What's the Latest Parents Should Let Their Kids Trick-or-Treat? (Vienna: house, neighborhood)

[Carlingtonian]

So a while ago, we ran outta candy, and we were getting ready to head downstairs to watch Modern Family. So I turned out the front porch light.

Then the doorbell rang. It was just after 9:00.

Mrs. Carlingtonian confessed she'd turned the porch light back on because it was pitch dark. (In my mind, that's the whole point--but she thinks darkness invites burglars, vandals, and shrub thieves.)

I told her the unwritten rule on Halloween is: light on = we will give you candy.

But she said 9PM is too late. "Those are bad parents!" she insisted. "Their kids should be in bed!" (And true, I do recall going to bed at 8:30 as a kid.)

Who's right?

(We ignored the door.)

[spleuchan]

You both are right. Kids shouldn't be out trick or treating at 9:00 at night and people shouldn't leave their light on if they aren't willing to give out candy.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by spleuchan

You both are right. Kids shouldn't be out trick or treating at 9:00 at night and people shouldn't leave their light on if they aren't willing to give out candy.

Ha! I knew it! I was right! Can't wait to tell Mrs. C....

OK, but seriously--what if your light is on at midnight? Isn't there a common-sense time at which "too late to trick-or-treat" begins?

[spleuchan]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Ha! I knew it! I was right! Can't wait to tell Mrs. C....

OK, but seriously--what if your light is on at midnight? Isn't there a common-sense time at which "too late to trick-or-treat" begins?

Midnight, you are ok, it is no longer Halloween. 11:59, you are just asking for trouble!

[CAVA1990]

For safety sake I never let my kids do it after the bars closed.

[michgc]

I think it pretty much ends at 9:00 PM. We had our last trick-or-treater at 8:50 PM tonight. I remember once in Vienna a group came about 9:10 PM. But generally, I think 9:00 is the generally-understood end in the suburbs - at least where I have lived.

[CaliTerp07]

I LOVE MY NEW NEIGHBORHOOD! The kids naturally petered off around 8:30. And every single child said "thank you" That's a first for me on halloween!

I think 9:00 is definitely the cut off. In my mind, 12 years old is the unofficial cut off for trick or treaters, and if they're not home by 9 that's an issue in my book. I don't have kids though, so check back in 15 years when I have teens running the neighborhood at midnight begging for more candy.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by michgc

I think it pretty much ends at 9:00 PM. We had our last trick-or-treater at 8:50 PM tonight. I remember once in Vienna a group came about 9:10 PM. But generally, I think 9:00 is the generally understood end in the suburbs - at least where I have lived.

Doh!

Well, this group came at 9:03.

We need a neon sign or something. "Free Candy [vs.] Our Dog Will Now Eat You if You Knock."

[skyegirl]

I think 9pm is pretty much rule of thumb, however, your porch lights were on, so that signals *candy* to trick or treaters. Turn your lights off when you are done to avoid this issue next year

[OrangeFish]

My kids wrapped up trick-or-treating at 8:45 pm. When we got home, there was one last group of kids that visited our house for candy. Our light went out at 9 p.m. and we had no more visitors.