Trunk or treat is a fun addition or alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. While many schools or other organizations may hold “private” trunk or treats. they have also become more popular as public events, where anyone can participate by entering a trunk or collecting treats. While our guide doesn’t cover these private events, we have scoured the area to pull together a list of trunk-or-treats that are open to all.
Our guide also includes other forms of trick-or-treating, such as Halloween Walks, treat handouts, touch-a-trucks, and sponsored trick-or-treats.
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City & Village Trick-Or-Treat Hours
Looking for the regular city and village trick-or-treating hours within McHenry County?
Be sure to see our other guide, Trick Or Treat Hours & Tips for Halloween.
Please be sure to check each event’s specific information for details. Most are open for all ages, though some might be geared toward younger children. Most if not all are free but may request donations of either cash or charity items. Also note that some of these events may request or require participants to RSVP or have tickets to attend, even for free events.
Trunk Decorators
Want to enter a trunk? It’s a great way to help support these events and many are open to anyone who would like to enter. If you are interested in decorating your car or truck, then please see the respective event’s website for specific details on the deadline for entry, entry forms or processes, and any rules or specific information for entrants.
See below for some decorating tips!
All information is subject to change and we always recommend contacting the specific locations to verify conditions and availability, especially those that are weather-dependent.
Unconfirmed events are highlighted below.
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Algonquin
Eurocharged Chi Trunk Or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Come celebrate Eurocharged Chi’s new facility and join in a Trunk Or Treat.
Address: 1500 E Algonquin Rd, Algonquin, IL
Phone: 630-549-9438
Information: Details
Algonquin
Old Town Trick-or-Treat Trail
Date & Time: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Come out for trick-or-treating around Old Town Algonquin with local businesses and grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants.
Address: 2 S Main St, Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: 847-658-2716
Information: Details
Cary
Cary Park District’s Fall-A-Palooza
Date & Time: Saturday, October 1, 2023, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Come out to celebrate fall at Fall-A-Palooza and get an early start on trick-or-treating!
Address: 1200 Silver Lake Rd, Cary, IL 60013
Phone: 847-639-6100
Information: Details
Cary-Grove Chamber Annual Halloween Walk in Cary
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 11:00 am – noon
Join the Cary-Grove Chamber and its members for the annual Halloween Walk in Cary. Please bring a canned food item for the Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Address: 696 Northwest Hwy, Cary, IL 60013
Phone: 847-639-2800
St. Barnabas Lutheran Church Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 9:30 am – 11:00 am
St. Barnabas Lutheran Church invites all to their annual drive-thru trunk or treat.
Address: 8901 Cary-Algonquin Rd, Cary, IL 60013
Phone: 847-636-3959
Information: Details
Living Grace Community Church Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Dress up in your Halloween costume and join the Living Grace Community Church for their “terror-free & safe for all-ages” trunk or treat.
Address: 1500 Silver Lake Rd, Cary, IL 60013
Phone: 847-639-7566
Information: Details
Crystal Lake
First Church Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
First Church invites you to their annual Trunk or Treat community event for candy, popcorn, coffee, candy, and games. The first hour is reserved for families with special needs. This event is free, but tickets are required.
Address: 236 W Crystal Lake Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-785
Information: Details
Immanuel Crystal Lake Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Friday, October 27, 2023, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Join Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake for this annual family fun event with decorated trunks, candy, games, snacks, and more.
Address: 300 Pathway Ct, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-1441
Information: Details
Bethany Lutheran Halloween Carnival
Date & Time: Friday, October 27, 2023, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Enjoy Halloween fun at Bethany Lutheran’s Halloween Carnival.
Address: 76 W Crystal Lake Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-2690
Information: Details
Halloween at the Y
Date & Time: Friday, October 27, 2023, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Head to the Sage YMCA for a fun Halloween-filled night filled with fun for all ages.
Address: 701 Manor Rd, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-4455
Information: Details
Crystal Lake Park District Truck or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 10:00 am – noon
Touch and climb on trucks while collecting candy at the Crystal Lake Park District’s annual Truck or Treat.
Address: 300 Lakeshore Dr, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-0680
Halloween Family Event at Crystal Lake Plaza
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Swing by Crystal Lake Plaza for family Halloween fun. Trick-or-Treat at the stores, fun games, petting zoo, games, magic, stilt walkers, a giant dinosaur, and live broadcasting with Star 105.5.
Address: 6500 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone:
Information: Details
St. Paul’s Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Safe trunk-or-treating and a kids Halloween movie at St. Paul’s Trunk or Treat.
Address: 485 W Woodstock St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-459-5096
Information: Details
Willow Crystal Lake Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Fun and safe trick or treating with Willow Crystal Lake’s Trunk or Treat. Enjoy candy, games, and more.
Address: 100 South Main Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 779-220-5817
Information: Details
Downtown Crystal Lake Halloween Handout
Date & Time: Monday, October 31, 2023, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Head to downtown Crystal Lake for the annual Halloween Handout for children 12 and under. Also features Teal Pumpkin Project alternatives for those with food allergies.
Address: 51 N Williams St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-479-0835
Information: Details
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Fox Lake
Fox Lake Police Department Halloween Howl
Date & Time: Monday, October 23, 2023, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Come join the Village of Fox Lake Police Department for Halloween Howl and enjoy treats, hot dogs, hot chocolate, and hayrides. Meet the police officers and check out the vehicles.
Address: 301 Illinois Rte 59, Fox Lake, IL 60020
Phone: 224-225-1404
Information: Details
Fox River Grove
Cary-Grove Chamber Annual Halloween Walk in Fox River Grove
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join the Cary-Grove Chamber and its members for the annual Halloween Walk in Fox River Grove. Please bring a canned food item for the Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Address: 980 W State Rte 22, Fox River Grove, IL 60021
Phone: 847-639-2800
City & Village Trick-Or-Treat Hours
Looking for the regular city and village trick-or-treating hours within McHenry County?
Be sure to see our other guide, Trick Or Treat Hours & Tips for Halloween.
Harvard
Brown Bear Daycare & J’s Lanes Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join Brown Bear Daycare and J’s Lanes for a family-friendly trunk or treat.
Address: 5507 S Division St Harvard, IL 60033
Phone:
Information: Details
Community Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Join the First United Methodist Church of Harvard, First Presbyterian, and Trinity Lutheran Church of Harvard for this fun, community trunk or treat event!
Address: 1100 N Division St, Harvard, IL 60033
Phone: 815-943-5422
Information: Details
Huntley
Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 3:00 9m – 4:30 pm
Join Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church for a family-fun trunk or treat.
Address: 10805 Main St, Huntley, IL 60142
Phone: 847-669-9448
Information: Details
Church On The Rock Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Church On The Rock invites you to a trunk or treat.
Address: 17N230 Manning Rd, Huntley, IL 60142
Phone: 847-961-6974
Information: Details
Trick or Treat Around the Square
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Trick or treat around the Huntley Square for the little ones and special promotions from local businesses as well.
Address: 11700 Main Street, Huntley, IL 60142
Phone: 847-515-5200
Information: Details
Island Lake
Village of Island Lake’s Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Enjoy music, and crafts, and decorate your trunk (pre-registration required) for trunk-or-treating fun. Concessions are available and prizes for the best trunks!
Address: 3720 Greenleaf Ave, Island Lake, IL 60042
Phone: 847-416-7866
Information: Details
Lake in the Hills
Trick or Treat at Melody Living
Date & Time: Friday, October 27, 2023, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Join the residents and staff at Melody Living to celebrate Halloween with some trick-or-treating fun!
Address: 555 Harvest Gate, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
Phone: 847-957-7070
Information: Details
Boulder Ridge Country Club’s Fall Festival
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Trunk or Treat combined with many other fun fall activities.
Address: 350 Boulder Dr, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
Phone: 847-854-3000
Information: Details
Trick-or-Treat at Safety Town
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Safe family trick-or-treating with family-friendly monsters, ghosts, and ghouls with local officers, Police Explorers, and community volunteers.
Address: 1109 Crystal Lake Rd, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
Phone: 847-658-5676
Information: Details
Trunk or Treat Ideas
Let’s be honest, trunk or treat can be scary! Not the actual event necessarily, but coming up with an idea. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Your trunk decoration doesn’t have to be a Broadway set, and sometimes a simpler, more minimalist approach is best.
The most important part is to have fun! It can also be a great way to get the kids involved in helping with ideas and decorating.
Remember, trunk or treats are often geared especially for younger kids, in part for the added safety and close proximity, so maybe tone down the scareville! It’s also a nice touch if you can have some non-candy treat options and/or treats geared for those with food allergies.
- Pick a favorite book, movie, or video game as a theme…and it doesn’t have to be current and trendy.
- Think of a memorable scene to keep it simple, or overall iconic imagery that encapsulates the theme.
- “Blacking out” or neutralizing the backdrop can enable just a few key props or items to “set the stage.”
- Reinforce the imagery with sound…think theme song or sounds from a soundtrack.
- Treat tie-in? Can your treat, which doesn’t have to be candy, relate to the theme?
- Make it easy for trick-or-treaters to get to, access treats, and get out of the way.
Lakemoor
Lakemoor’s Annual Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 22, 2023, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Head to Morrison Park for trunk or treat fun! Come decorate pumpkins, enjoy custom taffy apples, and maybe win a prize for the best-decorated trunk!
Address: 233 Rand Rd, Lakemoor, IL 60051
Phone: 815-385-1117
Information: Details
McHenry
Green Street Cruise Night Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Monday, October 9, 2023, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Enjoy trunk or treat with cool classic cars at this special Green Street Cruise Night!
Address: 1209 N Green St, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone:
Information: Details
Reeses Barkery Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 14, 2023, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Halloween fun for kids and canines! Come out for the 2nd annual Reesess Barkery Trunk or Treat for pumpkin decorating, deals, giveaways, a food truck, pet adoption, and trick-or-treating for dogs and kids!
Address: 1313 N Riverside Dr, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone: 815-363-7297
Information: Details
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Starck Annual Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Enjoy trunk or treat with free popcorn, treat bags, and candy! Concessions are also available from the Lions Club.
Address: 803 N Front St, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone: 815-385-5505
Information: Details
Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Friday, October 27, 2023, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Enjoy trunk or treat, s’mores, and join in for some music fun on this family-fun night out.
Address: 5603 Bull Valley Rd, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone: 815-322-2464
Information: Details
McHenry VFW Post #4600 Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Join the McHenry VFW Post #4600 for a trunk or treat with popcorn, hot dogs, a costume contest, and see local police and firefighters and vehicles… and candy!
Address: 3002 W IL Rte 120, McHenry, IL 60050
Phone: 815-385-4600
Information: Details
Trunk or Treat w/ The Bremer Team Keller Williams Success & local businesses
Date & Time: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Join The Bremer Team Keller Williams Success and other local businesses as they take over McHenry Outdoor Theater for this special trunk or treat.
Address: 1510 N Chapel Hill Rd, McHenry, IL 60051
Phone: 847-456-6334
Information: Details
City & Village Trick-Or-Treat Hours
Looking for the regular city and village trick-or-treating hours within McHenry County?
Be sure to see our other guide, Trick Or Treat Hours & Tips for Halloween.
Port Barrington
Port Barrington Community’s Halloween Fest
Date & Time: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Grab your neighbor and head to the village hall for Halloween Fest!
Address: 60 S Circle Ave, Port Barrington, IL 60010
Phone: 847-639-7595
Information: Details
Prairie Grove
Prairie Grove’s Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Head to the village hall for some trunk or treat fun, games, prizes, and walk the haunted trail!
Address: 3125 Barreville Rd, Prairie Grove, IL 60012
Phone: 815-455-1411
Information: Details
Richmond
Richmond Police Department’s Trunk-or-Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 7, 2023, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join the Richmond Police Department for some trunk-or-treat fun.
Address: 5600 Hunter Dr, Richmond, IL 60071
Phone: 815-678-4040
Information: Details
Spring Grove
Launch Enrichment Trunk-or-Treat
Date & Time: Friday, October 27, 2023, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Launch Enrichment invites you to trick-or-treat through their parking lot and staff and family members decorate their trunks.
Address: 2850 US Hwy 12, Spring Grove, IL 60081
Phone: 815-581-3291
Information: Details
Spring Grove Trunk or Treat
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Head to Horse Fair Park for some trunk or treat goodness! Be sure to get there in time for the costume contest for a chance to win a prize.
Address: 8105 Blivin St, Spring Grove, IL 60081
Phone: 815-675-6053
Information: Details
Wonder Lake
Wonder Lake Fall Fest
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Come out for a fall night of fun, featuring food trucks, games, music, a bonfire, and trick-or-treating.
Address: 4444 Thompson Rd, Wonder Lake, IL 60097
Phone:
Information: Details
City & Village Trick-Or-Treat Hours
Looking for the regular city and village trick-or-treating hours within McHenry County?
Be sure to see our other guide, Trick Or Treat Hours & Tips for Halloween.
Woodstock
Trunk-Or-Treat Open House with McHenry County Sheriff’s Office
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 10:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office invites kids of all ages to a special trunk-or-treat at the Sheriff’s Office.
Address: 2200 N Seminary Ave, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: 815-338-2144
Information: Details
Halloween Trick Or Treat Event
Date & Time: Saturday, October 28, 2023, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Enjoy the last outdoor farmers market around the Square with some Halloween trick-or-treat fun!
Address: 121 W Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone:
Information: Details
Halloween On the Square
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Enjoy trick or treating around the historic Woodstock Square after the annual costume contest! Don your scariest, funniest, or most original costume for a chance to win a prize!
Address: 121 W Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: 815-338-4363
Information: Details
Please Share Your Experiences!
What are some of your favorites? Any fond memories to share?
Do you have any trunk or treat traditions? How about tips?
Please, share your stories below!
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President and Founder of Identity Developments, LLC, the parent company of the McHenry Life website. My hope for McHenry Life is to create a resource and destination for the residents and businesses of McHenry County alike. A place where residents can discover new places to explore, fun events and ways to spend time, and then share those experiences with others. A place where businesses can connect with existing and potential customers, and not simply market their businesses, but share their own unique stories.
