Every autumn, as Halloween creeps closer, children and families throughout Orillia get excited for a sweet, safe, and creative twist on trick‑or‑treating: the Trunk Or Treat event, brought to you by TheBigEvent.ca in partnership with the Orillia Youth Centre, ODAS Park and Giant Tiger. It’s become one of the fall staples in our home, combining community spirit, costumes, decorations, food, fun, and most of all, good old fashioned candy collecting.
Trunk Or Treat is like trick‑or‑treating, but instead of going door‑to‑door in neighbourhoods, families visit decorated vehicles with their open trunks. The trunks are thematic and decorated while volunteers or community members hand out candy.
This year marks the 6th annual event and is being held on Saturday, October 25th, 2025 from 1 to 4 pm. It will happen rain or shine, so dress to impress but dress for the weather as well.
I have had the pleasure of attending with my little ones in tow, as well as putting in a vehicle and giving out candy. One time, it even rained, but that did not slow us down. Halloween night is always known for rain or snow, so this event is a bonus chance for Halloween fun, in case things go awry on the 31st. We have always had a fantastic time and it is loads of fun. Trunk or Treat is such a special event for several reasons:
- Safety & Accessibility- Trunk Or Treat offers a more controlled environment than going house to house, which is especially helpful for younger children or those who might find big crowds or longer walking distances challenging. It also is a short and sweet experience in comparison with Halloween night.
- Community & Creativity- Because trunks are decorated, there’s a chance for people to get creative with themes, décor, and costumes. Community members, local businesses, schools, and youth centres often take part. Everyone comes out to play!
- Timing- Orillia’s Trunk or Treat is held in daylight, so there is less worry about late hours and trying to wind your kiddos down when coming down off a sugar high on Halloween night.
- All Ages- It’s not just for little ones. Older kids, families, adults often come in costume, help decorate, and hand out treats.
Trunker Registration is now open! This is for families, friends, community groups, businesses, sports teams – anyone – that loves Halloween and wants to decorate their vehicle and hand out treats to the kids! The goal is to have 100 vehicles participating in the event!
To join in the fun as a Trunk-or-Treater, registration opens on October 1st at 10am. The event is pay what you can, but is a fundraiser, in addition to being a fun-raiser. A $3 donation per child is recommended, but any amount is appreciated! All money raised after covering expenses is donated to the Orillia Youth Centre.
Full details, and to sign up or get tickets, head to www.TrunkOrTreat.ca
