Anyone notice a smaller/non existent amount of trick or treaters? (member, brother)

[HighFlyingBird]

I think it really just depends on the year. We moved to a dead end street so didn't expect much. Also I heard trick or treat times were between 5pm and 7:30. No one got that note. It didn't start at all until after 6 and we had our last trick or treaters at 8:30. My little goblins only trick or treated our street in under a half an hour and were done and fine with that.

But previously we lived in the same house for 12 years and some years it would be super busy, with kids coming in from other areas. Some years it would be a ghost town. I realized our last Halloween that it just seemed to depend on how decorated our street was. It was sort of a dark street anyways, so if there weren't many lights on, you could tell. One block over was always busy because one house would go crazy wit decorations and so everyone would trick or treat that block to see the house.

[Scooby Snacks]

We had much fewer than last year, but I chalked it up to lousy weather (we had flooding earlier in the day, and it was drizzling off and on in the evening). Our subdivision in blocked off so that only residents are allowed to enter between the hours of 5-10PM on Halloween. It's a good policy, because before the HOA enacted it, we went broke feeding our entire town's trick-or-treaters. The kids are adorable, but 20 bags of candy, the amount my friends and I gave out last year even with the blocked off neighborhood, is quite enough.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by D. Scott

I saw and had none in my building. I was walking through the neighborhood at 9:00 PM so maybe It was too late?

You would be too late here.
Trick or Treat is - for the most part - 6 until 8.
Some places only have daylight ToT.

[Forever Blue]

Originally Posted by bentstrider

...So, are there actually more parents scared of taking their kids out?
Or are there more churches and school, and such putting on Halloween events to kind of counter those safety concerns?
That's cool if they did, but it just seems the "trick or treating" thing didn't seem very strong-willed last night.

I personally stopped handing out candy in 1991 when I was in like 10th grade. And I'm not some old, cranky person who doesn't care about kids...I've worked with kids for my job since 1999.

If you don't know already, for a good # of years now, shopping mall stores hand out candy to kids, which is a LOT safer anyway.

Also, parents may know about more parties that their churches, relatives, etc. are throwing, so their kid is in ONE, safer environment.

Also, yes of course things aren't nearly as safe anymore out there in the streets. The times of doing a lot of things kids used to do decades ago are over!

I live in an apt complex & have for 3 yrs & not a soul knock on doors around here nor do I hear kids running around outside.

[luv my dayton]

We had few beggars. On a good year there would be maybe 30. Just not safe anymore and think parents are considering that. The stats show that Halloween is the biggest celebration and money spent on candy,decorations,costumes is over 6 billion. Think adults have gotton more into it which has accounted for the high amounts of money spent.

[Tallysmom]

Three years ago I had three. Two years ago, none. We live in a marginal area, and our regional thing is porch light on, the house is participating in Halloween candy giving. We are the only house in my block to ever participate. So last year -- no light, no kids. Since I sit in my living room and my house is close to the sidewalk, and our door is open (not cold here I see EVERYONE walking on the sidewalks.

This year -- three of my neighbors had their lights on, but weren't home.... and no kids. I think it's done here.

[pekemom]

None, not one...I put on the porch light and put the peke in his kennel...looked out
front and saw only one other house with lights on...these lots are over an acre each,
I think kids want to go to houses closer together...besides the churches and malls hand
out candy and have activities.

[ABQ2015]

I live in an upscale downtown neighborhood surrounded by poorer city and county neighborhoods. We get hundreds of kids every year. The streets are lined with cars. While it is mainly due to the candy, I think safety is also a concern. There are more sidewalks and street lights and less speeding cars than in the unincorporated county. Also no vicious dogs running loose.

[shaylahc]

Yes! We had about 1/3 of the number of kids we usually do. It was raining here (although it is Seattle!) and some wondered if that hindered the trick or treaters.

[ipaper]

I noticed a lot Halloween parties going on this year, compared to previous years. Also kids here had other options, like trick or treating at the local mall, main street businesses, the hospital, the police department had something going on, local churches, and other places as well.