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People Are Convinced This One Thing Has Killed Traditional Trick-Or-Treating, And It’s Causing A Huge Debate

Let’s talk trunk-or-treat.

Posted on Oct 28, 2026 UTC

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by Matt StoperaBuzzFeed Staff

When I was 14, MTV came to my house because I was one of Britney Spears' biggest fans.

Halloween is almost here, and there's a debate taking over the internet: Has trunk-or-treat ruined Halloween???

People in costumes participate in a trunk-or-treat event in a parking lot with decorated car trunks

If you're unfamiliar, trunk-or-treat is basically trick-or-treating in a parking lot. People decorate their cars and hand out candy to kids. It's pretty popular nowadays!

Kids receiving candy at a trunk-or-treat event from a decorated car with Halloween banners and pumpkins

Well, a post about it is going viral:

Instagram post by heartwerkdj expressing the opinion that "trunk or treat" events have negatively impacted Halloween

Sorry little fry, that's what the streets are saying.

Child wearing a French fries costume, holding a bag labeled "ketchup" at an outdoor event with parked cars and people in the background

First of all, some people pointed out that traditional trick-or-treating just isn't what it used to be:

A large skeleton Halloween decoration stands in a front yard, surrounded by lights and other spooky decorations, near a house porch at night

"My neighborhood used to go all out and when my kids were in school we had give or take 400 trick-or-treaters a year. Now it's about 150."

— juliaauerbeck

"Last year, I put out a tray of FULL SIZED candy bars and not one was taken..."

— regivapor

Then there are the people who think trunk-or-treat is to blame:

People in costumes, including a dinosaur suit, line up outdoors near decorated cars, possibly at a festival or fair event

"There is no reason for it when it's perfectly safe to walk around your neighborhood and town."

— phoenixfactor

"The first time I saw someone ask 'What day is everyone trick-or-treating this year?' I almost lost my fucking mind. Trunk or treat ass vibes."

— oodlemboodlergoodler

"In my town, absolutely. And im sooooo glad they (trunk-or-treat) are starting to die out. For about 5 years now there is almost 30 of them 2 weeks leading up to trick or treat."

— lexi_northrop

"Traditional trick or treat was one of the last bastions of high trust neighborhoods because you actually got to meet and know everyone and where they all were."

— barryritchey

"Trunk or treat is the result of Halloween being ruined by increased isolation and fear of our neighbours and general lack of community over the years."

— homeland_obscurity

But not everyone agrees. Plenty of people say trunk-or-treat actually makes Halloween better:

Child in a snowman costume trick-or-treating, receiving candy from two older adults holding bags at a community event

"I live in a rural area with no neighborhoods. We always hit up our trunk or treat then go to my in laws neighborhood. Trunk or treats do have some good use!"

— gardenofsimple

"The advantage trunk or treats have is that they’re usually on the weekend."

— raehughes2024

"I love both!!! Trunk or Treat gives me the 90s school carnival vibes (at least at our school) and we still trick or treat!"

— xo_babedean

"Trunk or treats expanded Halloween. Created more opportunities."

— greensleevestheclown

"It gives carnival and my kids get more candy in that hour than walking the streets all night."

— bookishmomentswithshannon

"It made it possible for kids who live in rural neighborhoods to celebrate."

— karen_r_1122

Finally, there are people who think Halloween's decline has a lot more to do with other changes in society:

Line graph showing fluctuating stock market data with upward and downward trends displayed

"Young families not being able to afford houses in neighborhoods full of boomers ruined Halloween. Who is going to trick or treat when there aren't many kids in the neighboorhood???"

— meeseeksanddestroi

"Covid ruined Halloween. Trunk or Treats was just the new Harvest Festival."

— itspaigemorgan

"Unwalkable neighborhoods and traffic didn't help."

— thatsecuritylady

"The cost of a bag of chocolate mini candy bars is criminal."

— erintracy

Sooooooo, what do you think? Is trunk-or-treat ruining Halloween, or is everyone just feeling a little too nostalgic?

A family happily looks at superhero costumes at an outdoor event, surrounded by other attendees and trees in the background

People Are Convinced This One Thing Has Killed Traditional Trick-Or-Treating, And It’s Causing A Huge Debate

Halloween is almost here, and there's a debate taking over the internet: Has trunk-or-treat ruined Halloween???

If you're unfamiliar, trunk-or-treat is basically trick-or-treating in a parking lot. People decorate their cars and hand out candy to kids. It's pretty popular nowadays!

Well, a post about it is going viral:

Sorry little fry, that's what the streets are saying.

First of all, some people pointed out that traditional trick-or-treating just isn't what it used to be:

"My neighborhood used to go all out and when my kids were in school we had give or take 400 trick-or-treaters a year. Now it's about 150."

"Last year, I put out a tray of FULL SIZED candy bars and not one was taken..."

Then there are the people who think trunk-or-treat is to blame:

"There is no reason for it when it's perfectly safe to walk around your neighborhood and town."

"The first time I saw someone ask 'What day is everyone trick-or-treating this year?' I almost lost my fucking mind. Trunk or treat ass vibes."

"In my town, absolutely. And im sooooo glad they (trunk-or-treat) are starting to die out. For about 5 years now there is almost 30 of them 2 weeks leading up to trick or treat."

"Traditional trick or treat was one of the last bastions of high trust neighborhoods because you actually got to meet and know everyone and where they all were."

"Trunk or treat is the result of Halloween being ruined by increased isolation and fear of our neighbours and general lack of community over the years."

But not everyone agrees. Plenty of people say trunk-or-treat actually makes Halloween better:

"I live in a rural area with no neighborhoods. We always hit up our trunk or treat then go to my in laws neighborhood. Trunk or treats do have some good use!"

"The advantage trunk or treats have is that they’re usually on the weekend."

"I love both!!! Trunk or Treat gives me the 90s school carnival vibes (at least at our school) and we still trick or treat!"

"Trunk or treats expanded Halloween. Created more opportunities."

"It gives carnival and my kids get more candy in that hour than walking the streets all night."

"It made it possible for kids who live in rural neighborhoods to celebrate."

Finally, there are people who think Halloween's decline has a lot more to do with other changes in society:

"Young families not being able to afford houses in neighborhoods full of boomers ruined Halloween. Who is going to trick or treat when there aren't many kids in the neighboorhood???"

"Covid ruined Halloween. Trunk or Treats was just the new Harvest Festival."

"Unwalkable neighborhoods and traffic didn't help."

"The cost of a bag of chocolate mini candy bars is criminal."

Sooooooo, what do you think? Is trunk-or-treat ruining Halloween, or is everyone just feeling a little too nostalgic?

Thoughts???

Comments