Trunk or Treat

Hiawatha Recreation Center is hosting a Trunk or Treat block party on Thursday, October 22, from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. If you're not familiar with the format, it's a safe alternative to house-to-house trick-or-treating: neighborhoods gather decorated vehicles and kids collect candy from the trunks. It's a way to get the Halloween candy haul without the walking, and it keeps everyone in one spot.

Across the DFW Metroplex, these things pop up throughout October—churches, police departments, municipalities, and even a trampoline park host their own free sessions, from downtown city squares out to the suburbs. Many of them start with a sensory-friendly hour, with no flashing lights or loud music, for families who need a calmer experience. The Hiawatha Williams Recreation Center is doing this one as an in-person block party, so it's more of a neighborhood gathering than a formal event.

Beyond the candy, these sessions often add a few more perks to the mix: bounce houses, music, Halloween games, not-so-spooky movies, and food. It turns a quick trip for treats into a full evening out. Since it's a block party, you'll find people hanging out and kids running between cars rather than just a line of trunks to walk through.

It's all happening at the Hiawatha Recreation Center, 2976 Cummings Street, Dallas, TX 75216, on Thursday, October 22, from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.