The cool breeze and golden hues of Autumn are here once again. While not every church may have a landscape full of falling leaves, every church can still capture the fun and warmth of the season with an exciting Trunk or Treat event! Just like fall festivals, trunk or treat allows kids to enjoy the season safely while adding a creative twist to traditional trick-or-treating.

Below, you'll find some amazing decoration ideas based on five categories: Bible stories, hobbies, popular movies/shows, food-related, and seasonal themes. You won’t “trunk or treat” yourself to a better night than with these fall-inspired Pinterest ideas!

Bible Story-Themed Trunks

Bring the Bible to life with these trunk ideas that teach valuable stories and lessons in God's Word:

Fruit of the Spirit 

Create a display of the Fruits of the Spirit by decorating our trunk with large, colorful fruit cut-out labels with each fruit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. You could even add baskets filled with real or fake fruit, and consider including a small card with each fruit's corresponding Bible verse. These could be for display, or even for the kids (Galatians 5:22-23). 

Noah's Ark

Decorate your car (or ship, rather) into Noah's Ark! Deck out your trunk with stuffed animals (remember, 2 by 2), ship items, and a big rainbow to top it off! You can even dress up as Noah or one of the animals to enhance the storytelling experience. Encourage the kids to participate by offering them animal masks, plush toys, or maybe even a face painting station (Genesis 7). 

Fisher's of Men

Set up a fishing-themed trunk where kids can experience the excitement of becoming "fishers of men." Decorate with fishing nets, boats, and colorful fish props. Create a "catch" game where children can use magnetic fishing rods to reel in fish with Bible verses attached. As they catch their fish, share the significance of Jesus calling his disciples to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). 

Treasures in Heaven

Create a treasure chest with golden coins, colorful jewels, and scrolls featuring Bible verses in your trunk. Set up a treasure hunt where children search for the scrolls with Bible verses on them, rather than the gold or jewels. This interactive experience will help them understand the importance of focusing on heavenly treasures, not earthy possessions (Matthew 6:19-21). 

Holy Armor Shop 

Transform your trunk into a "Holy Armor Shop" where kids can engage with the concept of the Armor of God. Decorate the area with colorful banners featuring each piece of armor, including the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, shield of faith, sword of the spirit, and shoes of peace. You can use cardboard or foam to create replicas of these items or set up a "gear up" station where children can try on DIY armor pieces. This could be simple helmets made from paper plates or shields crafted from cardboard. As they gear up, explain how each piece protects us spiritually against our enemies (Ephesians 6:10-18). 

Hobbies and Interests-Themed Trunks

Bring kids’ favorite pastimes to the trunk or treat with some of their favorite hobby-themed ideas:

Fishing

Transform your trunk into a fishing scene complete with a blue tarp for a pond, fishing poles, and colorful fish. Create a fishing game where kids can catch candy or small prizes using toy fishing rods or nets. Decorate with tackle boxes and fishing nets to set the mood. 

Hunting

Create a woodland scene in your trunk with camouflage netting, trees, and stuffed animals peeking through. Set up a "hunting" activity where kids can use toy binoculars to search for the animals or bows to hit targets. You could give away stuffed animals or candy as prizes. 

Sports Fanatic

Showcase your passion for sports by transforming your trunk into a mini sports field! Choose a specific sport like football and incorporate relevant decor, such as a football, jersey, and goalposts. You could set up fun activities like mini-games or challenges that encourage teamwork. 

Campfire Stories 

Create a cozy campsite in your trunk complete with tents, sleeping bags, and a faux campfire made from orange and red tissue paper. Decorate with lanterns, smores props, and nature-inspired decorations like pinecones, sticks, and leaves. Share stories around the campfire about God's creation. Hershey's or even Smores's would be the obvious treat for this one!

Legos

Who doesn't love Legos? Transform your vehicle into a giant Lego world! Use cardboard to create oversized Lego blocks and decorate them with vibrant colors. Allow kids to engage in building their own mini Lego creations using the smaller blocks you provide. You can also set up a challenge where kids have to build something specific. Either way, this is a sure win! 

Popular Movies and Shows-Themed Trunks

Tap into kids' favorite movies and shows with these fun trunk or treat ideas:

The Great Pumpkin (Charlie Brown)

Transform your trunk into a scene from the classic "Great Pumpkin" story! Create a charming pumpkin patch filled with pumpkins, colorful fall leaves, and character cut-outs of Linus and Snoopy. Enhance the experience by displaying clips or images from the movie. For an added touch of fun, consider dressing up as the characters! Set up a pumpkin decorating station where kids can decorate their own mini pumpkins or write a letter to the Great Pumpkin!

Charlotte's Web

Bring the barn from Charlotte's Web to life in our trunk with hay bales farm animals, and a giant web made from string with "Some Pig" written on it. Set up storytelling sessions where you read excerpts from the book or show clips from the movie. This trunk provides a perfect opportunity to discuss friendship and the beauty of God's creation. 

Super Mario

Dive into the colorful world of Super Mario by decorating your trunk with iconic elements like coins, pipes, and cardboard question mark blocks. Dress up as Mario, Luigi, or Princess Peach to enhance the experience. Set up an interactive game where kids can jump for coins or complete challenges inspired by the game. 

Disney (Toy Story, Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, etc.)

Choose your favorite Disney characters and create a trunk that showcases their world! A Toy Story-themed trunk could feature Woody, Buzz, and friends, while a Mickey-themed setup might include Mickey ears and classic Disney decor. For a Winnie the Pooh trunk, bring the Hundred Acre Wood vibe with honey pots and stuffed animals. 

Friends

Create the ultimate "Central Perk" experience right from your trunk! Decorate your trunk with cozy chairs around a coffee table mimicking the iconic coffee shop where the Friend's characters gathered for coffee and memories. Hang fun posters or prints with quotes from the movie like, "We were on a break!" or "How you doin'?" for an added touch. For an interactive element, set up a trivia station with questions about the show. Offer coffee (non-caffeinated for the kids of course) and sweet treats for everyone. 

Food-Themed Trunks 

Who doesn't love food trunks? These trunks are always a hit!

Starbucks

Create a cozy Starbucks-themed trunk with coffee cups, green aprons, and a "menu" sign showing popular fall flavors. Offer fun, non-caffeinated, "pumpkin spice" goodies or hot chocolate for kids to enjoy. For added fun, have Starbucks-themed props like a green apron photo booth where kids can take pictures as mini baristas or use a "Barista of the Day" chalkboard to highlight fun Bible verses. 

Dunkin Donuts

Deck out your trunk in Dunkin' decor featuring pink and orange colors with donuts everywhere! For a fun twist, take a creative spin on the Dunkin' theme by turning it into a “hoops” setup—think Dunkin’ basketball! Add a small basketball hoop to the trunk and let kids shoot mini basketballs or rings through it. Winners can receive mini donut prizes or candy rings as treats!

Taco 'Bout Jesus

Set up a vibrant taco-themed trunk filled with fun signs like “Taco ‘bout Jesus, or He's Nacho Average Savior!” Decorate with taco props, sombreros, and bright colors. To make it interactive, set up a station where kids can decorate their own paper tacos using craft supplies like tissue paper, markers, and stickers. On the taco "shell," encourage them to write or glue Bible verses, making it a fun and creative way to engage with scripture. You could also have pre-made tacos or taco-shaped cutouts with Bible verses already on them, and kids can pick one to take home as a reminder of the message.

Seasonal-Themed Trunks

Celebrate the nostalgia of the fall season with these autumn-inspired trunk ideas:

Drive-In Fall Movie

Go back in time by creating a drive-in movie scene with hay bales for seating, blankets, and a screen showcasing a fun, seasonal movie. Consider classic family favorites that celebrate the fall season, like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or other classic fall films. To make it even more interactive, provide small "parking spots" for kids with toy cars or decorated boxes they can sit in, giving them their own mini drive-in experience! Surround the area with autumn-themed decorations like pumpkins, string lights, and fall foliage to capture the essence of the season. Don't forget to include a popcorn station for a salty treat! 

"Falloween" Jesus 

Celebrate following Jesus in a fun way with your "Falloween Jesus" trunk! Start by decorating your trunk with vibrant fall elements such as pumpkins, leaves, hay bales, and twinkling string lights. Incorporate footprints leading up to your trunk to represent the path of following Christ, and use signs that feature playful yet meaningful messages like "Are you Fall-o-ween Jesus?" or "Fallow Jesus, the Light of the World." For a fun activity, hand out glow sticks to kids to carry with them, representing how they can be a light wherever they go.

Quick Tips for a Next-Level Trunk or Treat

• Post updates about your Trunk or Treat event on your church's bulletin board and online platforms to recruit volunteers and build excitement. 
• Don’t wait until the last minute! Send out invitations to kids and their families well in advance, encouraging them to join in the fun by dressing up in their favorite costumes or participating in the creative trunk displays.
• Create a festive atmosphere by playing a Christian music playlist or Fall jazz. Music can enhance the excitement and joy of the evening as kids walk through the decorated trunks.
• If it’s chilly, consider setting up a cozy area indoors where families can warm up with hot cocoa or apple cider. This space can be a welcome escape from the cooler weather and a great place to gather and chat.
• Set up a photo booth with themed props related to all your trunk displays. This will give families a chance to take memorable pictures together, creating keepsakes from the night.
• Take plenty of photos during the event. These images will not only serve as wonderful memories with your church family but will also help promote next year’s Trunk or Treat to the community!
• For a little family-friendly competition, choose a winner for the best trunk or treat theme. The best-decorated trunk wins free candy!

Bringing the Season to Life Through Trunk or Treat 

As the crisp air of autumn settles in, there’s no better way to embrace the season than with a fun-filled Trunk or Treat event. From turning your vehicle into a cozy Starbucks stand or a vibrant taco shop to sharing Bible lessons through the Fruit of the Spirit or Noah's Ark, the possibilities are endless. So gather your volunteers, stock up on candy, and get ready to make this year's Trunk or Treat a hit. Happy decorating trunk-or-treaters!