Trick or Treaters (activity, daughter, grandpa, homemade)

[Coldjensens]

It depends on where you are. At our old house, we woudl get 500 to 700 kids. We would stock up on candy for weeks before Halloween. Kids came from adjoining less well to do neighborhoods by the hundreds.

Where we live now, we get maybe 10 -12 kids. Sometimes none. No one wants to go on our street becuase houses are only on one side of the street and are pretty spread out. Even our kids walk a few blocks to more densely filled areas. It is crazy to drive around our community during trick or treat hours. If you dive over 5 mph, you are probably going to kill someone. They are out in droves and not really careful about crossings.

We have a Halloween parade on the main business street. The kids get in their costumes and parade down the street behind a firetruck and the band. People throw candy to them and the stores give out treats. The local gas station allows each kid to select one candy bar or chips off of their snack rack. This was conceived as an alternative to trick or treat, but it has become an addition to it.

We see a lot of Churches sponsoring "Trunk our treat" events where people park in a parking lot, decorate their cars and kids go from car to car for candy. This is especially popular with parents of very young kids.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by rkb0305

Its big around here. We get tons of kids.

I think there are more organized activities now at churches and places like that. Maybe people go to those instead of going door to door.

I live in Stapleton and last year, we had to shut off the lights at 7:30 when we ran out of candy. We gave out 400 pieces I don't know if we'll go for 500 this year or not.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by sskkc

We got 3 trick or treaters last year. Our neighbors were so unprepared for trick or treaters that less than half of the houses had anyone home, and few of those had candy. My kids came home with full size sodas, dollar bills, cupcakes, full size candy bars, juice boxes, gatorade and from one house, stuffed animals.

Not that they weren't happy with their 'stash' (because they also got to keep all our candy) but this year, we're going to a 'trunk or treat' event.

My kids school is advertising a "trunk or treat" event. Sounds dumb to me... they'll get all they need in their own neighborhood!

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Some of it has to do with the age of the neighborhood...older neighborhoods where the kids have grown up and moved out don't seem to get as many trick-or-treaters.

Last year I bought $30 worth of candy and it was gone in ten minutes. My mom bought a bag of peanut butter cups and she and my dad were still nibbling on them at Christmas time, she only got three trick-or-treaters.

[phonelady61]

I think it depends on where you live . I know our apt complex has sent a note around saying that they would like for all residents to shut off our lights and not hand out candy . It is for the kids safety . I understand that cause these stairs are a menace at night . I have lived in tons of apt complexes and have never gotten one trick or treater at my door .

[Mattie]

I'm ready, with two boxes of big candy bars from Costco. It's a cr*p shoot as to whether or not we will have the kids ringing the bell or not. Some years we get many, and some years barely any. We started handing out the big bars because we live at the top of a hill, and wanted to make up for the climb. DH also went crazy with the decorations (fog machine, music, etc).

I have found that Halloween is tough on our dogs though. They go crazy every time the bell rings. I think I will take my candy, a chair, and a glass of wine down to the street this year.

[nightcrawler]

In Brooklyn the trick or treater's do not go into apartment buildings, instead they go in and out of all the stores on 86th street. The store owners have bowls of candy they give out to the children. It is better, because you don't want strangers in your building. I don't want my sons in any strange building either. A lot of apartment dwellers are not home / will not answer the door so the kids time is wasted....this way in the stores, and 86th street is loaded with stores as far as the eye can see...so the kiddies come home with bundles of candy...

[Obrero]

We don't reallly get any here as our town has a "safe zone" every year. It's a few streets that are blocked off from traffic. They collect candy at the police station and give it out to residents of those streets. I have a friend who lives there and last year had 2,000 pcs and ran out at 6pm.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

Some of it has to do with the age of the neighborhood...older neighborhoods where the kids have grown up and moved out don't seem to get as many trick-or-treaters.

Last year I bought $30 worth of candy and it was gone in ten minutes. My mom bought a bag of peanut butter cups and she and my dad were still nibbling on them at Christmas time, she only got three trick-or-treaters.

That's amazing. I cannot imagine having a bag of peanut butter cups in the house at Halloween and still having some left at Christmas!

[maciesmom]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

That's amazing. I cannot imagine having a bag of peanut butter cups in the house at Halloween and still having some left at Christmas!

If we had a bag of peanut butter cups, we'd be lucky to have any left after a week.