Trunk-or-treating is an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating where participants gather their cars in a central location, usually a parking lot, and decorate their trunks with Halloween themes and candy displays. Children then walk from car to car, collecting candy in a similar way to traditional trick-or-treating. The activity began in the mid-1990s as a "fall festival" alternative to trick-or-treating, but became "trunk-or-treat" two decades later. Some organizations around the United States and Canada sponsor trunk-or-treat events on Halloween night or a day immediately preceding Halloween, or a few days from it, on a weekend, depending on what is convenient.

Trunk-or-treating is seen as a safer alternative to traditional trick-or-treating by some parents, while others see it as an easier alternative to walking the neighborhood with their children. It is also a convenient way to take part in Halloween fun for people who live in communities where houses are not close together or places where there are lots of neighbors who dont want visitors on Halloween.

Trunk-or-treating has been around for more than 30 years as a trick-or-treating alternative. It is commonly associated with churches, who present the events as safer alternatives to door-to-door trick-or-treating. However, some people feel that trunk-or-treating is not the same as traditional trick-or-treating and that it is anti-community and exclusionist, as it primarily occurs in church parking lots.

In summary, trunk-or-treating is an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating where participants gather their cars in a central location, decorate their trunks with Halloween themes and candy displays, and children walk from car to car, collecting candy. It is seen as a safer and more convenient alternative to traditional trick-or-treating by some parents and is commonly associated with churches.