Did you get many trick or treaters last night? Is Halloween even a big deal anymore?
Last week I asked my neighbor how many kids to expect and she said that although Halloween isn’t what it used to be {without as many kids in the neighborhood anymore}, that I’d probably be fine with two bags of candy.
But after reading in the newspaper that there was trick or treating downtown AND that one of the more busier streets in town was blocked off to traffic {and usually gets over 1,000 kids each Halloween}, the HH wanted to err on the side of caution, and so he loaded up on all his favorite candy bars.
You know, just in case. 😉
I don’t know what it was like in your neck of the woods but it rained off and on yesterday but by the time the sun was starting to set we were down to a few sprinkles. Typical Halloween weather if you ask me.
At 4:36pm things got off to a great start when 4 middle school aged boys rang the doorbell. They were dressed as the characters from Stranger Things {Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Drake and the other one was dressed as a creepy clown}.
I was like, HOLY COW, 4:36 pm…. that’s got to be a record. I couldn’t stop smiling. Well done boys. Well done. I’ve never seen Stranger Things, but they were all pretty excited about their homemade costumes and were happy to tell me about them.
The best part was that they were super polite {said thank you and I even got an I LOVE YOU when one boy spied the full sized candy bars} and that their loot bags were pillow sacks {my brother and I always used pillow sacks when we were kids}. Also, I loved that they had gotten an early start. Those boys, they’re go getters and I think they’ll go far in life.
By around 6pm we started to get worried when we would hear kids {with their parents} walking down the street and not stopping. At first we figured they were all headed downtown {but still, why not stop at a few houses along the way first?}. The HH went outside and looked around and noticed that not all of our neighbors had their lights on yet and so we decided to add more battery operated candles to the front porch and move the pumpkins closer to the curb in hopes of getting more kiddos to stop.
10 minutes later we had 3 kids stop by. An inflatable giraffe, a super hero and a cowboy {brothers and sisters I’m guessing} with Mom and Dad {also dressed up} at the curb. Again, super polite.
At 6:21pm We had a 10 year old Boy. He wished me a Happy Halloween {apparently he didn’t want to chance the whole trick or treat thing}, I told him I liked his costume {some sort of white Robin Hood / Peter Pan looking tunic with a red cape and high collar {I am so out of tune with costumes these days I have no I idea who he was dressed as}. Since we were low on ticker treaters, I told him to choose 2 candy bars. He left happy.
A few minutes later a group of high school girls all in pigtails rang the bell… I think they may have been dressed as cows? Or at least they had on bright colored t-shirts with animal cut out shapes on them. I have no idea, but they were kind and had obviously made their costumes and were a group of something {although I’m still not sure what}.
We also had a mad scientist {white lab coat and goggles} a few more superheros, 2 girls dressed up as characters from Descendants 3 {I had to look that one up} and a well mannered 12 year old girl with braids and a handmade candy bag. No costume {at least we didn’t think it was a costume, but we could be wrong}. She wore a big brown sweater and corduroy pants. I told her that I liked her sweater and that she looked warm. Agreeing, she gave me a heartfelt well thank you.
I wish we would have had a few more little peeps last night ringing our bell and collecting candy, but all in all, it was a good night, and how sweet it is to know we are surrounded by so many kind and well spoken kids.
And, I’m pretty sure the HH isn’t too disappointed he has a nice sized candy stash of his own to last him until the end of the year.
18 kids. Not a huge amount, but not bad either.
What was it like at YOUR place last night? Did you get many kids? Curious minds want to know.
~Mavis
P.S. Later today I’ll be posting one of my secret holiday craft tutorials, so be sure and check back.
Erin in IA says
Took the kids out last night and I’d say it was pretty dead in our neck of the woods, too. Normally we meet up with lots of kids but considering we got 3 inches of snow the night before I cant say I can blame them. I even tried bribing my kids with their own big bag of candy to not have to go, obviously they weren’t budging.
Kathy says
Gale force wind, rain that turned to snow in NE Ohio. Given that, NO trick or treaters. Didn’t even hear any, and my community did not postpone it! Like your HH, I’ll have candy until the end of the year.
Holly says
I had 11. I usually get around 80. But we had some pretty bad storms come through. I think they might do trick-or-treating tonight also. I am not a big fan of not trick-or-treating on the actual day, but these my kid was still little, I don’t think I would have let him go out last night either. So we’ll see what happens tonight!
Leanna says
We had one “Paw Patrol” preschooler. Our neighborhood has dwindled with littles the past few years.
Carole says
We had zero. Pretty usual for way out here in the country. There was an organized trick or treat party earlier in the week. We had a cold front come through so it was cold and windy.
Melinda W says
We had 18 also. Littles from 5-7 then big kids 7-8. Last year was 15, the year before 12, the year before 9, and before that 5. I think we just add 3 each year, even though we always make sure to be prepared “just in case,” but now buy the candy we like. We live in a neighborhood with kids, but an older one with houses spread out a bit and there are lots of hills. I think the smart kids go to the flat new neighborhoods where you can touch 2 houses at once because they are so close together. It doesn’t help that it was 90 degrees 3 weeks ago, 70 degrees 2 days ago, and 34/raining last night. I think everyone was dressed up, but one little girl was super proud of her Chuckie doll outfit and loudly proclaimed “I AM CHUCKIE!! But I’m still a girl.” lol
jeanie says
It was quite cold and we had about 40-50. We used to have hundreds but there were a lot of inside venues because of the cold.
Heidi P says
18! You beat us by a……18:). We don’t get any trick or treaters where we live. Kinda sad. I miss all those sweet little faces.
Can’t wait for you craft reveal today.
Mark says
It was snowing with high winds here. We still ended up with 47 kids but usually get close to 200.
Kristen says
I never remember to count but we had to have at least 50 if not higher. We have a lot of people drive to our street to trick or treat from other neighborhoods – lots of cars parked on the street. It poured all day but let up for trick or treat despite being very windy, but lots of people braved the cold. Some cute costumes, some teenagers not really dressed up at all, some homemade, a few kids with their winter coats on over costumes (I remember doing that when I was a kid!). All in all, pretty comparable to last year despite the weather. Next year I will have to count!
Julie says
We went downtown and the kids walked around in a group of 20 or so. There’s one street that is pretty much THE street to go trick or treating. It was 45 degrees. A lot of costumes you described sound like anime characters
Lori Eckert says
We live in PA. The mayor changes Trick or Treat 1 day. We had a tornado warning!
Deborah says
We did t have any trick or treaters. We’ve lived here for 25 years and have had a total of 2 trick or treaters in all that time. It was the first year we were here. I didn’t even buy any candy this year.
Tracy says
We’re in the PNW and had close to 200 last night. Love to see the costumes!
Linda Practical Parsimony says
Since Tommy had no lights on outside, no one came.
Brianna says
It was snowing and maybe in the low teens for temperature last night and dropping. Our neighbors have no kids as their kids are all grown. We had several goodie bags left on our porch yesterday for my 3 kids. It is sweet and my neighbors seriously go all out and give my kids custom goodie bags. Several neighbors also call and let me know prior that they have goodies for my kids and to bring them by. I do take my kids to a local Main Street trunk or treat after the neighbors houses, but it was super cold. The little church serves hot chocolate and apple cider. One guy has a bonfire put and gives marshmallows to kids to roast and the parents were huddled around the pit. It is small, simple, and the people that do it are very generous with candy and goodies. My kids wore snow boots, snow pants, and warm gear under their costumes and their cheeks were very rosy. Plus, with heavy winter gloves on they couldn’t sample their candy before we were done.
Susan says
Zero …..Had the lights on and like you, put a lit pumpkin /cat decoration in the window to entice anyone!
Weather was great- no rain and not too cold. We normally don’t get anyone – I think it’s our location of houses not close together.
And you’re right, Halloween isn’t what it used to be. Probably are more organized gatherings .
Emily says
My guess is the high collar kid was doctor strange from marvel. We had the typical 30/40 kids stop by.
Mary Ann Isaksen says
We give out full sized candy bars, too. Our selection looked pretty much like your HH’s selection in variety (good taste!). We always check in on the Next Door app when they ask which houses will be giving out candy each year, so we always get a lot of kids. I bought a little over 300 bars this year and ended up with about 80 leftover. My adult nephews that work for us were very happy with the leftovers this morning. lol
Some of the costumes this year were pretty amazing. One girl was the best vampire I think I’d ever seen! But there were so many in some of the groups that I didn’t get to really enjoy all the costumes this year. I think one group had to be over 25 kids — they just coming and coming!
All in all, it was a fun Halloween. We had the movie, Halloween, on watching in between groups of kids. Good night. 🙂
Margo says
I live in southern California. No fires near me, weather was good, but only got 3. We had a lot of trunk or treat events last weekend and Halloween was on a school night this year. I’ve had as many as 80 kids in previous years.
Randi says
I live in Chicago – where it snowed! But we live in a gated community in the heart of Chicago and had a ton of kids from inside the community come and trick or treat. Went through two bags of candy! Was a lot of fun for the diehard Chicago kids.
HollyG says
No sidewalks, no street lights, long winding driveway…….21 years in our place and only 1 Trick-or-Treater. I believe it was in 2000. On the good side, the kids that were out this year didn’t have to do it in rain slickers and umbrellas. On the bad side, I did lose a dental crown with my yearly Tootsie Roll so I’m off to the emergency dentist this morning (mine is closed on Fridays).
I’m surprised word didn’t spread about your big candy bars and you guys didn’t get hammered.
Jennifer Bouknight says
I guarantee you that the word has spread already about the full sized candy bars, so he prepared next year. Here in our NC mountain town, it rained until it was too late to Trick or Treat, then we got flurries and low 30s for temps. Still had a dusting on the cars when we got up.
Ali says
Here in Scotland it’s called Guising (as in being disguised) and traditionally you had to ‘do a turn’ to earn your sweets (sing, dance, tell a joke)
But like lots of things it has become Americanised and kids call it trick or treating here now. My neighbourhood doesn’t have many small kids so no one comes calling.
I’m a primary teacher so I’ve had enough of Halloween and kids this week!!! Lol!
Lea says
Here in the US, when I was a child, we had to “Do a Trick” (song, dance, joke, etc.) in order to gain the “Treat”. At least that was it where I lived – I’m in my mid-40’s now so it wasn’t *that* long ago. The group I went with always had a lot of very pun-y jokes to tell. We usually received really good candy after that!
Thanks for reminding me of that!
Lea
Evelyn says
Only have had the grands the last 5 years 🙁 Still buy all the candy though 🙂 Its Florida was VERY hot last night.We also live mile away from a subdivision that goes ALL out for Halloween and then again for Christmas as well (they do it up right) My gal-pal was in charge of that one year BIG JOB !!!So our youngest grands came before going to “Lantern park”and our oldest grands came after. I do miss seeing the costumes.Proud to say I was am extreme homemade costume maker and all 4 of our children won costume contests through the years 🙂 Not what it use to be that is for sure.
Joyce Tucker says
We’re in Northeastern WA state. The last two years we had over 300 kids, so bought enough for the anticipated crowd.. Temperatures dropped into the low 20’s last night… We got 109 kids.
We’ve had a few homes sell on our street this past year. Not as many young families live on our street anymore. We’re in a golf course community.. We’re retired, but still light the pumpkins for Halloween.. One of the few homes on our street that did this year….. Usually have bus loads of kids come through… That didn’t happen on our street last night… Very few other homes had their lights on…
Lolly says
Our old house was kept busy by trick or treaters, but now we live more rural….and I think our kids might be the only ones on the street….and it’s not a street you can walk. Also, everyone’s driveways are long…some are hidden away. So….in 7 yrs, no trick or treaters. My kids usually collect candy at church parties and at their homeschool co-op. 🙂 Also, we just got back from a trip to see family….and my aunts + uncles loaded my kids up with candy!
Yesterday, though, the temps went from 80* to 50* in a hurry, and we had tons of rain. I saw pics of friends’ kiddos on fb….so I guess they went out? Idk….we ate a late dinner + watched a wee bit of tv, then the kids went to bed. We were invited to go out with our bff’s…..but Thursday is such a long day, we couldn’t add more to it. As it is, it was 7pm before we could sit down for dinner!
Nancy from mass says
I live not far from downtown but over the last 22 years trick or treaters have been dwindling. Last year I had about a dozen, this year, I had four. My lights were on, my driveway lights were on, I had things in the windows And I had full-size candy bars and rice crispy treats. I’m not even gonna bother next year
Mrs. C. says
Zero. I live in the country, 40 minutes from town, down a long driveway with video surveillance signs. And cows. And coyotes.
Lindy says
I live in a condo and don’t get trick or treaters. There are about 10 children in the whole building and the parents went enmass to a community centre for a party instead. We all live in the downtown of our city and you just don’t see kids out with their parents (or alone) very much trick or treating.
My sister live in the burbs of the same city and she had 27 kids knock on the door this year instead of the usual 100+ Their local Y also held a party, and that party plus steady rain until midnight is why she thinks there were less kids.
Kim says
The party was ON at my house despite wind gusts up to 40 mph and temps hovering around 35. Nobody seemed to mind. The doorbell rang nonstop for 1.5 hours and I lost count of how many kids came by.
Mel says
We only ever get two trick or treaters (the toddlers next door), so we always make them special treats. This year, I made them chocolate-covered pretzels made to look like foxes. The past couple years, the kids have really been too young to understand Halloween, but they were so into it this year. The kids dressed as an astronaut and an alien, and their dad decorated the kids’ Power Wheels to look like the lunar rover, so they got to cruise around the neighborhood in that while trick or treating!
HeatherS says
We live in an older neighborhood in a small town and I usually give out between 500 to 700 pieces, so no full-size candy here! My friend lives one street over, the busier street, and she gives away up to 900! It’s a fun night with loads of people, many who drive in from outlying farming areas in order to trick or treat in town. Ours was postponed due to weather and is now happening tomorrow night instead of last night.
SandyF says
I bought 2000 pieces of candy and we were out of candy by 8:00 PM-and lights out-but the streets were full until after 10 PM.
It is Halloween mayhem here, but such cute, polite, respectful children. I live in a historic neighborhood and everyone decorates like crazy ( we are Disneyland close and many neighbors work there) It is a traffic nightmare, and not a empty parking space for blocks.
My favorite costume was a boy dressed as a Taco Truck. He had tiny Christmas lights all around the truck and a taco on his head. So clever. Another was a giant 20 ft long blown up CVS receipt. Hilarious.
The sweetest was a little girl dressed as Elsa from Frozen, she came up so sad, and I asked is she was ok-her sweet Mom replied that she was sad because nobody knew what she was dressed up as. She was so sad. I told her I know what she is!! Elsa! She smiled and I filled her little plastic pumpkin.
Patty P says
We helped out at our Trunk-or-Treat event (that got moved inside) at our church. We had an estimate of about 525 people (last year we had 250). It was a downpour outside, so maybe that was why we had such a great turnout?! We never get anyone at our house (the last time was five or six years ago when my nieces stopped by, but they are in HS and college now)….which is surprising since I am a HS teacher and all of the kids know where I live… 😉
Barbara Chace says
None. We live about 7 miles from the Village and our home is 300 feet up a driveway in the woods. Very dark.
We did do a Trunk or Treat in the parking lot of a favorite restaurant. The Cracked Egg in Wiscasset on Monday night.
Lace Faerie says
There were a lot of kids in our neighborhood when we built our house in 1992. Then they all grew up just like our kids. Slowly, more kids moved onto our street. But the last 2 years we were invited to our son and his bride’s home to watch horror movies, costumes required. It was a lot of fun, planning & making our SECRET costumes. This year, however, we stayed home. I was really excited, did a lot of decorating inside and out. We had 12 middle school age kids, mostly boys, and one 2 year old (our own granddaughter). We live on a rural street without street lamps. HH talked about putting up orange and purple lights on our picket fence and to light up the driveway. So we will see!
Drasa says
We live in Eastern Washington and our weather was very very cold! I think it was like 16 degrees – but strangely had more trick or treaters than we have ever had! Had about 75 kids!
Denise Kruse says
I was visiting a friend in a convalescent home. It was so fun! The staff went all out with their costumes and the patients so enjoyed seeing all the children. I heard they had 500 visitors.