How to Organize a Trunk or Treat in Your Community

Trunk or Treat events have really taken off as a unique way to celebrate Halloween. Not only are they are fun event to participate in, but they are also relatively easy to organize. Let's take a closer look at some steps in organizing a Trunk or Treat celebrations.

Who Will Host the Trunk or Treat?

Are you planning on coordinating the trunk or treat as an individual or putting it together in conjunction with a civic organization like a local Lions Club or maybe even a church? I highly recommend organizing a Trunk or Treat with a fully organized group. When this avenue is chosen you will immediately have a large number of people committed to not only helping out with the event but also participating in the actual trunk or treat which helps ensure success.

Location, Location, Location

The next big question to answer in event planning is location. If the group sponsoring the event has a building or headquarters it is likely their parking lot will be available and completely adequate for hosting the trunk or treat. Should your group not have a parking lot, perhaps a specific member has a large field or connections that will allow your group to utilize an alternate location for little or no charge to the organization?

Who Is Invited?

It would be very wise when organizing your trunk or treat event to give careful consideration to who is and who is not invited. Do you want to keep it a group only event and limit candy collectors to immediate family of people within the group? If so, then it will be a must to clarify this repeatedly. Halloween parties and the chance for free candy bring out the glutton in many people and should the specific limits of the party not be specified there will be at least one group who shows up with not only their children but also all of the nieces and nephews available. This is not a practice that will instill goodwill among other trunk or treaters whose candy giveaway stores are rapidly depleted by one family.

Getting Out the Word

When issuing invitations or publicizing your event within your group, it would be thoughtful to include a small bit of information about the concept of Trunk or Treating. Not everyone has heard of these events, so explaining them will help avoid confusion. Let people know that at a Trunk or Treat creating a theme that encompasses their vehicle, their hand-outs, and their own costumes really cements the fun for everyone. Be sure and stress the additional safety such an event allows, as children are no longer knocking on stranger's doors as well.

Trunk or Treats are a fun way to celebrate Halloween and are a great way to publicize your church or civic organization while sponsoring an event that allows children to trick or treat safely and gives adults a chance to enjoy the holiday all over again.