Many teenagers have fond memories of Halloween. Getting dressed in fun costumes, meeting up with friends, and wandering around their neighborhood collecting their favorite candy were all big parts of the appeal of the spooky holiday. But now, although kids still get dressed up and prepare to celebrate Halloween, a big part of it is missing. Instead of the well-known streets around their houses, a parking lot full of decorated cars is their destination.
Trunk or treat is a concept that’s been around for many years, but only recently became popular. Families, organizations, or students set up cars covered in Halloween decorations in a parking lot and give out candy, sometimes as a reward for winning a game. An alternative to trick or treating, trunk or treat offered a way for parents to get their young children out of the house and receive candy in a safe environment after the pandemic.
Parents are predisposed to be worried for their children’s safety, but there are more specific fears related to Halloween. Since the 1960s, rumors have been spread of razor blades in Twix bars and poison in candy. More recently, fear of fentanyl hidden in candy has been on the rise. Fear of kidnapping is also common – if children are running around a neighborhood in the dark, there is a chance that a mysterious person in a white van could sweep them up. However, the supposed dangers of candy from strangers have been debunked. Additionally, placing trust in neighbors and friends is one of the most important factors for trick or treating, and with trunk or treating, parents lose this important mutual connection of trust.
While trunk or treating is a good alternative to trick or treating for very young children or large organizations, it should not replace trick or treat entirely. Before COVID, someone walking down the street during Halloween would’ve seen numerous other trick-or-treaters running from block to block, houses lit up to signify the availability of candy, and decorations lining the sidewalk. Today, in many neighborhoods, Halloween night means an empty street and darkened houses.
As someone who grew up going trick-or-treating with groups of friends in my neighborhood every year, I think it is an important memory for kids to have. Having a sense of independence, getting to explore your neighborhood, and eating tons of candy on a school night are all things that make trick-or-treat that much more fun. Even with an adult close behind, trick-or-treat still offers a fun and exciting chance for kids to get out of the house and enjoy a new experience. Trunk-or-treat, while not a completely terrible option, takes the element of independence and exploration out of it – instead, the kids are limited to a small, crowded space during the daytime and cannot actually experience Halloween on Halloween Day.
Trunk-or-treat is increasingly becoming the norm for Halloween celebrations, but while it is helpful for families with very young children and people who cannot do anything on Oct. 31, an increase in trunk-or-treating shouldn’t mean the end of trick-or-treating.
