Halloween is here, and soon the streets will be crawling with children and families of nearly all ages dressed up in their spookiest, sexiest or most recognizable getups as they trawl the neighborhoods for candy.
But kids and party-goers aren't the only ones who can take advantage of the holiday's tradition of dressing up in wacky or scary costumes. There's no reason your car can't get in on the fun too. In fact, Trunk or Treat has become a rather popular event around the country, with motorists showing off their wheels in a different way than they normally might.
If the idea of cool cars in even cooler costumes – carstumes? – tickles your funny bone, you may want to explore Trunk or Treat options near you.
Wait … Trunk or Treat?
If you aren't familiar with this phenomenon, don't worry. Trunk or Treat is still somewhat little-known, but it's definitely growing in popularity, and the people who take part every year love it. Usually a community-sponsored event, Trunk or Treat involves car-owners decking out their cars – or more specifically, their cars' trunks – with funny, cute, spooky or thematic decorations. The cars all congregate in a nearby parking lot, cul-de-sac or similar area, and then motorists hand out candy to people who come by. Visitors to a Trunk or Treat even don't just come away with a bag of sweets, they also get to enjoy the creative efforts of the car owners who participate.
The key to successfully Trunk or Treating is choosing the right type of decoration for your car. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
"It's hard to go wrong with a classic spooky Halloween setup."
1. Go classic
At the end of the day, it's hard to go wrong with a classic spooky Halloween setup. After all, the holiday is known for ghosts, witches, vampires and skeletons, and a trunk decked out with these classic fixtures is sure to please the seasonal nuts in your group. The best part is that there are no shortage of classic Halloween-themed decorations at local party and costume shops, and you don't have to spend lots of money or time to create a pleasing result.
You can start setting the mood by framing your trunk in fake spider webs (with plastic spiders scattered throughout, of course). From there, the possibilities are nearly endless. You could go for a classic graveyard theme, using cardboard or Styrofoam to make tombstones that you can then spray paint gray and write funny or spooky names on. If you're feeling a bit more fab than drab, swap the graveyard motif for something reminiscent of Dracula's castle, complete with miniature throne and lots of red curtains surrounding it for that royal look.
2. Get familiar
Of course, Halloween isn't all about doling out scares – at least not anymore. In fact, some of the best and most relatable costumes people wear every year focus not on chills, but on mutually recognizable moments from pop culture. Popular TV shows, movies and even comic books all make perfect fodder for a Halloween-themed setup. For example, if you're a big fan of the hit TV series "Mad Men," decorate your trunk to look like a 1960s-era office, complete with (fake) wood and chrome details and maybe even a (fake) bar to go along with it. Just be sure to dress the part yourself.
"A kid-friendly or family-friendly exhibit will go a long way."
3. Something for the kids
Because Trunk or Treat events tend to be community-sponsored, chances are a kid-friendly or family-friendly exhibit will go a long way. Once again, there's no shortage of inspiration here. If you have kids yourself, feel free to mine their bookshelves and DVD collections for ideas from popular literature and movies. If your household is a big fan of Maurice Sendak, for example, turn your trunk into a fantasy forestscape ripped right from the pages of the iconic book "Where the Wild Things Are." While we're on the subject of forests, why not carry Trunk or Treaters away to the Hundred Acre Wood by opting for a Winnie-the-Pooh-themed setup? With a little creativity, you can spruce up your car to match just about any imagination-scape you and your kids can come up with.
Trunk or Treat can be enjoyed by any car owner. If you want to get in on the fun, head to New Jersey State Auto Auction, where you'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars to choose from.