Halloween in Maine (Portland, South Portland, Orono: houses, living in, versus)

[Misa]

Hi All. I was wondering what Halloween is like in Maine. Do most people participate in halloween activities like trick or treating, parties and haunted houses?

Thanks,
Misa

[deerislesmile]

I'd say yes, yes, and yes.

[Submariner]

We were living in Bradley our first year, and then in Argyle our second year. So far in our experience, we have not seen any: door-to-door trick or treaters. We did see a haunted house advertised.

I think that the halloween activities and parties would be more active in urban areas than rural.

[7th generation]

As a child all the local families would arrive at the Union Aid Society Building,which was actually built during the Civil War so the ladies in town could knit clothing for the soldiers and the men could gather to donate needed food supplies. It was great-dunking for apples,one room closed off with parents dressed as ghosts and goblins and they would come out to award prizes for all the events. Mom actually dressed me as a girl when I was 3(I tell her that this has affected me-ha ha) What memories and joyous times we had. It was a community affair and all participated. We still have lots of kids who trick or treat. Last year we gave out candy to 58 kids and our town's population is only 255 people. Of course now a days most kids are driven to the homes versus my generation walking.

[Unhappycamper]

We always went to my Grandparents in South Portland. We always hit the jackpot there. At our house though we usually get 1 who is our nieghbor. They then went from our house to Yarmouth.

[Submariner]

"As a child"

'We used to"

Sounds more like historical commentaries of things that Mainers used to do long ago.

Living here today, now, and during the past two years; we have not seen any trick or treating.

[deerislesmile]

Well, we certainly DO go trick or treating here on Deer Isle (in the present and future sense, not a recollection of yesteryear) - house to house, though usually in a car, as there are no people in the houses downtown come October, and so the houses are much too far apart if walking.

[mollysmiles]

My parents in Eastport had about 150 kids each year. Even after my Mom died, Dad kept it going until he moved up here to Calais. We have lots of trick-or-treaters here in Calais, plus a Halloween parade through the downtown. I usually give out about 90 bags, and that's a lot considering we're out with the 8 year old most of the evening. Forest, I do think more rural areas get few to no goblins because they drive to the towns with a larger population. That way the kids can go street to street. At least, that's what happens down here I love Halloween!

[Submariner]

Cool

We did not see any when we lived in Bradley across the road from Spencers.

And we have not seen any here in Argyle.

[mollysmiles]

Spencers....is that the ice cream place? yum.....I had an aunt and uncle further out the road in Bradley....the only kids they had were nieces and nephews! It seems that there was a haunted house or woods or something in the Old Town/Orono area, but I can't remember! My mind's going....