Trunk or Treat in the East Bay (2019)

These listings are from 2019. In 2020, all (or nearly completely) all of these events have been cancelled. For other 2020 Halloween events, 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!

Trunk or Treat, Hercules

When: Oct. 25th 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, Halloween-themed movie will be shown,
Website >

Sponsor

Trunk or Treat, Pleasant Hill

When: Oct. 25th from 6 pm – 8 pm
Where: Civic Park Community Center, 1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
What’s great for families: crafts, goody bags, and trunks full of treats. This event is free but food and drink sales will support the Pleasant Hill Teen Center.
Website >

Trunk or Treat at Civic Park Community Center, Walnut Creek

When: Oct. 25th from 6 pm – 8 pm
Where: Pleasant Hill Park Parking Lot, 147 Gregory Lane
What’s great for families: Walnut Creek Recreation is hosting their first ever Trunk-or-Treat event – a free after party to the popular trick or treating event downtown.
Website >

Out of this world Trunk or Treat, El Cerrito

When: Halloween Carnival Oct. 26th from noon – 5 pm with trunk-or-treating starting at 1 pm
Where: El Cerrito Community Center
What’s great for families: pumpkin splash, haunted house (with lights on for little kids the first shift), and a carnival with bounce house, face painting.
Website >

CCS/BACBC/TTP Trunk or Treat, Alameda

When: Oct. 26th from 5:30 pm – 8 pm
Where: Coastline Christian Schools parking lot, 1801 North Loop Road, Alameda
What’s great for families: trunk-or-treating plus pumpkins for sale.
Kindly RSVP, tickets are FREE >

San Leandro Justice Trunk or Treat

When: Oct. 31st from 5 pm – 7 pm
Where: Juvenile Justice Center parking lot, 2500 Fairmont Drive, San Leandro
Details here but no RSVP required for guests (only trunks) >

Sponsor

Looking for more Halloween fun? Check out our round-up of family-friendly Halloween events in the East Bay!