Popular Halloween costumes have been competitive every year, but over the past few decades, trick-or-treating has stayed essentially the same: Grab some friends and a handy carrying case, go door-to-door or out of your neighborhood to get you something good to eat, mainly sweets.

A newer trend has bubbled up in cities nationwide, Trunk-or-Treating! The premise is simple: A bunch of parents band together (typically in a school or church parking lot), deck out their biggest trunks with Halloween decorations making them a Spooktacular Edition. Kids meander from car to car, collecting treats or prizes at each stop, and sometimes play games. Music and visuals are key to the experience.

If this seems like an nontraditional spin, just wait until you see the cars. People really get into creating themed designs that blow away most of the houses in a typical neighborhood, like this SUV-turned-pirate-ship:

Disney movies—from Frozen to Toy Story—tend to be just as popular as spooky, traditional Halloween-y themes. Another favorite that pops up all over Pinterest and Instagram (#trunkortreat) is a Mickey Mouse trunk:

The most popular style, though, involves turning your trunk into a giant monster's face, where kids have to stick an arm between its jaws to get to their beloved candy corn and mini Snickers bars.

The proof, though, that Trunk or Treat has truly hit the mainstream? Party supply stores have started selling their own trick-out-your-trunk kits, so you don't have to be a DIY expert to participate. (Cue sighs of relief from every overextended, always-on-the-go family out there.) Seriously, if you want to host a party but don't have the time—or crafting skills—to pull off something epic, you can invest anywhere from $10 , which includes 8 Monster Teeth, 2 Googly Eyes, 1 Silly Tongue, 1 Spooky Sign, 4 Fiberboard Easels, 24 Double Adhesive Dots and 6.3 ft of string at Joann.com, or Oriental Trading's Decorating Kits, that range from $80 to $240.

Consider organizing a Trunk-or-Treat event in your community parking lot where children can safely go from car to car and your pets remain safely at home. You can even transform the end of your driveway or sidewalk into the perfect place to hand out treats without disturbing your pets.

What is Trunk-or-Treat???

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