the whole family to scrounge around the house and creatively put together a set of decorations built around a theme of your choice. Here are a few of the trunk-or-treat ideas we've used over the years.

Trunk-or-Treat Decorating Made Easy: Disney Theme? Jungle Theme? Use Stuffed Animals!

If you're like our family and have a plethora of stuffed animals roaming around the house, you just might have the perfect premade props for decorating your car. One year we used all sorts of Disney-related animals and dolls to spruce the trunk up for the big night. We could have also done a jungle theme, using an assortment of monkeys, and jaguars, and whatever else we could find. Look around the house and see what theme would easily suit your family.

Trunk-or-Treat Decorating Made Easy: Car Theme? Star Wars Theme? Use Toys!

If you're not the stuffed animal type, maybe you have a variety of toy cars lurking around or maybe a houseful of light sabers. One year, my sister's costume was Princess Leia of Star Wars so we decorated our trunk accordingly-using Star Wars bedding as a backdrop and playing the theme music on a portable CD player.

Trunk-or-Treat Decorating Made Easy: Sports Theme? Use Equipment!

Another year we used sports equipment and memorabilia to honor our beloved Atlanta Braves, even making our own baseballs and tomahawks out of poster board and ribbon. The whole point is that you and your family have fun. You don't need to go out and buy anything to decorate your trunk. Just look around the house, brainstorm together, and pick out a fun theme that the whole family can enjoy. If the family's happy, then the night will be a success. Happy trunk-or-treating!

(In case you can't tell, I'm really ready for Halloween! Not in terms of actually having done anything to prepare for the holiday that's over 60 days away, but mentally I'm totally there. I have a feeling the next two months are going to go by very slowly.)

Published by Elizabeth V. Miller

I'm a freelance writer with an academic background in business management and special emphases in personal finance and entrepreneurship. I've also worked as a beauty advisor, helping individuals to make the...   View profile

  • You don't have to spend a lot to make your car decorated for a trunk-or-treat party.
  • Scrounge around the house and creatively put together a set of decorations as a family.
  • As long as the family's happy, then the night will be a success.

23 Comments

Post a Comment
  • Shirley A Mandel 10/4/2011

    This is fun stuff. I like the trunk or treat idea. It's safer than the traditional trick or treat way and just as much fun. Thanks for sharing!

  • Donna 10/29/2010

    Someone help trying to come up with a Jasmine theme trunk or treat. I try to do something along with what my granddaughter is wearing

  • Ashley Nicole 10/21/2010

    I am able to do this for the first time this year because i finally have a car. i want to do a jungle type theme but i have no idea how to set it up. does anybody have ideas. thanks. i'd appreciate it (:

  • Elizabeth Valentine 10/26/2009

    I think we're actually going to take this year off. I know, so lame. :) But good luck with doing yours!

  • Janet 10/26/2009

    What r u doing this year? Our first and we are stumped.

  • Laura S. - UHBC Huntsville, Texas 10/1/2009

    This will be our third year to do Trunk or Treat and it has been a great success. I have won the best show for the last two years!! My themes 2007 - I put down a tarp, scattered hay and hid toys and candy in the hay. Kids loved it! 2008: Baby pool filled with bird seed. Used litter scoopers to find candy and toys. Who knows, maybe I'll win 2009.

  • Leslie Reese, Nutritional Educator 9/22/2009

    FYI...I mentioned your article in my Best of AC Article on Trunk-or-Treat! Hope you don't mind my sharing :)

  • Dan Reveal 8/29/2009

    So great, Elizabeth. All your Halloween ideas are magic.

  • Roz Zurko 8/28/2009

    These are great ideas. The kids will love them.

  • Helen cater 8/28/2009

    Trunk or treat what a great idea...well done.

Displaying Comments
Next »

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.