Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do you have to Trick or Treat in your own area?

64 replies

notinyoday · 03/09/2021 17:39

Discussions for outfit plans are underway and I just wondered if it was okay to take DS trick or treating in SIL's area? About 30 mins away by car

Nobody to go with around here. And yes, before anyone says it, we only go to doors clearly trick or treat friendly

What do you think?

OP posts:
JurassicShay · 03/09/2021 18:09

@NailsNeedDoing

If you’re going as a group with others who do live in the different area then it’s fine. Residents in my area do seem to get very cross at people who don’t live around here driving over to take advantage of the many houses that make the effort, which is understandable. It means they have to spend even more to make sure they don’t run out and all the local children get a treat, and it’s safer for the local kids walking in the dark when there are fewer cars.
The end of your post is my exact point. It upsets me that the children I know miss out, it's not exactly a small estate with 550 houses. It costs me over £100 in sweets and I hate turning away children I know.
Original poster
notinyoday · 03/09/2021 18:32

[quote JurassicShay]@notinyoday why not go to the houses with displays in your area? [/quote]

Because he will be all alone, and I'll be alone?

OP posts:
DollyPartBaked · 03/09/2021 18:42

We are going to my BIL's who are an hour away so my DC can see their cousins. I don't think it's an issue. Halloween I think is quite a big deal where they live but we're going so they can have fun with their cousins dressing you rather than getting swag. Wouldn't do it on a week night!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Events & celebrations
Buttons294749 · 03/09/2021 18:42

I think joining the cousins if you've been invited is fine

DollyPartBaked · 03/09/2021 18:43

Dressing up*

HungryHippo11 · 03/09/2021 18:47

How would anyone know? Do they usually ask to see proof of address when you knock

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 03/09/2021 18:53

I think it's ok if going to be with family but cheeky to go to a different area for better treats

Original poster
notinyoday · 03/09/2021 19:06

Thanks all

I remember when I was about 7, it was freezing cold outside that year and we had to wear our proper coats. A neighbour was giving out ice lollies instead of sweets Grin

My mum asked if she'd run out as a joke, the woman was dead serious and said no, she just thought it'd be a nice change!

OP posts:
JurassicShay · 03/09/2021 19:25

@notinyoday

Thanks all

I remember when I was about 7, it was freezing cold outside that year and we had to wear our proper coats. A neighbour was giving out ice lollies instead of sweets Grin

My mum asked if she'd run out as a joke, the woman was dead serious and said no, she just thought it'd be a nice change!

I understand the being alone but why not sort going with friends/school friends around your area? Post on Facebook to see if you can get more people joining in with the festivities? We have a Halloween Facebook group, it's great.

I wouldn't mind an extra few but if every family brung an extra child it would mean a hell of a lot more children to the already hundreds that live here. People drive here from other villages in hoards, the streets are rammed with cars parked everywhere.

NinaGonk · 03/09/2021 19:28

I drive to my sisters area cos it is more family friendly. It's only 5 minutes away. We tried on my street and nobody answered the door.

Ohsoquietchange · 03/09/2021 19:30

People drive locally to our estate as the houses always look amazing and everyone makes an effort. It’s to be expected!

WinTheNight · 03/09/2021 19:31

Of course it’s fine OP. Don’t listen to those who don’t want to let ‘the outsiders‘ in. Some of these posts are mad. 👻 🎃

sqirrelfriends · 03/09/2021 19:36

If your going to an different area for a meet-up then that's fine.

The only time I'd have an issue is where people specifically go to a different area to get better treats. Our area is known for going all out on Halloween and Christmas and in 2018 we ran out of sweets before 6:30 and the whole street was packed with cars. I wasn't counting but someone posted on Facebook that they had over 500 people knock and I can believe it.

Chikapu · 03/09/2021 19:40

This is a local treat for local people!

Thesearmsofmine · 03/09/2021 19:42

It’s fine. People don’t celebrate Halloween in my local area for religious reasons so I would take my dc elsewhere if they wanted to go.

AdoptedBumpkin · 03/09/2021 19:46

@Chikapu

This is a local treat for local people!
😂
caughtinanet · 03/09/2021 19:46

Don't you know there's a strict 200 yard curfew from your own front door on 31st October? Grin

Seriously, you can go wherever you want, no need to produce your council tax bill at the door. But remember not to go to any MNers houses as they never answer the door without a pre-approved visiting order Grin

WinTheNight · 03/09/2021 19:50

Seriously, you can go wherever you want, no need to produce your council tax bill at the door.

I wouldn’t put it past some on here. 😬

Ifailed · 03/09/2021 19:52

You'd drive for an hour just so your DS can get some unnecessary sugar?

WinTheNight · 03/09/2021 20:02

You'd drive for an hour just so your DS can get some unnecessary sugar?

So that her child can go around with other children they know, that will add to the adventure for them. Yes, parents do these things for their children in order for them to have a fun experience.

JurassicShay · 03/09/2021 20:17

@sqirrelfriends

If your going to an different area for a meet-up then that's fine.

The only time I'd have an issue is where people specifically go to a different area to get better treats. Our area is known for going all out on Halloween and Christmas and in 2018 we ran out of sweets before 6:30 and the whole street was packed with cars. I wasn't counting but someone posted on Facebook that they had over 500 people knock and I can believe it.

I totally believe it.

There's got to be at least 700 kids that live here already so why not add in a few more Hmm

If everybody thought why not bring a friend it would be bedlam. It's getting pretty chaotic as it is with people knocking the door before it's 4pm and blocking the roads with their cars.

WinTheNight · 03/09/2021 20:21

JurassicShay

It sounds like you need to book a venue and just have a private party if you don’t want ‘outsiders’ attending. You can’t expect to say who walks down certain roads or goes to a certain village or whatever.

UnitedRoad · 03/09/2021 20:33

I live in a popular trick or treat destination, and there’s a rule that you don’t approach a house that doesn’t have at least a lit pumpkin in the window.

My kids trick or treated, and when they were a bit older, stayed in to give out sweets, but last year I was home alone, so decided to leave a plastic pumpkin full of sweets on the doorstep knowing that the accompanying parents are normally quite strict about everyone just taking one.

My daughter got home about midnight and brought in a pumpkin almost full of sweets. I’d forgotten to put a lit pumpkin on the windowsill. The path to our house is barely two metres from the footpath, so there’s not a chance people didn’t see it. It meant that we had to eat loads of sweets all by ourselves (luckily we’d bought a tub of celebrations and a load of mini packets of love hearts).

AlwaysLatte · 03/09/2021 20:34

My nephew used to come to us. In return someone else's niece/nephew will go elsewhere so I wouldn't worry! Enjoy!

UnitedRoad · 03/09/2021 20:34

Who could tell who was at the door anyway. One year I didn’t recognise my best friend and her kids when they knocked.