For more 2021 Halloween happenings, please check out our Halloween activities guide.
My midwestern parent friends made fun of me for not knowing about Trunk or Treat traditions. They accused me of living in a California bubble. In case you’re living in the same bubble — and if you’re reading 510Families.com, I’ll assume that you might be, too — here’s a quick explanation of Trunk or Treat and some local places where you can find one.
Trunk or Treat events take place in community parking lots
Participants in Trunk or Treat events are often part of a community organization such as a church, school, or recreation center. The folks who are giving out candy decorate their trunks (Get it? Trunk-or-Treating?!) with extra points for matching costumes. Young children walk around from car to car and trick or treat, just like at a house, but interacting with more candy-givers in a short amount of time because the cars are all gathered in a parking lot.
Trunk-or-treating is a clever solution to traditional trick-or-treating in communities where houses are surrounded by land or on long driveways such that it would take the stamina of a long-distance runner to visit more than a few houses in one evening by foot.
Trunk or Treat events in the East Bay
Many schools and churches host trunk-or-treat events for their smaller communities. We tried really hard to only list those open to the public. Please be respectful of any of these events you attend for the first time. Looking for more Halloween fun? Check out our round-up of family-friendly Halloween events in the East Bay!
Sponsor
Pro tip: Assume that the ones after dark are for older kids and teens. When in doubt, check with the organizer.
Trunk or Treat at Bumblebee Playspace, Newark
When: Oct. 23 from 4 pm – 5:30 pm
Where: Bumblebee Playspace, 35500 Dumbarton Court, Newark
What’s great for families: Trunk-or-treating with more than a dozen participating local businesses with the super fun playspace right there (Trunk or treat event is free, admission to playspace costs $15 per child or $10 for a sibling). Wear a costume and bring your own bucket for treats.
More info on Instagram >
‘Running Dead’ Family Fun Run & Trunk or Treat, Union City
When: Oct. 24 from 10 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Civic Center, 34009 Avarado-Niles Road, Union City
What’s great for families: Enjoy the fun run with zombie challenges or the afternoon of ghoulish games and trunks of treats.
Website >
Trunk-or-Treat Spooktacular, Downtown Martinez
When: Oct. 24 from 10 am to 2 pm
Where: 500, 800, and 900 blocks on Main Street, Martinez
What’s great for families: Martinez is inviting local businesses to decorate and come together to create a fun and safe space for young ones in conjunction with the farmers’ market.
Website >
Trunk or Treat at BART, North Berkeley
When: Oct. 28 from 4 pm – 6 pm
Where: North Berkeley BART Station
What’s great for families: Open to kids under 12 with an adult, BART police promises a drive-thru, fun-filled, COVID-conscious evening. Free to enter.
More details >
Sponsor
Trunk or Treat at Civic Park Community Center, Walnut Creek
When: Oct. 29 from 4 pm – 5:30 pm
Where: 1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
What’s great for families: Little ones are invited to walk down a candy lane of decorated trunks. Non-sweets include entertainment booths, glitter art, face painting, and a bubble play station. Free, and no RSVP needed, but please bring your own treat bag.
Website >
{BONUS} Charity & the JAMband Concert & Trunk or Treat, Mill Valley
When: Oct. 29 from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Where: Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
What’s great for families: kids concert performance, lots of treats, wonderful time
RSVP here >
Trunk or Treat Halloween Fun, Hayward
When: Oct. 29 from 6 pm – 8 pm
Where: Straw Hat Pizza 2001 1653 Industrial Pkwy W, Hayward
What’s great for families: Expect a casual evening that’s just as fun for the parents as it is for the kids with pizza and beer specials all evening. There’ll be an “awesome DJ” and tricked-out cars.
More details on Facebook >
Trunk or Treat, Hercules
When: Oct. 29 from 6 pm – 8 pm
Where: Community Swim Center Parking Lot 2001 Refugio Valley Road, Hercules
What’s great for families: Costume contest, trunk contest, and Halloween-themed movie will be shown. Plan ahead to register for Best Trunk by contacting the Parks & Rec Dept.
Website >
Trunk or Treat, San Lorenzo
When: Oct. 30 from 8 am to noon
Where: 1062 Grant Ave, San Lorenzo
What’s great for families: Trunk or Treat presented by San Lorenzo Cars n Coffee presents DJ Breeze L, costume contest, kids’ parade with a prize going to the best-decorated car.
More info on Instagram >
{BONUS} Trunk or Treat with Zipline, Quarry Park, Rocklin
When: Oct. 30 from 2 pm to 7 pm
Where: Quarry Park Adventures, 5373 Pacific Street, Rocklin
What’s great for families: Kids in costume (70-250 pounds) can have a free turn on the Big Gun Zip Line on Halloween weekend. The trunk or treat event adds to the high-adrenaline Halloween fun.
Website >
Kidz Halloween Hay Day, Downtown Livermore
When: Oct. 30 from 1 pm to 5 pm
Where: Historic Downtown Livermore
What’s great for families: Look for children’s activities, a costume contest, trunk-or-treat, and more for children 5th grade and younger.
Website >
CCS/BACBC/TTP Trunk or Treat, Alameda
When: Oct. 30 from 5 pm – 8 pm
Where: Coastline Christian Schools parking lot, 1801 North Loop Road, Alameda
What’s great for families: trunk-or-treating with nothing too scary.
Kindly RSVP, tickets are FREE >
{BONUS} Trunk or Treat at Thrive City Thrill-O-Ween, San Francisco
When: Oct. 31 from 2 pm – 7 pm
Where: 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA
What’s great for families: 50,000 candy trunk-or-treat plus lots of family-friendly activities: costume contests, pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, and a 5 pm screening of The Addams Family.
Kindly RSVP, tickets are FREE >
Looking for more Halloween fun? Check out our round-up of family-friendly Halloween events in the East Bay!
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