What’s Halloween like in America?!

[Jenniferturkington]

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?!

If anyone is in southern Maine, this is also always fun and gorgeous.
www.campsunshine.org/subdomains/pumpkinfest/freeport.html

Thousands of carved pumpkins, all with candles inside, lining the streets. It's not really a Halloween thing but it's lovely.

@Stupomax, I lived in Kennebunkport for three years, how come I didn’t know about that!!! New England has such a great variety of Halloween celebrations.

Loved Halloween in Florida.
Celebration was magnificent
One of the Disney high ups was rumoured to live there...and that house was amazing.
Oh I want to go now.
No doubt we will be at the goth weekend in Whitby, dodging the wind and rain

@Stupomax @SecretWitch Damariscotta has an AMAZING pumpkin festival!

They have pumpkin boat races, drop huge pumpkins on to cars from cranes and have the most astounding decorated ones!

Soooo cool

I have a friend in Salem 😅
It is beautiful
I love it there
And you will get too see the autumn colours
I am well jelous 😫

Ohhhhhh, @glagdy! I love that! Halloween really kicks off the holiday season for me. I would happily give up Christmas for Halloween 🎃

Jenniferturkington

I am doing the exact same!!!! I cannot wait!!!!

Wow! Thanks for all the great tips. ‘Trunk or treat’ sounds good fun- totally different from at home.
We are travelling from Acadia on the 30th and then staying in Boston for 4 nights. I will have a good look later at all the places mentioned. I’m so excited!

@Jenniferturkington Arcadia will be STUNNING then. Where are you staying? We've been up there the past few weeks and have good restaurant tips.

@Jenniferturkington You absolutely have to stop at Long Grain in Camden. Everyone that's eaten there says it's the best Thai food they've eaten anywhere in the world (including Thailand.)

We recently had Royal guests (Prince and Princess of a European country) and they ate there four times they loved it so much. One time they ordered every single dish on the menu!

Yes it is!
Some towns have certain days and times that you can go trick or treating and that really is like the movies!
They go mad!
Children go into the work places of their parents and have trick or treats too! (Well some)
Boo at the zoo is great.
It really is like the movies haha

There's one town near us that shuts off a street and has police either end. There are well over a 1000 kids that go and people have to donate to the residents so they have enough to give out.

Some of the street decorations are insane.

When Dh was a kid he remembers Kirsty Alley had Hollywood set designers and actors flown up and made her house a proper haunted house. He said it was mind blowingly amazing.

I visited Salem by train from Boston. I don't remember it being a long journey or expensive. Easy to do a day-trip.

@glagdy will definitely check out the Thai food!
We are staying in bar harbor 26th-30th (travelling from Toronto via Burlington) and then Boston. We are doing a Stephen King tour in Bangor too while in Bar Harbor. I am literally counting down the days!

www.fortknoxmaine.com/fright-at-the-fort

I'm going to this this year. Last year's was apparently terrifying and I LOVE Stephen King so can't wait for this year's!

Wow that looks great- what date are you going? I might have to go on 27th

It is one of the reasons I LOVE the US. Everyone goes totally nuts, everyone participates and has actual fun.

In other words, not here

I'm in Canada and it's a hoot - kids EVERYWHERE! Lots of adults dress up and a lot of dogs too. And yes the buses say Happy Halloween

The first year we were here we made the huge mistake of having friends for dinner Halloween night. DH spent the entire time jumping up and down to get the door

It's totally fun and family friendly. No 'tricking' goes on, ever.

Quite often snows where we are.

@glagdy, I love Ft.Knox! We took our children there when we lived in Maine. I bet it will be very atmospheric at night! Let us know how you found the experience.

I loved Boston, last year I was there just before July 4th and went to Salem for a day. I got the ferry, the Nathaniel Hawthorne iirc and it was lovely, very relaxing ride. There were drinks and snacks to buy on board and plenty of seating. I'd book tickets in advance if you want to do that though.
It moored right near the House of the Seven Gables (name may be wrong!) And then you could jump on a trolley tour of the town, right by the pier. I loved it, I would go back in a heartbeat!

Quite often snows where we are.

There's nothing quite like trying to get a Halloween costume on over a snowsuit

Yes it causes a bit of bother

Has anyone done the Mickey's Halloween Party at Walt Disney World in Florida? Is it worth (an extra) $100 each?

it's that families go in groups

They do indeed. Several years ago, our neighbors dressed as the British Royal Family. They had everything they needed except for a Corgi. So they asked to borrow mine.