Does your neighborhood or church host a trunk or treat? Or, are you sitting there asking yourself…what the heck is a Trunk or Treat? Trunk or Treat events are one of the latest Halloween trends that lots of communities are embracing. Think of it as a festive Halloween tailgate party where children “trick or treat” from vehicle to vehicle in a safe environment. If you aren’t were to start I have a ton of Trunk or Treat Decorating Ideas & Tips to share with you today!
We have participated in Trunk or Treat events for the past few years and my over the top decor has even caught the attention of editors and published in Better Homes and Garden, Rachel Ray Magazine and Country Living. I thought I would highlight some the my top ideas and tips for hosting an unforgettable Trunk or Treat.
Pick a Theme for Your Trunk Or Treat
Be creative and think of your trunk as an extension of your costume. If you are dressing up as a pirate, decorate your trunk as a pirate ship and create a pirate decorations.
Use items you already have on hand. If your son had a Pirate party this summer – use all the decorations to jazz up your car.
Recycle items or give them a quick makeover with spray paint, remember a tricked out trunk doesn’t have to be expensive.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Trunk or Treat
Think Outside the Trunk
Decorate both the trunk and the area in front of your car, use this space as an extension or your theme. Include games that match your theme or incorporate your chairs into your them. Beach theme? Lay down beach towels, beach chairs and sand toys to really set the scene.
Offer something unique in addition to the candy. At our Double, Double, Toil and Trouble witches theme we served homemade root beer in a giant cauldron and it was a huge hit! One year we let kids choose a special treat from the Black Hat Bake Shoppe, and this year the kids played a DIY Pirate Hook Ring Toss Game and picked prizes from the treasure chest.
Toys are also a great alternative to candy and you can find affordable bulk options through websites like Oriental Trading.
Include music to match your theme, you can easily play it through the car stereo and it adds another level of interest to your display.
Candy Land Trunk or Treat Decorations
All Tricked Out Trunk or Treat Ideas
Use crates or cardboard boxes to elevate your trunk display. Just like any amazing party you want to create visual interest and varying heights to draw the guest in.
Incorporate lighting so everyone can see your hard work when the sun goes down. Buy battery operated rope lights or if you can, plug them into a power source in your car.
Include games or activities that fit with your trunk or treat theme and encourage kids to stay and play. My CarnEVIL Trunk or Treat is by far one of the most popular ones we’ve ever done. Everyone loved playing the games and hanging out with the creepy clowns!
Remember to keep it age appropriate for the kids who will be trick or treating at the event.
Trunk or Treat events are fun for the whole neighborhood or community, they feel like a festive tailgate…but with way more character and fun!
WOAH! These are awesome. This whole trick or trunk thing is something I’ve never seen (where have we been??!?!)
Love these!
We did Trunk-or-Treat when we lived in the country and it was too far to walk to neighbor’s houses, but the trunks never looked as awesome as yours!
Wow! Haven’t heard about this yet but it looks so much fun!
Great tips! Our church always does a Trunk-or-Treat and I love your decorations! Will have to do something similar!