Every Halloween, kids dress up and walk their neighborhoods, participating in an event called Trick or Treat. This is the one night of the year where kids go door to door asking for candy from their friends, families, and neighbors.
However, as the years go by, new traditions arise, such as a different spooky event called Trunk or Treat. This event is similar to Trick or Treat, but is shorter and only exposes children to a handful of people. Trunk or Treat is usually only done within a small community, where people decorate the back of their cars and pass out candy from there.
Due to the rise of Trunk or Treat, and many other events like it, there has been a gradual decline in participants of Trick or Treat. In a USA Today Poll, about 74% of responses said they’ve seen fewer trick or treaters since 2023.
Parents see Trunk or Treat as a safer alternative to Trick or Treat since they can easily monitor their children and the people they interact with. However, this may not be the best thing for children after all.
Trick or Treat offers an authentic and traditional community experience and also promotes social development. Kids get the chance to meet new people and bond with their community through this event, whereas the Trunk or Treat experience doesn’t always offer this. Trunk or Treat usually takes place with people who already know each other, or is an event hosted by a place like a store or organization. The people who participate in those events don’t know each other, but they probably won’t see each other often, if ever again afterwards.
Trick or Treat also allows the kids to be active and have a memorable experience. Trick or Treat is only for one night of the year and children intend to make the best of it. Kids will walk all around their neighborhood, exploring, having fun, and getting their favorite candies.
Yet, the Trunk or Treat event is often hosted by many different places and people over the course of October. Trunk or Treat is less significant to kids due to this, and since events are frequently very small, kids don’t get to explore or walk around as much as they could during the actual Trick or Treat.
At the end of the night, Halloween is about fun and spookiness. Both events have those factors but there is only one that will always be the best. The longstanding tradition of Trick or Treat will always be the original and greatest Halloween activity.
