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Original poster

What’s Halloween like in America?!

60 replies

Jenniferturkington · 27/09/2018 19:28

We are going to be in Boston at Halloween. In theory we could visit Salem 🧙‍♀️

Is it like in the movies- millions of kids out with amazing costumes?! Can you buy ches costumes from supermarkets like here?

Oh, and do the adults dress up too?!

OP posts:
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6
KlutzyDraconequus · 27/09/2018 19:31

Got to be better than getting egged by teenagers with no costumes on cause you didn't give em 50p for fags.

Original poster
Jenniferturkington · 27/09/2018 19:34

*cheap costumes

OP posts:
Faez · 27/09/2018 19:35

ahh jealous, that is all

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Events & celebrations
Copperbonnet · 27/09/2018 19:36

I’m in Texas.

There are lots of parties with dressing up for adults too but the adults (in our neighbourhood at least) don’t dress up to answer the door.

The houses are seriously decorated and in our neighbourhood each street has a street party, with tables of candy laid out so the little ones don’t have to knock in individual doors they just go down the table taking a piece from each bowl.

Some people sit in lawn chairs in their driveway with their bowls of candy watching the kids go by.

There are lots of dressed up dogs, which seems peculiarly American Grin

Walmart is stuffed full of Halloween costumes from baby to adult sizes. They aren’t terribly expensive.

There are also amazing costume stores which are worth a visit just to see the cool stuff.

Same rules as the U.K., don’t knock at houses with no decorations.

LittleMy77 · 27/09/2018 19:38

Its usually crazy with lots of people involved (altho outfits are usually via the equivalent of tesco, nothing too fancy!). Google where you're going as lots of residential areas usually have parts where they have a ton of decorations etc that you might be able to get to. Lots of high streets often also do a trick or treat session for an hour or two that your kids could be involved in

Outfits can be bought online, at supermarkets etc, but if you come just before halloween it'll be slim pickings

Adults sometimes dress up - depends on the family really. You usually see them out trick or treating with the kids - round our way the younger ones come out after school til about 6ish, the older kids til about 8

AgentCooper · 27/09/2018 19:39

I've been on Cape Cod for a few Halloweens in recent years and it was brilliant! They really went in for it - the buses said Happy Halloween on them! Lovely wee parades for the kids in some towns, everywhere decorated, pumpkins on every doorstep for the week before and after. Halloween in New England is the absolute best.

We were staying in a holiday rental so didn't get any trick or treaters. You could definitely buy costumes without going to a fancy dress shop - CVS and Stop & Shop have them for cheap. And It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is on the telly. I'm jealous!

Copperbonnet · 27/09/2018 22:04

I forgot to say, you might want to google “Trunk and Treat” events in the area you are going to, they are often run by churches (as a community event rather than for evangelising)

People decorate their car trunks (rather impressively) with Halloween themes and hand out candy to children in costume. The ones in our area are very inclusive, all are welcome.

It might be easier to attend than just dropping in on a strange neighbourhood.

They aren’t always on Halloween night, often the weekend before IME.

Scotinoz · 27/09/2018 22:13

Salem was great around Halloween! I used to go down for work from Boston, and there were some great costumes!

I was also mightily impressed with LA

YeOldeTrout · 27/09/2018 22:16

Adults would only dress up when actually attending a party... then again, in California, anything goes tbh.

You can wear any type of fancy dress you like. You can go as Donald Trump or Colin Kaepernick or a doctor or a ballet dancer. It's not like in Britain where the fancy dress is supposed to stick to narrow occult-type themes.

SinglePringle · 27/09/2018 22:23

I swear to God, if I were in New England / Massachusetts / Salem for Halloween, I would shit a delighted brick.

You HAVE to dress as Goody Proctor!!

So so so jealous.

SeaToSki · 27/09/2018 22:29

Salem is insane at Halloween, in fact it's crazy for the whole of October, lots of witch museums, parades general partying in the center of town. Google Haunted Happenings Salem, its the web site for everythi g Salem and Halloweeny. If you are going to go, book hotels rooms way in advance and do NOT try and drive in or through the town on a Saturday (or a Sunday for that matter) The rest of the country is basically the same as the movies depict Halloween if you are in a residential area with lots of families.

Stupomax · 27/09/2018 23:51

I'm in the Boston area just before Halloween and thinking of going to Salem on Sun 21st. Maybe we'll park on the outskirts and walk in? I've never actually been to Salem and it seems like too good an opportunity to miss.

I've never actually been in Boston itself for Halloween but I imagine it's fun. I live in a small town and there are neighbourhoods where everyone goes. About 2/3 of the houses are all decorated and ready for dozens of trick or treaters. The 1/3 just don't decorate at all, and no one knocks on their door. There's none of the egging and shit that seems to happen in the UK.

A few fun things that happen here. Some people make their gardens into graveyards with spooky music and smoke machines. Some people hook up speakers and make the kids sing for their treats. Some people turn their whole houses into a trail of terror and try to make you wet your pants - a friend of a friend told me about this one bangordailynews.com/2013/10/24/living/gore-master-turns-saco-ranch-into-house-of-horrors-every-october/

Poppiesway1 · 28/09/2018 00:04

Ooh I’m going to be in America for Halloween. Ds cannot wait.
He’s desperate now to buy Halloween items.. I’m making him wait till we get to target!!

We’re trunk or treating at my dn school which should be fun!

SeaToSki · 28/09/2018 01:06

Stupomax there is no such thing as parking on the outskirts and walking in to Salem on an October weekend. Everything is residential parking only to protect the locals. Would highly recommend you park in Swampscott and take the train 1 stop. 😬

MouseholeCat · 28/09/2018 01:10

Halloween is great here. There are huge warehouse stores that open up at the beginning of September where you can buy every costume imaginable.

Our neighbours already have their Halloween decorations up: massive blow-up contraptions that light up at night.

Around us (Midwest) most streets have parties where all the houses and kids get together, share food and crowd around fire pits. Kids and their parents tend to dress up. I imagine that somewhere like Salem everyone is going to be chipping in.

Look for 'trunk or treat' events in the area you're staying if you're unsure about picking a random neighbourhood to trick or treat at.

Oh and see if there's a good pumpkin patch nearby for a day activity! They've just opened near us and I'm desperately holding myself back from going until we're closer.

BradleyPooper · 28/09/2018 01:30

Also in Texas and second what @Copperbonnet said. Most of our neighbors set up chairs on their lawns with a glass of wine or a beer and hand out candy, parents with little kids go round with them. There is no tricking at all, ever, and we rarely see anyone over 14 or 15. All kids and many adults are dressed up (and yes dogs too). Starts around 6pm and it's all over by 8, 8.30pm. We will be putting our decorations up this weekend - it's rare to have very scary decorations (one neighbor with teens has clown heads on meat hooks and although they're a really nice family, most kids give it a wide berth!). Mostly witches, tombstones, ghosts, spider webs etc. Our neighborhood also has a full moon festival the last full moon before Halloween with costume competitions, pumpkin patch, games, outdoor movie etc.

zucchinicourgette · 28/09/2018 01:37

I wouldn’t go to Salem myself on Halloween although it’s a really fun trip - it depends what level of craziness you can deal with though.

If in Boston I recommend going to Beacon Hill. The residents go all out with decorations and it’s a great community atmosphere. Salem will be very commercial and touristy.

OlennasWimple · 28/09/2018 01:47

Yes, it' a very big thing! It's not just that adults dress up, it's that families go in groups (the Incredibles, The Flintstones type things, not just witches and ghosts)

Apart from Salem, you might want to look into going to Boston Common or Beacon Hill. Or just a short distance outside Boston, Beal Steet in Brookline has a big Trick or Treat event.

Just be warned - all these events get VERY busy, so if you don't like big crowds, look for smaller, pumpkin events instead

glagdy · 28/09/2018 01:56

I wouldn't go to Salem. It's way too busy. It's insane. Did one Halloween there and never again!

Halloween in New England is bloody brilliant.

One of the reasons I'm glad I moved here!!

glagdy · 28/09/2018 01:56

We all have to be t Rex's this year. Hmm 5 year old ds.

SecretWitch · 28/09/2018 02:02

I’m in New England and Halloween is the business here. I’m in a small town, the police close many of the residential streets, so it is safe for the children to trick or treat. The fire department sounds it’s alarm to let everyone know Halloween has officially arrived. Many houses are decked out, some are mini haunted houses, some are grave yards. One family does a pyramid of pumpkins. It really is a wonderful time. Only 33 more days to go 🎃🎃🎃🎃

SecretWitch · 28/09/2018 02:08

Ohh, if you are going to be in Massachusetts, Six Flags Amusement Park does their Halloween event all through October ( can’t remember the name) It’s open at night, characters roam the park, jumping out at you and there are rooms you can go in if you wish to be frightened. My 19 yr old dd has been going since she was 15. She loves it!

Hanyu · 28/09/2018 02:12

Yes, I’ve always wanted to go to New England in the fall and see all the Halloween decorations 🎃

I had a friend from the US who insisted that they didn’t celebrate Halloween over there and she had no idea what it was about. So, there must be regional variations.

Stupomax · 28/09/2018 03:16

Stupomax there is no such thing as parking on the outskirts and walking in to Salem on an October weekend. Everything is residential parking only to protect the locals. Would highly recommend you park in Swampscott and take the train 1 stop.

Thank you - will do.

And we're in Boston on the Saturday evening so we might have a wander round Beacon Hill. Any excuse. I do love that area.

Stupomax · 28/09/2018 03:16

Ohh, if you are going to be in Massachusetts, Six Flags Amusement Park does their Halloween event all through October ( can’t remember the name) It’s open at night, characters roam the park, jumping out at you and there are rooms you can go in if you wish to be frightened. My 19 yr old dd has been going since she was 15. She loves it!

How have I lived in New England 11 years without knowing this?!