It’s official: kids are ditching the sidewalks for the asphalt.
The newest Halloween craze isn’t trick-or-treating… it’s trunk-or-treating. Because nothing says spooky season like begging strangers for candy in a parking lot.
A TikTok went viral where some guy explained that he was horrified to learn his cousin didn’t want to go old-school trick-or-treating this year… and instead, they’re hyped for trunk-or-treating. Apparently, knocking on doors just doesn’t hit as hard as “Halloween tailgating.”
If you’re out of the loop, trunk-or-treating isn’t new. It started in the ‘90s but has blown up post-Covid as a “safer” and more convenient alternative. Instead of walking miles for mini Snickers, kids wander around a parking lot where adults hand out candy from decked-out car trunks. Think less “neighborhood stroll,” more “haunted Costco experience.”
It’s easy to see the appeal: parents like the controlled environment, and kids get a concentrated sugar haul with elaborate car setups that make Pinterest jealous. It’s like Halloween, but with Bluetooth speakers and folding chairs.
Of course, whether trunk-or-treating replaces the classic door-to-door tradition depends on where you live. Some suburban neighborhoods still go all out with fog machines and full-size candy bars. But in big cities or rural areas, the parking lot party just makes more sense.
And let’s be honest… the smartest kids are doing both. Hit the neighborhood and the lot, double the sugar, double the cavities.
