from car TRUNK + trick OR TREAT. A style of Halloween trick or treating where children solicit candy and other goodies not from households but from car trunks in an entertainment style similar to tailgating. Trunk or treating has its origins in late 1990s Utah but has since spread to some other locales, generally small towns or suburbs in the Midwest and South. To host a trunk-or-treat event, a sponsoring entity (usually a local church) will offer its parking lot on Halloween afternoon and evening. Participants agree to bring their cars and stock the trunks with candy. A growing custom, there are now websites devoted to explaining the ritual and offering tips for decorating car trunks in Halloween themes.
"Jimmy won't be home 'til almost dark. He's going to trunk or treat with friends."
"Do you mean trick or treat?"
"No, trunk or treat. The kids go to church parking lots and get their candy from the parents' car trunks."
"The younger generation has it too easy, if you ask me."
"Do you mean trick or treat?"
"No, trunk or treat. The kids go to church parking lots and get their candy from the parents' car trunks."
"The younger generation has it too easy, if you ask me."
by al-in-chgo November 2, 2013
by imnotarobloxpredator November 1, 2023