Trick or Treat vs. Trunk or Treat: Are We Losing the Spirit of Halloween?

By The Monitor | The Dark Hall

Halloween 2026 was missing more than a couple of things.

Instead of cool autumn air whisking fallen leaves through the neighborhood, we were greeted by unseasonably warm weather. Even the decorations seemed to have taken on a different tone.

Don't get me wrong. There were still some fantastically decorated houses. But instead of going for genuine scares, the neighborhood seemed to be embracing a more family-friendly aesthetic. Minions dressed as pirates. Bluey dressed as a mummy. Cute? Absolutely. Terrifying? Not particularly.

Of course, The Monitor's domicile was another story.

Hanging corpses, skeletons, fake blood, giant spiders, and just about everything else I could think of to scare the trick-or-treaters white.

But the biggest disappointment had nothing to do with the weather or the decorations.

I had no more than 15 trick-or-treaters visit my house this Halloween.

Fifteen.

It was disappointing. Actually, it was downright disheartening.

When Halloween Was an Adventure

During the 1990s and into the early 2000s, Halloween was an event that seemed to involve the entire neighborhood.

Houses were decorated to the gills. Some homeowners went all out, creating elaborate displays designed to jump-scare unsuspecting trick-or-treaters. Others kept things simple. It didn't matter.

The neighborhood came alive.

It was fun, adrenaline-inducing, and an opportunity for people to let their creative juices flow. More importantly, it gave the entire community something to participate in together.

As a 12- or 13-year-old, there was nothing quite like getting together with your friends, putting on your costumes, grabbing your candy bags, and heading out into the neighborhood.

For kids that age, trick-or-treating offered something increasingly rare: a genuine taste of independence.

You weren't following a carefully organized itinerary. You weren't being escorted from one predetermined stop to another.

You and your friends decided where to go.

There was something special about approaching a house with its lights on, knocking on the door, and waiting.

Would somebody answer?

Would they hand out a generous amount of candy?

Or were they going to pretend nobody was home?

That anticipation was part of the experience.

Halloween was second only to Christmas for many children. For me, it was always number one.

As a kid, Halloween represented the absolute epitome of fun and excitement.

As an adult, it represents something equally important: nostalgia, generosity, and community.

But somewhere along the way, something seems to have changed.

Enter Trunk or Treat

Recently, my sister invited me to a Trunk or Treat event at my niece and nephew's school.

For anyone unfamiliar with the concept, Trunk or Treat involves people gathering their vehicles in a designated location, typically a school or church parking lot, decorating their trunks, and handing out candy to children.

And I have to admit something.

I had a genuinely good time.

The decorations were excellent. There were all sorts of creative themes, ranging from classic monsters to ghosts and other Halloween favorites.

The children appeared to be having a wonderful time, and the adults wandered around talking, laughing, and enjoying themselves.

It was entertaining. It was festive. It brought people together.

So let me be perfectly clear:

I am not advocating for the elimination of Trunk or Treat.

Keep it!

Let families enjoy these events. Let people decorate their vehicles. Let schools and community organizations organize their celebrations.

But I have one request.

Please don't let Trunk or Treat replace traditional trick-or-treating.

Have We Become Too Protective?

I understand why parents appreciate organized Halloween events.

They're convenient, contained, and generally easier to supervise. For younger children, they're an especially appealing option.

But I can't help wondering whether our society has become so concerned with eliminating potential risks that we're also removing some of the excitement and independence from childhood.

When I was growing up, my friends and I were allowed to roam our own neighborhood on Halloween.

We weren't crossing the country. We weren't embarking on some dangerous expedition.

We were walking around the streets where we lived, knocking on doors, collecting candy, and having the time of our lives.

Today, parents have access to mobile phones, location-sharing technology, and countless ways to stay in contact with their children.

Of course, every neighborhood is different, and parents should make decisions appropriate to their children's ages and circumstances.

But surely there's still room for a little adventure.

Children need opportunities to make decisions, develop confidence, and experience the excitement of doing something without every minute being organized for them.

And what better occasion than Halloween?

Halloween Belongs to the Neighborhood

There's another consequence to the decline of traditional trick-or-treating that I find particularly disappointing.

We lose an opportunity to bring entire neighborhoods together.

Think about what traditional Halloween requires.

Homeowners decorate their houses. People buy candy. Neighbors open their doors. Children explore their streets. Families enjoy watching the costumes and festivities.

People who might otherwise go months without speaking suddenly have a reason to interact.

It creates a sense of community that extends beyond a single organized event.

And for adults like me, handing out candy can be every bit as enjoyable as collecting it was when we were children.

I love decorating my house.

I love seeing the costumes.

I love watching children approach the front door, wondering whether something is about to jump out at them.

And yes, I enjoy trying to scare the absolute hell out of them.

It's Halloween, for God's sake!

But you can't create that neighborhood atmosphere without the neighborhood participating.

Fifteen trick-or-treaters simply isn't enough.

It's Time to Take Back Halloween!

So here's my proposal for 2027.

Keep Trunk or Treat.

Let it be an additional celebration. Let families enjoy the costumes, decorations, and candy.

But let's also bring back the traditional Halloween experience.

Decorate your houses. Turn on your porch lights. Fill those candy bowls.

And when your children are old enough and your neighborhood permits it, let them gather with their friends and experience the excitement of going door to door.

Give them the opportunity to explore, laugh, get startled, and create memories they'll still be talking about 30 years later.

Because Halloween isn't supposed to be just another carefully scheduled activity.

It's supposed to be an adventure.

It's time to take back Halloween.

It's time to take back TRICK OR TREAT!

— The Monitor