It’s that time of year again! Halloween is just around the corner and the excitement is building among children.
One of the most fun parts of Halloween is trick or treating, but have you considered hosting a Trunk or Treat event? These events give kids the chance to dress up, collect candy, and have fun with their friends all while in a safe and controlled environment.
I’m always amazed at the thought and creativity that goes into some of these trunks, not to mention the time and money.
Tips for Creating a Trunk
Once you’ve committed to decorating a trunk, you have to go all in! You want to incorporate various aspects into it, and not just merely decorating the trunk. Here are some pointers:
Decorate Your Vehicle: Get creative and decorate your car, truck, or van with Halloween decorations! You can use streamers, balloons, and other festive items to make your vehicle stand out from the crowd.
Dress Up: Encourage everyone in the family to dress up for the event. Kids will love seeing their parents dressed up in costumes along with them!
Have a Theme: Pick a theme for your trunk or treat and decorate accordingly. Popular themes include spooky, superheroes, princesses, pirates, and more!
Play Music: Add some music to your trunk or treat experience by playing Halloween-themed or your trunk’s theme songs from a portable speaker.
Have Games: Set up some fun games for kids to play while they’re at your trunk or treat station. Popular options include bobbing for apples, pinning a tail on a skeleton, and pumpkin bowling.
Give Out Treats: Of course you’ll want to have plenty of treats on hand for kids who come to your station! Be sure to provide healthy treats as well as candy if possible.
Have Prizes: Give out prizes for kids who participate in games or dress up in costumes! Prizes could be anything from small toys to candy bars or stickers.
Make Crafts: Provide craft supplies such as construction paper, markers, glue sticks, glitter, etc., so that kids can make Halloween-themed crafts while they’re there!
Provide Activities: Have activities available such as coloring sheets or word searches that kids can do while they wait in line for their turn at the trunk or treat station.
Offer Refreshments: Keep people hydrated by providing drinks such as bottled water or juice boxes at your trunk or treat station!
With that in mind, here are some Spook-tastic Trunk or Treat ideas that will have your kids screaming with excitement!
Super Mario Brothers
Given the popularity of this move lately, this will be a great Trunk or treat theme!
Oregon Trail Trunk
This trunk won the contest at our school and for good reason! Oregon trail is an awesome theme and all parents will love, and hopefully some kids will get it too!
Rollin with my Gnomies
How adorable is this little gnome? You don’t even need the cute baby, but this is a great and easy trunk theme.
Farm Trunk
The farm trunk requires easy costumes. Pair it with some farm animal balloons and a barn scene and you have a very creative trunk for littles.
Jaws Trunk
Jaws is a great theme to use by making a large shark mouth cut out for your trunk and some warning signs. Your costume can be a swimmer in the ocean. Add some blood showing an actual shark bite for bonus points!
Day of the Dead
Although day of the dead is right after Halloween, this is a great theme for a trunk with fun colors and decorations.
Construction Site Trunk
Create a construction site trunk by using several toy dump trucks and diggers. Use lots of black and yellow construction paper for roads and signs, and don’t forget some orange cones!
Jurassic Park
Luau
Mickey Mouse Trunk
Although any age group can appreciate Mickey and Minnie Mouse, this trunk theme would be especially great for a daycare or preschool. With a lot of red, black, and yellow balloons, and some on-theme costumes, this trunk brings Mickey to life.
If you really want to get creative, carving out the castle form cardboard and spray painting it grey is a great addition.
Where’s Waldo Trunk
This is very simple to me because it doesn’t require huge cardboard cut outs. Simply bring tons of stuffies and fit Waldo in there somehow!
Toy Story
This trunk was done beautifully! Props the the creator. Can you manage this Toy Story theme just as well?
Baby Shark
This is a great theme, because it’s so simple! Fill the trunk with Baby Shark balloons and you’re set!
Circus Trunk
Clowns might be scary to some, but they add a lot of fun and color to a trunk or treat event. Complete the theme with pop-up tents, flashing lights, and balloons. Give out popcorn and cotton candy to the kids as they go around their “under-the-big-top” adventure.
Gumball Machine
Ship Trunk
Create a ship out of your car with some ply wood and pvc pipes.
Batman Trunk
Batman is a staple superhero for this trunk. Get a friend together to have 2 trunks, one of Gotham city and one of the Bat Cave.
Nightmare Before Christmas Trunk
Bring Jack for this Nightmare Before Christmas theme trunk. All the kids will surely love this one!
Movie Theatre
Tailgating Trunk
If you have plenty of tailgating gear, this should be an easy theme for you!
Zombie Apocalypse Theme:
Turn your car into a creepy broken-down vehicle with a few zombie dummies poking their heads out of the broken windows. You could even add some fake blood smeared on the windows!
Grateful Dead Trunk
This band will play until they’re as dead as a skeleton!
Game Day Trunk
Represent your favorite football team or even your school or district’s football team. The goal post really adds to this trunk, plus all the skeletons in referee and football uniforms.
Frozen Theme
Step into the magical world of Arendelle with a Frozen movie trunk or treat theme! Transform your trunk into an icy wonderland with shimmering blue tulle, snowflakes, and twinkling lights. Adorn your candy table with Anna, Elsa and Olaf decorations and treat your guests to some sweet delights. Have your kids dress up as their favorite Frozen character – whether it’s Elsa with her signature braid or Olaf with his carrot nose.
Herbary and Nature theme
The Nature Trunk or Treat theme transports you to a world where nature and Halloween intertwine, creating a magical and unforgettable experience for all ages. As you lift the lid, you are met with an enchanting forest scene – moss-covered rocks, miniature pumpkins, and glittering fairies.
Pirate Ship
Transform your vehicle into a majestic pirate ship carrying a fleet of candy treasures. Dress up as a swashbuckling pirate or a daring wench and greet trick-or-treaters with a hearty, “arrgh!” Filled with treasure chests and skeletons, watch as the little buccaneers search for the hidden loot. With this pirate theme, imagination and creativity are your most powerful weapons. So, hoist the Jolly Roger and let’s sail away to a Halloween full of pillaging and plundering!
Haunted House Theme
Bring the haunted house to the parking lot! Create your spookfest by adding tombstones, creepy paintings, and a few jump scares here and there! Hide behind your car as the kids come over and scare them with your best monster impression.
Harry Potter Trunk
Transform your car into Hogwarts Express with a Harry Potter-inspired trunk. Adorn the trunk with floating candles, potion bottles, spell books, and wizard hats. You can have costumed kids portray their favorite characters like Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Don’t forget about some delicious vending options like Chocolate Frogs, Honeydukes candy, and some delicious pumpkin juice.
Wizard of Oz Theme
Follow the yellow brick road for delicious candy and treats!
Bee Hive Trunk
Bring the outdoors in with a beehive backdrop and leafy green décor, complete with a swarm of honey bees, of course. Get creative with themed treats like honeycomb-shaped cookies and bee-shaped lollipops. For a sweet touch, add a jar of locally sourced honey to your trunk display.
Spooky Graveyard Trunk
Turn your tailgate into an eerie cemetery with just some faux headstones, spider webs, and a few ghosts hanging around. Don creepy costumes and arrange some scary décor. You can also place some pumpkins and add some smoke effects to give it the ultimate spooky vibe. The graveyard trunk is perfect for the daring kids who love to indulge in some good old-fashioned jump scares.
Spider Web Trunk
Giant spider webs, creepy crawly critters, and glistening spider eggs will set the scene for an unforgettable event. From homemade spider decorations to costumes, visitors will experience the web of fun firsthand.
Orange Skeleton Trunk
With a little creativity, you can transform your car into a bone-chilling display that will have the little ones screaming with delight. Imagine spooky skeletons dangling from your open trunk, orange lights casting an eerie glow, and an orange skeleton prop perched on the roof of your car. Don’t forget to play creepy music to set the spooky mood.
Witches Trunk
Imagine your car transformed into a spooky witch’s house, complete with a cauldron bubbling with dry ice, brooms, spell books, and of course, lots of candy. Kids and adults alike will be delighted by the creativity and fun of this unique Halloween experience.
Candy Land Trunk
Create a colorful and vibrant trunk with a Candy Land theme. You can decorate your trunk with oversized candy, lollipops, gummy bears, and more. The kids will love taking a stroll through your candy wonderland, enjoying the sweet treats. Make sure to have different games and activities for kids, such as a “pin the cherry on the sundae” game or a candy cornhole toss. Here’s a great tutorial on how to make it.
Superhero Theme
Kids love superheroes, so why not turn your trunk into a superhero lair? Cover your car in superhero posters and decorations and costume yourself and your partner as superheroes. You could even create a fun game where the kids have to help the superheroes fight off villains to get to their candy! Get the full tutorial on this superhero trunk here.
Campfire Trunk
Bring the outdoors into the trunk by transforming it into a campsite. Set up some tents, camping chairs, sit around a fake fire campfire, and relax with your friends as you tell tales about ghosts, haunted houses, and stories about otherworldly beings. Kids can roast marshmallows over the “fire” and snack on s’mores.
Space Theme
Take the kids on a journey to outer space! Create a spaceship inside your car using cardboard, silver foil, and chrome spray paint. Add some unfinished space suits, helmets, and other space-related items to complete the ambiance. You could even add glow-in-the-dark stars on the inside of your car ceiling! This theme will let the kids get creative and encourage their imaginative play.
It’s always exciting to celebrate Halloween with children, and Trunk or Treat events are a great way to ensure that kids can enjoy the holiday in a safe and controlled environment.
With these various Trunk or Treat themes, your kids and their friends will have a fantastic time collecting candy while enjoying the outdoor settings. Let your creativity soar, and have fun with your decorations, themes and costumes!
Remember, the goal is to have fun in a safe environment.
Marissa is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist turned stay-at-home mom who loves sharing her tips, tricks, and ideas for navigating motherhood. Her days are filled starting tickle wars and dance parties with three energetic toddlers and wondering how long she can leave the house a mess until her husband notices. When she doesn’t have her hands full of children, she enjoys a glass (or 3) of wine, reality tv, and country music. In addition to blogging about all things motherhood, she sells printables on Etsy and has another website, teachinglittles.com, for kid’s activity ideas.
