How to Host a Successful Trunk or Treat Event for Your School or Organization

by Kristin V

Organizing a Trunk or Treat event can be a fantastic way to bring your school or community together for some Halloween fun! With just a bit of planning, you can create a memorable and safe event for families. Here are some tips to make your Trunk or Treat a huge success:

1. Collecting Candy: The "Candy Monster"

Start your candy collection early by getting creative! Create a Candy Monster, which can be a large container made from cardboard boxes stacked together to look like a monster, with a wide cutout for its mouth to "eat" the candy. Alternatively, use a trash can with a domed lid for a more compact option.

Ask school families to drop off candy donations inside the Candy Monster.
Contact local grocery stores or businesses for candy or prize donations. Many are happy to support community events.

2. Offer Alternatives to Candy

While candy is a hit, it’s always a good idea to offer non-candy treats for kids with allergies or those who prefer something different.
Consider handing out:

Glow sticks
Stickers
Small trinkets (such as Halloween-themed erasers or plastic rings)

These items are fun, affordable, and will appeal to a broad range of kids!

3. Get the School Involved: Have Each Grade Decorate a Trunk

Involving each grade level in decorating a trunk makes the event more personal and exciting for the students. Not only will this ensure enough decorated trunks, but it also gives students a chance to see their teachers dressed in fun costumes!
Encourage each grade to come up with a unique theme for their trunk—whether it's spooky, silly, or based on their favorite storybook characters.

4. Organize Volunteers Using SignUpGenius

To make your event run smoothly, use SignUpGenius or a similar tool to manage volunteers. Have parents, teachers, and community members sign up to decorate a trunk or help with logistics.
Aim for at least 20 trunks to create a full experience for the kids. The more creative and diverse the trunks, the better!

5. Invite Local First Responders

Reach out to your local police department, fire station, or state police to participate. They can bring their vehicles and hand out candy or fun items like stickers, coloring books, or those cute plastic firefighter hats. First responders often come well-prepared, making it an exciting addition for kids to explore their vehicles and meet the people behind the uniforms.

6. Get Local Businesses Involved

Invite local businesses to decorate trunks and hand out promotional items along with candy. It’s a great way for them to give back to the community while promoting their brand. Many businesses are happy to participate in family-friendly events like these.

7. Add Food Trucks for Extra Fun

Consider having a few food trucks at your event to serve up treats. Aim for two trucks offering main food items (like burgers or pizza) and one dessert truck (like ice cream or donuts). It adds variety and keeps families around longer to enjoy the festivities.

8. Set Up a Photo Booth Area

Don’t forget to include a photo area where families can take pictures. A festive backdrop with pumpkins, hay bales, and fun Halloween decorations will make for great family memories.

9. Host a "Monster Mash" Dance Party

If you have extra space, set up a Monster Mash dance party! Play fun, spooky music, add colorful lights, and hand out glow sticks to get the kids moving and grooving.

10. Plan a Trunk Decorating Contest

Boost excitement by hosting a Trunk Decorating Contest. Have three designated judges walk around and vote on the best-decorated trunks before the event starts. This will inspire participants to get extra creative with their decorations!

11. Event Logistics: Timing and Safety

Have all participating trunks arrive 1 hour and 30 minutes before the event starts to set up.
Close off the staging area 30 minutes before the event, ensuring no cars can enter or leave for safety reasons.
Avoid one-way lines—they rarely work as expected. Kids love to go through the trunks multiple times to catch special decorations or see favorite teachers or staff members!

12. Minimal Effort, Maximum Fun

With just a bit of coordination, you can pull off a fantastic Trunk or Treat event that serves as a great giveback to your school families. The best part? You’ll also get to spend quality time with your own children during the event—no selling required!

By following these tips, your PTA, PTO, or organization will be well on its way to hosting an unforgettable Trunk or Treat that’s fun for the whole community!

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