A good trunk-or-treat game is easy to explain while a family is still approaching the trunk. Set the game on a table beside the parked vehicle. A child using a mobility aid or a family with a stroller should be able to see the activity and play from the pedestrian route.
Holiday dates for planning
| Observance | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halloween | Saturday, October 31, 2026 | Sunday, October 31, 2027 | Tuesday, October 31, 2028 | Wednesday, October 31, 2029 | Thursday, October 31, 2030 |
Give each trunk one job
Number the participating trunks before opening. Put each number at the top of its printable station sign. Assign one person to explain the game and another to handle treats or reset materials where staffing allows. Finish parking and unload supplies before opening the walking area. Keep the ballot table separate from the entrance so a family finishing its visit has somewhere to pause.
Pumpkin toss
Put a basket on a stable surface and give each visitor three soft beanbags. “Can you land one pumpkin in the patch?” is enough explanation. Mark a throwing line, then let each visitor move closer or drop the bags in from a chair. With two baskets the leader can offer a near target and a farther one. Collect the bags after all three throws.
Ghost detective
Draw four friendly ghost faces with distinct expressions. Put the faces on the table and keep duplicate drawings nearby. Give the visitor a moment to look, ask them to turn away, then cover one face. Can they point to its twin? Change the hidden face for the next visitor. For a challenge, switch the positions of two uncovered faces while the visitor looks away.
Follow the spider trail
Glue three lengths of yarn to cardboard, each leading from a spider drawing to a different web. Make the paths curve around each other. Draw an identifying shape at each start and finish. Players trace a path with one finger or talk a helper through it. Place the board flat for seated play. If the outdoor air is damp, keep the finished board under the open trunk or a canopy.
Vote while the games reset
Offer one ballot to each visitor. The free sheet has categories for the most inventive trunk, friendliest welcome and favorite game. Visitors write one trunk number in each category and may leave a category blank. Two volunteers read the ballots and record votes by category. Announce shared honors for ties. Keep treats available whether a visitor plays, votes or simply walks through.
For a larger event, the fall festival booth guide adds table activities for an indoor overflow room.
Get the printable
Trunk-or-Treat Station Kit includes three display signs, cut-apart visitor ballots, a volunteer tally sheet and a setup checklist. The PDF is free.
Optional supplies
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Champion Sports colored beanbags work as the soft pumpkins for the toss station and can be collected after each turn.