Trunk-or-treat has become a favourite alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating. Churches, schools and community groups fill a car park with decorated trunks, and children walk from car to car collecting treats in a safe, well-lit space. A friendly competition for the best decorated trunk takes the event to another level, and this two-page template gives you both the award and the voting sheet.
Page One: The Award
The award is US Letter size, 8.5 x 11 inches, portrait. The top half shows a night sky full of stars over the back of a burnt-orange SUV with its hatch lifted. Inside the open trunk, a string of glowing yellow, orange, and purple lights hangs across, and three little jack-o’-lanterns sit on the floor of the trunk. Red taillights glow on each side, and the bumper and tyres anchor the car.
Below the car sits a cream certificate panel with rounded corners. TRUNK-OR-TREAT is set in spaced orange capitals, and Best Decorated Trunk in big navy Creepster lettering. Two lines follow: this award goes to the family or group, and for the trunk theme, for the name of their design. DATE and PRESENTED BY lines complete the certificate, and the OTO logo sits in white at the foot of the page.
Page Two: The Voting Sheet
The second page is a cream sheet with a navy header. A miniature version of the same SUV sits on the right of the header, and the title reads Vote for the in orange handwriting and BEST TRUNK! in white Creepster. A short instruction asks visitors to walk the lot and add a tally mark next to their favourite trunk, one vote per trick-or-treater. Then comes a table with four columns: Trunk #, Theme, Family, and Votes (tally), with fourteen numbered rows in alternating white and soft peach. A closing line explains when votes are counted.
How to Run the Vote
The table is the editor’s Table object, so you can add rows for big events or fill in the trunk details before printing. A simple process:
- Number each parking space or trunk with a large card on the windscreen.
- Before the event, type each trunk’s theme and family into the table, or have participants write them in on arrival.
- Place the voting sheet on a clipboard at the entrance or the hot chocolate table.
- Visitors add one tally mark next to their favourite trunk number.
- At the closing time, count the tallies and fill in the award.
- Present the award at the trunk, with a photo of the winners in costume.
Popular Trunk Themes
| Theme | Key decorations | Effort level |
|---|---|---|
| Monster mouth | Felt teeth along the hatch, a red fabric tongue | Easy |
| Pumpkin patch | Hay bales, real pumpkins, a scarecrow | Easy |
| Under the sea | Blue fabric, paper fish, a mermaid costume | Medium |
| Haunted house | Cardboard windows, cobwebs, a ghost in the back | Medium |
| Outer space | Black fabric, glow stars, a cardboard rocket | Medium |
| Movie scene | Recreating a favourite family film | High |
Customising the Car and Award
Every text line is editable on both pages. Change Best Decorated Trunk to Spookiest Trunk, Most Creative Trunk, or People’s Choice for multiple awards, and duplicate page one for each prize. The SUV is a single grouped illustration; select it to recolour the body from burnt orange to red, blue, or black, or ungroup it to change the light colours. The jack-o’-lanterns inside the trunk are editable vector icons. The night sky, the certificate panel, and the voting sheet header can all be recoloured. Fonts are Creepster, Kalam and Montserrat, free Google Fonts.
Keeping Trunk-or-Treat Safe and Welcoming
Trunk-or-treat events are popular because they are safe, but a little planning helps. Keep cars parked and engines off for the whole event. Avoid open flames and use battery lights only. Have a clear walking route with cones, and ask volunteers to watch the entry and exit. Offer at least a few allergy-friendly treats, and consider a teal pumpkin at some trunks for children with food allergies. A volunteer table with the voting sheet doubles as an information point.
Prizes for the Winning Trunk
Alongside the certificate, winning trunks often receive a small trophy, a gift card for a craft or party store, a reserved front-row parking space next year, or a basket of treats for the family. Churches and schools often keep it simple with the certificate and bragging rights, which are usually prize enough.
Signing Up Trunk Hosts
Most trunk-or-treat events need a host list before the night, so organisers know how many spaces to mark and how much candy to expect. Ask hosts to register their family name, trunk theme, and phone number a week ahead, and copy those details straight into the voting sheet table. Remind hosts to arrive early to decorate, to bring enough treats for the expected crowd, and to stay until the end so late visitors still find a full lot. Sharing the competition rules and the award in the sign-up message gives hosts a reason to go all out on decorations.
Printing Both Pages
Download the PDF. Print the award on bright white card stock and the voting sheet on regular paper. Attach the voting sheet to a clipboard with a pen on a string. For large events, print two or three voting sheets and place them at different entrances, then add up the tallies at the end.
Trunk-or-Treat Questions
How many votes does each person get?
One per trick-or-treater is common. Some events let adults vote too.
Should participants know the categories in advance?
Yes. Mention the award when you invite trunk hosts, so they can plan their decorations.
Can I add a column for vote totals?
Yes. Use the Table options to add a Total column next to the tally column.
Is this suitable for church events?
Absolutely. Change the wording to Fall Festival or Harvest Fest if you prefer.
Number the trunks, print the voting sheet, and get the award ready. The most creative car in the lot is about to get its moment in the spotlight.
