Knocking is so last year.

Given the rapid growth of “trunk or treat” events in New Jersey, many families are opting out of the door-to-door experience on Halloween Day.

Instead, parents are taking their kids to pre-planned gathering spots in their communities, where they let their kids roam from car to car, each packed with treats.

The events tend to be hosted by the municipality, a church or local nonprofit.

Jason Henbest, president of the Lacey Chamber of Commerce, said the trunk or treat phenomenon seemed to really take off in New Jersey following 2012’s Superstorm Sandy, which plagued the late-October holiday with downed wires and curfews.

In an effort to “get back to normal,” many municipalities hosted one-stop-shop Halloween events for the kids, Henbest said.

This is the second year for a trunk or treat event in Lacey, hosted by the chamber. It’s scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Gille Park Parking Lot.

“We just decided that it was a good opportunity for us to give back to the community,” Henbest said.

Last year’s event saw about 1,000 hungry children – much more than anticipated – and the local Walmart came in handy.

For the first time, The Learning Experience in Hamilton is opening its trunk or treat event to the public, not just families connected to the center.

Michelle Koehl, center director, said it’s a popular event in the area, even when it comes to those who want to distribute candy.

“Our parents sign up,” she said. “It’s kind of a race over who’s going to get the first spot versus the last spot.”

The center’s event, in the parking lot, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

In Howell, the Police Athletic League’s 6 to 8 p.m. event at Target on Oct. 29 is promoted as “safe trick or treating in a controlled environment.”

“With the world changing, the parents are very concerned about their children being safe on Halloween as well as every other day,” said Harold Foley, PAL program director. “In the days when I was young, and that’s quite a few years ago now, we were pushed out the door with a pillowcase and told to go wherever we wanted.”

As is the case with most trunk or treats in New Jersey, Howell is making sure that every vehicle is properly registered with the event in order to participate.

Here’s a sample of trunk or treat events happening in New Jersey:

• Brick, Ocean County: Oct. 21, 6 p.m., Drum Point Sports Complex
• Berkeley Heights, Union County: Oct. 24, 11:30 a.m., Berkeley Heights Police Department
• Ewing, Mercer County: Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m., Ewing Senior and Community Center
• Cinnaminson, Burlington County: Oct. 24, 6 p.m., Wood Park
• Bridgewater, Somerset County: Oct. 25, 3 p.m., Bridgewater United Methodist Church
• New Brunswick, Middlesex County: Oct. 30, 5 p.m., Lord Stirling School
• Freehold, Monmouth County: Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., Freehold Learning Center
Note: Some events are open to residents only or charge admission.

Know of another event? Share the info in our comments section below/

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