Trick or Treating is a Halloween tradition as old as time. Recently, Trunk or Treating has emerged as a more compact, family-orientated way to experience the joys of Trick or Treating. These events give HOAs a great spooky way to bring communities together. If you have never hosted such an event, this article can be used as a guide on how to bring one to your neighborhood.
Why Should We Have a Trunk or Treat?
Why would someone choose a trunk or treat over traditional trick or treating? There are several factors that may sway someone to choose a trunk or treat. A leading factor for parents is child safety. Some parents feel safer doing trunk or treats as they keep things contained and on a smaller scale. This allows parents to keep an eye on children while still letting them participate in the holiday.
Scheduling also plays a huge part in the success of these events. Since Halloween normally falls on a weekday, families don’t always want to have small ones up all night asking for candy. A trunk or treat can be organized for a weekend or even earlier in the day, making it easier for the whole family to go.
Accommodations are another reason to look at trunk or treat alternatives. Due to the smaller, more contained nature you can set up rules that can make sure the event can accommodate more people. Passing out allergen friendly candy, picking a place that can accommodate residents with mobility issues, adjusting lights and noise for sensory issues, and other small changes can allow more people in your community to join!
How Do I Organize the Event?
If it is your community’s first time planning a Trunk or Treat, you may be overwhelmed or lost on where to start.
- Pick a Date and Time: Pick a weekend date such as Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, as this will work better for most of your community. The weekends closer to Halloween are going to be more popular but be sure to prioritize what works best for the community. The weekends also allow you to pick a later time to run the event since it is not a school night, or for a safer environment you can pick an earlier time so that you have more daylight to work in.
- Find a Location: Your trunk or treat should be held in a communal spot, typically near a community center, park, or pool parking lot. Looking for the perfect spot in your community can help increase attendance. Make sure your location is accessible for as many community members as possible.
- Recruit Volunteers: You’ll need several volunteers to help set up and tear down the event, as well as to volunteer to decorate their trunks and pass out candy. You can reach out to those in your community who are up to help, or even incentivize them through a trunk decorating contest!
- Get the Word Out: Outside of your volunteers, you need to let the rest of your community know where and when your trunk or treat is and if the association has picked a specific theme for the evening (superheroes, cowboys, etc.).
- Have Fun!
The most important part of the trunk or treat is to have fun in a safe environment to bring your community together. There will always be some stress with events like this, but we hope this guide has given you a look into how your HOA community can navigate a Trunk or Treat celebration as easily as possible.
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