Trunk-or-Treat Contest – Judging Rubric

How Winners Are Chosen

Attendees decide the Best Trunk by vote. Every guest gets a vote, and the trunk with the most votes at the end of the event wins the custom title belt.

What Makes a Great Trunk
While voting is open to attendees, here's the guidance we'll share to help participants understand what we're looking for:

• Festive & Halloween-Themed – Trunk should be decorated with a clear Halloween theme (spooky, silly, seasonal — your choice of style).
• Kid-Friendly & Appropriate – Decorations should be fun and welcoming for children of all ages. No graphic gore, disturbing imagery, or content unsuitable for a family event.
• Effort & Creativity – Trunks that show genuine effort, originality, and attention to detail will stand out to voters.
• Interactive/Engaging (Bonus) – Trunks with an activity, character, sound, or something that engages kids tend to leave the biggest impression.
• Safety – No open flames, no tripping hazards, and decorations should be secured so nothing falls or blows away.

Registration Requirement

VENDORS SIGN UP UNDER THE VENDOR TICKET
Anyone using their trunk to promote a business must register as a Vendor. A decorated trunk can serve as your vendor spot instead of a table, but the $50 vendor fee still applies. Trunks not registered as vendors should not include business branding, signage, or promotional materials—keep those trunks purely for Halloween fun.

Donations

Donations for this event will go toward our collection to replace the VFW roof.

Reserve your table in our Haunted Hall at the 3rd Annual Halloween CommUnity Bash! Set up to sell your products or promote your business to 250–300 attendees during this family-friendly event.

📅 Saturday, October 31st | 12:00 – 3:00 PM
📍 VFW Post 1451, 31 Reid Street, South River, NJ

Trunk-or-Treat Contest – Judging Rubric

How Winners Are Chosen

Attendees decide the Best Trunk by vote. Every guest gets a vote, and the trunk with the most votes at the end of the event wins the custom title belt.

What Makes a Great Trunk
While voting is open to attendees, here's the guidance we'll share to help participants understand what we're looking for:

• Festive & Halloween-Themed – Trunk should be decorated with a clear Halloween theme (spooky, silly, seasonal — your choice of style).
• Kid-Friendly & Appropriate – Decorations should be fun and welcoming for children of all ages. No graphic gore, disturbing imagery, or content unsuitable for a family event.
• Effort & Creativity – Trunks that show genuine effort, originality, and attention to detail will stand out to voters.
• Interactive/Engaging (Bonus) – Trunks with an activity, character, sound, or something that engages kids tend to leave the biggest impression.
• Safety – No open flames, no tripping hazards, and decorations should be secured so nothing falls or blows away.

Registration Requirement

VENDORS SIGN UP UNDER THE VENDOR TICKET
Anyone using their trunk to promote a business must register as a Vendor. A decorated trunk can serve as your vendor spot instead of a table, but the $50 vendor fee still applies. Trunks not registered as vendors should not include business branding, signage, or promotional materials—keep those trunks purely for Halloween fun.

Donations

Donations for this event will go toward our collection to replace the VFW roof.