Trick or treat? Or trunk or treat? Why not both?
In the days leading up to Oct. 31 Halloween holiday, many trunk-or-treat events will be happening around the greater Iowa City area.
But what is trunk-or-treat? How did it start, and where is it happening in Johnson County?
What is Trunk-or-Treat?
Similar to trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treat is an alternative to the Hallows Eve tradition. Instead of families and children going from house-to-house, vehicles gather in a common spot, open their trunks, and give out candy to eager kids.
Some cars decorate their trunks for the fall season, featuring friendly jack-o-lanterns and ghouls, as well as pop culture references like Marvel superheroes.
How did Trunk-or-Treat start?
The annual trunk-or-treat tradition is traced back to the 1990s, commonly associated with churches for fall festivals. The event is considered a “safer alternative,” according to NPR. Since children often don costumes, trunk-or-treat is also referred to as “Halloween tailgating.”
The tradition has expanded but remained common in rural communities with more distance between residential homes.
There is little clarity on how the idea originated or when the first event took place. Trunk-or-treat has exploded in popularity, with independent businesses, community centers, and schools participating, with some events also offering crafts and even bouncy houses.
Where to trunk-or-treat in Johnson County?
Though trick-or-treating will happen in Iowa City from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, with other neighboring cities and towns setting their own times, there are plenty of trunk-or-treat events to check out leading up to the holiday.
Here is a roundup of 14 trunk-or-treat events happening in the greater Iowa City area:
Trunk-or-treat at Lionheart Early Learning: 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, at 2717 Northgate Dr., Iowa City.
Trunk-or-treat at Learning Grove Academy: 7 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, at 1780 Lininger Ln., North Liberty.
Trunk-or-treat at North Dodge HyVee: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, at 1125 N Dodge St., Iowa City.
Trunk-or-treat at the Summit: 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25 at 3 Russell Slade Blvd., Coralville.
Perkins trunk-or-treat: 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25 at 819 1st Ave., Coralville.
Coralville’s trunk-or-treat: 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Coralville Aquatic Center Parking Lot, 1513 7th St., Coralville.
Trunk-or-treat at GreenState: 12 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2355 Landon Rd., North Liberty.
iStroll IC trunk-or-treat: 4 to 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at Lower City Park, 200 Park Rd., Iowa City.
Trunk-or-treat at Prairie Rose Family Medicine: 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at 1101 5th St., Suite 102, Coralville.
Trunk-or-treat at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church: 4:30 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at 140 Gathering Place Ln., Iowa City.
Solon’s Monster Mash: 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at 700 W Sovers St., Solon.
Trunk-or-treat at Anderson’s ATA Taekwondo: 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at 990 238th St. NE, North Liberty.
Trunk-or-treat at Johnson County Extension and Outreach: 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at 3109 Old Highway 218 S, Iowa City.
Trunk-or-treat West Music: 5 to 6:45 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 1212 Fifth St., Coralville
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: To trick or trunk? What is ‘trunk-or-treat’ and how to participate in Johnson County
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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