Thread: The Right Way to Trunk-or-Treat

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I know most of us hate Trunk-or-Treat (Yes, I'm not entirely fond of it)... but it does have fun potential if you just use a little imagination. My church had their Halloween party/festival tonight and wrapped the evening up with Trunk-or-Treat.

I didn't have any backup tonight-- it was just me. My husband had to work the late shift and my other backup didn't stay for the Trunk-or-Treat. I still had a blast-- even if it was a free-for-all at my trunk!

I loaded up the treasure chest with 3 BAGS of Cost-Co candy and told kids to "take a handful"... I was still begging people to take it by the end of the night! (Fortunately, I found some teenagers to take it off my hands.) I also had pirate dog-tags from Oriental Trading, pirate eye patches (from Target at last year's after Halloween sales), skull rings (target), sectiony pencils (Target), erasers (dollar bin at target), hair clips (Spirit Halloween Store), Pirate stickers (Oriental Trading)... I left the 8" glow bracelets at home because I didn't have anyone to help pass those out-- besides, I only have like 500 left from the 1000 I bought 3 years ago (Illuminationz - Wholesale distributor of chemical lights glow sticks led lights). *grin*

Then I shot mini candy bars from my cannon.... I'd load the cannon, ram the candy with the ram-rod, use the bike foot pump to pressurize the pressure chamber of the "cannon" (My husband built it based on a potato gun plan at instructables.com).... then I'd yell "fire in the hole!"... pull on the leather strap... and shoot candy!

The kids loved it!

"Can you shoot candy into my bag?"
"Woah! What are you shooting? Candy? NEAT!"
"That is so cool! How'd you guys do that?"

... and, of course, I was most amused... my cannon got aimed at a thorn-bush because of all the kids raiding my treasure chest. (Does that sound dirty or what?) There were kids digging candy out of the thorn bush and some guy taking photos saying he was going to Blog about it! Hahaha! I'll have to Google it later to see if I can find it! Haha.

Anyway.... it wasn't much-- but there's not a lot you can do for Trunk-or-Treat, but I do my best to make it fun for all! Unfortunately, once the maelstrom started I was too busy to take photos... and I didn't have any backup to help take photos... so all I got was the pre-game show photo.



... and here's my first pumpkin of the year:




If you'd like to download the pattern, you can get it at my DeviantArt account:
Werewolf Pattern

Shooting candy out of a cannon at TOTS... gotta love it

Are trunk or treats common? I have never even heard of a trunk or treat until tonight

Love to see plans of this candy cannon.

WOW, that's the coolest setup for truck or treat I've ever seen!!! Good for you!

I am not crazy about trick or trunk (call me a traditionalist, I guess), but that set up is wonderful! Would LOVE a cannon like that! I'll bet anything you were the best one there!

Great job! I think you would've won 1st place at our trunk r treat for the cannon alone! We've opted out of it this year because I don't want to load up all my stuff.....maybe next year! I love your pumpkin too!

I am anti trunk or treat, but I got to give this guy points for a good set up.

propmistress- Trunk-or-Treats are becoming more common-- especially in rural areas and with church groups. There are several threads here-and-there in this forum about them. Most people don't like them-- I don't, in fact, like them either--but if they're not on Halloween and it gives me another chance to celebrate, I LOVE to go!

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of Trunk-or-Treat-- People just line up at their trunks in a parking lot or wherever the event is taking place and parents pass out candy to kids from their trunks as kids go trunk-to-trunk. You can decorate your trunk or not-- it's really up to you how much effort you put into it. The positives are that it provides a constant stream of kids to people who otherwise wouldn't have any ToT'ers, it gives kids in rural areas a chance to go ToTing without walking a literal country mile, and most people consider it "safer". (I put "safer" in quotes because safety is relative... and it seems more of an illusion of safety than anything.) Negatives are-- HOARDS of kids... and kids keep revisiting your trunk and you burn through a lot of candy REALLY fast. Another negative is that there really isn't a lot you can do in the little amount of time with "what you can fit in the car".

UnOrthodOx- Maybe when the holidays are over... I still need to draw up and post plans for the PVC gurney I made last year... only I have no idea where I put the plans since I moved *cringe*... I guess I could always pull it out of the bag and set it up and photograph it... I did take cannon photos. I'll try to put something together when time permits.

StanFam3- Thanks! You should have seen when I did the witch a few years ago! It was a blast! I had the fogging cauldron with full-sized candybars in it. I'd have the kids stand around my table as I'd tell them I had to "make" the candy... and then I'd pull things from assorted potion bottles and jars, put it in the cauldron, have the kids chant "Trick-or-Treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat", add a few cheesy theatrics and then pull the candybars out of the cauldron. It was a BIG hit!

Shadow Mistress- I'm also a fan of tradition... but who could pass up another night of Halloween? Not me! I have no idea if I was "the best" because I was so busy I didn't get to look at other cars! But, the reviews from passersby were great... so maybe!

kissy- Yeah, that's understandable. It is quite the pain carting everything to the party and then unloading it... and then loading it back up and taking it out of the car that night. It really is tough to find the right balance between too much and too little. Thanks for the compliments on my pumpkin too. That's my new pattern for this year. I have a few free patterns I've drawn in my profile photo album. You're free to download them and use them.

savagehaunter- This pirate lady be thankin' ye fer the compliments on her trunk. While I'm anti-Trunk-or-Treat... I still can't pass up the chance for more Halloween! I'm getting the hang of how to make 'em more fun for all.... though I still prefer traditional Trick-or-Treating to this Trunk-to-Trunk stuff.

Thanks, all, for your comments on my trunk. =)