How common is trunk-or- treat

[dulcemariamar]

Where you live? Is this replacing the tradition of trick or treating?

[ilikedonuts]

It's an extra activity on a completely different day or night through something like a playgroup or parks department.

[Deleted]

It's really common here but it happens more on Saturday mornings during the entire month, not really on Halloween.

Here they're also organization sponsored so "Come see the Fire trucks for safety week then TrunkorTreat with area retailers in the parking lot after!"

[VillainV]

It's common, but I don't think it's replacing ToTing, especially in larger family-friendly neighborhoods. I mostly see them on other dates besides the 31st -- many I've seen this year are on the 24th.

[littlemermaid]

Our elementary school has this event every year. It's usually held a couple weeks before Halloween. It's just a school event for us; it does not replace trick or treating on Halloween night.

[turtlegirl]

It's pretty common here and I think it's annoying. I feel like all these extra events take away from the fun/special-ness of TOTing on actual Halloween and spending time in your neighbirhood.

I know pugz also has strong feelings about this.

[dulcemariamar]

Oct 5, 2015 6:33:15 GMT -5 turtlegirl said:

It's pretty common here and I think it's annoying. I feel like all these extra events take away from the fun/special-ness of TOTing on actual Halloween and spending time in your neighbirhood.

I know pugz also has strong feelings about this.

So kids end up with two bags of candy?

[thebreakfastclub]

My BIL is a church pastor and they have one.

His neighborhood is not good for ToT for multiple reasons, so this is designed as a replacement/recruiting event.

We might go because our area moves ToT to Thursday if the actual day is a weekend.

[anna7602]

Oct 5, 2015 6:26:29 GMT -5 @simpledog said:

I had never heard of it until GBCN.

This. I'm still not really sure what it is. 

We don't even have traditional ToTing here, but all of the businesses give out candy, so that's where we go. 

[abs]

It's very common here. My moms club, our neighborhood playgroup, AND our neighborhood are doing one over the next few weeks. On one hand it's a great opportunity for my kid to wear her costume but on the other really? Trick or treating and tons of candy should be something you look forward to once a year.

We will probably only go to the neighborhood trunk or treat because DD's best friend is going. It will be against my will though because I really don't like these events.

[turtlegirl]

Oct 5, 2015 6:36:12 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

Oct 5, 2015 6:33:15 GMT -5 turtlegirl said:

It's pretty common here and I think it's annoying. I feel like all these extra events take away from the fun/special-ness of TOTing on actual Halloween and spending time in your neighbirhood.

I know pugz also has strong feelings about this.

So kids end up with two bags of candy?

I think it's more the original premise behind the trunk or treats was "it's so much safer than being outside at night where sooooo many bad things can happen on Halloween TOTing". But I know that now it seems like that people just use it as an additional event.

But yeah, in general between events at school, church, and the bigger community I think it seems like Halloween and TOTing has gotten to be a little much. It makes Halloween night not seem that special or as big of a deal/fun anymore.

And I realize that this is probably an UO and people will think I'm over thinking this. And that's fine.

[bowies]

Our daycare is doing this as a precursor to the Halloween party on the 30th. I'm OK with it in this context. I associate it more with churches who want their kids to get candy but not participate in the heathen godlessness that is Halloween.

ToTing is prevalent here thank goodness.

[aspentosh]

Our preschool does it on a night different from Halloween, earlier in the day (like 4pm). I think it's meant to be for younger kids so they can participate without having to stay up late, deal with lots of groups, and all that.

We've never done it but might this year.

[ilikedonuts]

We do at least 5 halloween events with some sort of trick or treating. we love Halloween in our house.

[ilikedonuts]

Plus its nice for the kids to wear their outfits more then just once.

[countthestars]

I've only heard about it on here.

[thebreakfastclub]

My BIL's neighborhood is not very walkable and it is low income.

Giving out candy is not financially feasible for a decent amount of people there.

This is a better alternative for the kids.

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2015 6:18:40 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

It's really common here but it happens more on Saturday mornings during the entire month, not really on Halloween.

Here they're also organization sponsored so "Come see the Fire trucks for safety week then TrunkorTreat with area retailers in the parking lot after!"

Same here. That's why we never go. I don't need to be handed life insurance flyers or dentist coupons at 10am on a Saturday. NO.

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2015 6:54:43 GMT -5 @supergreen said:

Oct 5, 2015 6:18:40 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

It's really common here but it happens more on Saturday mornings during the entire month, not really on Halloween.

Here they're also organization sponsored so "Come see the Fire trucks for safety week then TrunkorTreat with area retailers in the parking lot after!"

Same here. That's why we never go. I don't need to be handed life insurance flyers or dentist coupons at 10am on a Saturday. NO.

LOL. Exactly. We usually go because...eh....something to do with the kids in this small town. Also, all our friends are there and it's fun to see people. 

But yeah...here have a sucker with "We're a sucker for your business!" attached.  

[zarapipe]

In PA- I had never heard of it


In NC- VERY VERY common. This is the norm here. There are very few neighborhoods with sidewalks. We will go to two this year. Our church does a huge one and our daycare/their chuch does one too.

[Deleted]

In southern CA - never heard of it besides on here

[longtimenopost]

All the area churches used to do it separately, then they started organizing one large event for everyone at the park. It's on Halloween, so the ToTing in our neighborhood has gone way down. It makes me sad.

[southernbelle]

It is becoming super common here and I like it. We live in a very rural area so this makes it a lot easier and is a nice way to see multiple people all at once and I get to see all the other trick or treaters. Where my house is we get none unless it is my cousin's kids. When I was a kid, my mom drove us around to all our relatives/family friends and we spent 90% of the time in the car.

[KKD]

Our elementary school has one the weekend before Halloween. My girls are in 2nd and K, and this will be the first year we're able to go. I think it's mostly fun for the kids to see their school friends and get some more candy as a bonus. It won't replace TOTing for us.

[h]

It's supplementary, not a replacement, here.

The only one I have heard about this year is a school-sponsored one before a Friday night high school football game, but I am sure there are churches and other organizations having them as well.

Traditional TOTing is still huge here.

[jeaniebueller]

Its mostly affiliated with a few churches here. not replacing trick or treating at all. Camping weekend trick or treat events are huge around here though.

[mellymel]

Our church does it every year, not on actual Halloween, but usually a week before.

We have never gone. I think regular TOTing is enough, especially at my kids' ages.

[spk926]

I have never heard of it except on these boards. In the TC metro area it isn't big at all. Kids ToT in neighborhoods on Halloween night and malls or grocery stores will have events the weekend prior where kids can wear costumes and get treats as they walk around but going to a parking lot where people pass out candy from their trunks? No, it's not something that happens.

[redheadbaker]

I'm in Philly, and I had never heard of such a thing until The Nest/Bump.

[babyrn]

It's pretty common around here, but it is in addition to ToT, not in place of. Of course, our area is weird anyway and don't ToT on Halloween, it is usually a different night and they call it Beggar's Night.