Trick-or-treating question

[jinasphinx]

Question for parents, grandparents and caregivers: What do you do these days for Halloween?

A little background: When I was a kid, it was the one night of the year when we could go out at night, in the dark. We didn't care that it was cold or usually raining. It was just so exciting to go outside. We lived in a neighborhood where most residents were too young or too old to have kids, but everyone still turned on the porch light on October 31. Often they were overjoyed to see us because we were the only trick-or-treaters they got all night.

But that was before the days of Bowling Alone. Nowadays, I live in the suburbs and hardly anyone is home on Halloween. My husband takes our son out for trick-or-treating but says it isn't much fun for him to knock on doors where nobody answers. I hate the idea of trick-or-treating at a well-lit mall. To me, it's the opposite of what Halloween should be: it's indoors, well-lit, *safe*, and commercial. But it's not my childhood anymore, and perhaps everyone else has moved on.

So what do you do for Halloween?

Comments

Trick or treat

[(Anonymous)]

Trick or treating isn't what it used to be. When I was young my mom took us to a gated community rather than where we lived.

Out here I might suggest one of the apartment communities - I know where we are at now the residents are given door hangers to show that trick or treaters are welcome. This stops people from knocking on doors with nobody home or those who do not participate. I think it is a great idea and saves frustration for everyone. Knocking on doors for nothing is no fun.

I would also suggest taking a car ride to see halloween decorations - when you come into an area with a lot of them park the car and then go knocking - you could even "scout" a route before hand to save yourself from the irritable child syndrome.

[istgut.livejournal.com]

My mom used to throw the best halloween parties, and I attempted to carry on the tradition once I moved out, but it has lapsed a bit. I will probably start them up again once kiddo is old enough to appreciate them :)

in the meantime, though, no plans :|

[madduckdes.livejournal.com]

Oh, you bet there will be plans. There will be an adorable baby costume, and cider or something, and maybe a lentil loaf. We sing the monster mash whenever trick or treaters come to our porch. I think we dress Dirk up as a zombie and make him bob for apples while the baby bites his ankles. It'll be golden.

[georgmi.livejournal.com]

Around here, as a rule houses are dark if there's no trick-or-treating, and lit if there is. Our old neighborhood was pretty good about it, and teh_boy and I almost never knocked on a door without an answer. They tended to be uber-generous, as well; partly because teh_boy and I usually went out later in the evening when folks were starting to worry about being left with a bunch of candy they didn't want, but partly there were usually half-a-dozen houses or so that gave out full-size candy bars. Bonus points for hitting full-size-candy-bar houses that were starting to worry about being stuck with the candy. :)

The new neighborhood, as you can probably imagine, is not the greatest place in the world for trick-or-treating.

[covenantscave.livejournal.com]

Apparently, Bel Square does Halloween now, with the stores giving away candy.

I'm half thinking the best bet may be to just throw a kids party.

We are going to try trick-or-treating in our neighborhood, just to see if it's any better. You are welcome to come over (as early as 5PM).

FWIW, the weather report is saying that it's going to be ~47 and raining. :P

[jinasphinx.livejournal.com]

I've been informed by my son that we'll be taking you up on the kind invite. :) Hope to remember the Halloween umbrellas.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

We're making costumes and going out. Last year we gave out treats plus went around a little. This will be rosie's first year on foot. I think we'll skip treat giving this year to go around as a family.

Starting around 5 a neighborhood park near us hosts a pumpkin "glow" where area residents line the park with lit jack o lanterns. We'll go to that and then trick or treating. Some people from my meetup group are also going to the glow so I might invite some folks to trick or treat with us then come to the house for hot chocolate, mulled cider, and food. Have to discuss w Brian. I suspect it's harder to trick or treat before full dark without lights to guide you.

When I was a kid my neighborhood school hosted a bonfire and party in their playground with bobbing for apples and candied apples and such. Bobbing for apples went away after the stupid razor scare of the mid-eighties and I can't imagine an elementary school hosting an "anyone can wander up and join in" event like that these days.

The old west side in Ann Arbor was pretty big on halloween. This neighborhood is so-so. I would agree that lots of decorations probably indicate good treats, though high income neighborhoods were the "full size candy bar" targets of my youth.

[bookishelaine.livejournal.com]

Sometimes we would drive to other ("better"?) neighborhoods when I was growing up, since we had the same issue when I was younger. We were the only kids for a few blocks, but most ppl still participated. However, like I said, mom also drove us to our aunts' neighborhoods, mostly so they could see us dressed up.
These days--since Ember's bedtime is so early bc he's so young--we go to Columbia City (neighborhood just south of the Baeders' house). Most of the businesses on the main strip there are open to trick or treaters from like 3:30-6 maybe? Super handy and fun and convenient, etc. I know u village does the same. I know that may not help you specifically since you're so far south, but there may be something similar closer to you...

we live in a drive-to-it neighborhood

[walkitout]

The loop I usually walk every day has kids in many of the houses and even where the kids are grown, people still decorate and/or have candy. They're generous and nice and the hordes of children in the neighborhood make it worth while to be ready with the goodies.

Because there is this installed base of children, people do drive, park along the road, and take their kids around the loop, adding further to the fun.

If I didn't live where the treating was good, I'd definitely advocate for driving to where it is good -- it makes it more fun for everyone.