Enter Trunk or Treat.
I had never heard of such an event until last year. Maybe I’ve been living in the shadows or maybe it’s a new(er) idea. The idea is simple: park a bunch of vehicles in a parking lot and pass out candy. Instead of having to walk from house to house, you have to walk from parking spot to parking spot.
On Sunday my church Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in West Des Moines hosted a Truck or Treat. Instead of just having cars with candy, we also had activities and popcorn and drinks. The West Des Moines Fire Department even came with a truck and parachuted candy down from the ladder.
Lucas and I took our car over to set up shop, as well. We placed five buckets in our trunk and covered them up. One had candy, the other had mystery foods playing the roles of a brain, heart, eyeballs and intestines. The kids had to use their hands – without looking – to feel around until they found the candy. Most of the 100 kids were willing to give it a go with just a handful not being the adventurous type. Those kids made a killing in less than two hours.
The event seemed particularly well suited for adults with children under the age of two. They could walk from car to car or easily be pushed in a stroller or wagon without the parents feeling like they ran a race.
There are at least a half dozen other trunk or treat events going on at local churches this week. If you've never attended one, I'd highly recommend it.