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Original poster

Trick or treaters from afar

34 replies

Jericha · 22/10/2023 19:56

I am probably being a real grump but I've just found out that most of the parents at my child's school deliberately drive or walk up to where we live to trick or treat because it's "better". We don't live in a posh gated community that hands out £20 notes or hires scare actors or anything, it's just a typical housing estate popular with families. Like the other surrounding areas. The past two years, since we've lived here, we have had a queue at our door for an hour or so until we run out of treats that I've spent £10 or so on. Now I found out it's because parents see our neighbourhood as a "sure thing", and a lot of these families aren't from down the road. We have a dog and a baby, so getting up for the door can be irritating but I didn't mind when it was for our community. Now I'm feeling like I'm supplying sugar for a 5 mile radius would you be annoyed?

OP posts:

CyberCritical · 22/10/2023 20:01

Not annoyed at all, I love that we have loads of trick or treaters, it makes for a festive atmosphere for a couple of hours with kids giggling up and down the street and having fun. I buy as many sweets as I am able to buy and when they're gone I put out the lights in the pumpkin to signal that we're done.

marmitegirl01 · 22/10/2023 20:57

Just don't decorate your house and don't answer the door then. Such a non- issue 🤷‍♀️

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 22/10/2023 20:58

It's always been this way. Nothing new

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Events & celebrations

DamnItBetsy · 22/10/2023 21:01

Same in the estate where I live. I didn’t mind when my kids were young and were part of it, but it does my head in now. Our doorbell will go literally 80-100 times. It’s gotten totally out of hand. I’m a Halloween grinch now.

sunglassesonthetable · 22/10/2023 21:19

Honestly you're making a big deal of this.

So what if people drive to your friendly and walkable area? Nice to live somewhere like that.

The general rule is only knock at doors with decorations or lit pumpkins. If you don't want to be part of it don't do it. Keep your front dark.

What about your school age child do they trick or treat?

Original poster

Jericha · 22/10/2023 21:32

Fair enough, like I said, wasn't sure if I'm being a grump. I do decorate as I figured those from the surrounding streets would be knocking, not from 2 miles away. I buy plenty of sweets and happy to do so, but was shocked at the numbers and now I know why it's so many.

My child hasn't ever trick or treated, only because he usually goes to a locally held party and before that it was Covid. This year he will for the first time. Wouldn't occur to me to travel to hit up a different area for maximum return. He'd be happy with a few little bits.

OP posts:

sunglassesonthetable · 22/10/2023 22:09

It's also about an area being walkable, away from traffic and "maximum return" is probably about more decorated houses in a smaller area especially if you've got younger children.

There's a street near me which is shortish, blocked at the end and every house seems to decorate . It gets lots of visitors!

Honestly just try and enjoy the event, you don't have to participate. Many people don't.

CandyCane75 · 22/10/2023 22:22

Last year I put a plastic lit up pumpkin at the bottom of the drive (b&m tat) with a big bowl of sweets next to it saying 'help yourself'.
That way we didn't have 1 knock at the door, and we weren't seen as a total grumps!! Win win 🏆

Snugglemonkey · 22/10/2023 22:24

Our last house was in an area with loads of children. Most houses participated in Halloween and we did, even before dc as I think it is fun. Our new street has no children. It is a shame for my dc. We will not trick or treat here, as I do not think anyone will be participating. We are going to join my children's friends in their street. I don't see an issue.

Daffodilwoman · 22/10/2023 22:31

I’m with you op. When dcs were little I only took them to houses on our estate and those which were decorated. We didn’t going far at all, just the part near where we lived and we knew virtually everybody.
I don’t decorate now and live elsewhere yet still just last year I had endless children accompanied by parents knocking on my flaming door. It got to the stage where I didn’t pretend to be out, I openly ignored them. If you as a parent are rude enough to let your child knock on strangers doors who have not decorated, then I will be rude enough to blatantly ignore you.
For goodness sake have some respect. You have no idea what hassle it is for sone people. Some people are disabled, or work shifts, or have someone asleep in the house, or might be alone.

BronnauMawrion · 22/10/2023 22:37

I'm a total Hallowe'en grinch. I don't decorate, and don't see why I should have to keep my lights off to discourage strangers banging on my door. Previous years I've put a sign up saying we don't celebrate Hallowe'en but it's ignored and still they knock. Really pisses me off.
Tempted to sit on the flat roof with a supersoaker this year...

CyberCritical · 22/10/2023 22:41

BronnauMawrion · 22/10/2023 22:37

You don't have to keep your lights off. The rule is that if you are participating you have a lit pumpkin outside, if you're not, you don't.

You don't have to sit in the dark with all your house lights off.

Greenshake · 22/10/2023 22:42

It does feel like it becomes more and more outlandish each year, with a large side of greed from some kids.

Lilacdressinggown · 22/10/2023 22:43

CyberCritical · 22/10/2023 22:41

You don't have to keep your lights off. The rule is that if you are participating you have a lit pumpkin outside, if you're not, you don't.

You don't have to sit in the dark with all your house lights off.

Show quote history

It’s not really a rule, just something that some people use as a guide. Lots of people don’t know this or ignore it.

StrangePaintName · 22/10/2023 22:46

I think it’s quite usual. When we lived in a village Leicestershire, lots of people used to come in for Halloween from elsewhere, in some cases because they attended the village school but lived in an outlying hamlet with two houses, but also because it was safe and friendly, lots of people went to huge efforts to decorate, the pub, shop and post office all put on a big show, and there were lots of small children toddling about with parents in the background. We were always out with DS, but just used to leave a stash of sweets at the end of our lane with lit pumpkins.

N0KIA · 22/10/2023 22:52

Where I used to live nobody did trick or treating or decorating the houses. Mostly elderly. We lived in rented housing on a main road so I would take my children a 2 minute walk to the local (new build) housing estate, where every house was decorated and taking part. They loved it.

Last year we bought a house of our own and I now live on that very estate and I cannot wait to be part of it all again this year. I have boxes of sweets ready and my house is decorated. I don't mind who comes to the door and everyone is welcome.

DumpedByText · 22/10/2023 23:39

I live on a new housing estate so loads of houses to knock at, I don't decorate and I ignore the door for the few that still insist on knocking. My Halloween days are over so I don't engage!

ChocolateIsntTheSameAnymore · 22/10/2023 23:42

When eldest was small we went to the nicer area where it was more fun. Everyone joined in. 2 miles away.

We now live in that area.

Its always so busy and i always tell others from further away to come
. I've purchased 15x bags of sweets. When they're gone. We remove decs. Problem solved

BreadInCaptivity · 23/10/2023 00:46

I don't really mind this (being in a similar position).

We live centrally in a (large) village and most T&Ting takes place there rather than on the periphery, which I think is is understandable. We also get families coming from the three nearest much smaller villages. I think in part as children want to be with their friends (the local school is in our village) and because there's far less houses/participation in the smaller villages.

That said, every year the village FB does put out a reminder only to knock on houses that are decorated/have a pumpkin which I think does help for the most part in letting people opt out if they want to.

Rather than people coming from a few miles away, I generally get more annoyed by people being greedy and grabbing an excessive amount of treats.

I buy loads of packs of mini chocolate bars (mars, Milky Way etc). and I do get cross's when some children rather than take couple, start scooping handful's (especially when you can see their treat bag is already overflowing) and I have to tell them to save some for other children.

To be fair though the vast majority of children (and parents) are really polite and it's nice to see everyone out and about in their fancy dress having fun.

LaurieStrode · 23/10/2023 00:58

The more the merrier. I don't care where they are "from."

Original poster

Jericha · 23/10/2023 09:58

I'm glad I've posted, and confirmed I am just being a grump I've ordered a little sign that says trick or treat on one side, and sorry no treats left, see you next year on the other side so once they're done I can just use that.

OP posts:

BreadInCaptivity · 23/10/2023 10:21

Jericha · 23/10/2023 09:58

That's a good idea - might try that myself!

TruthSeeker2023 · 23/10/2023 10:40

We get this where we live. Vauxhall Zafira's full of grabby kids and entitled parents coming round to harvest sweets from the residential area that is seen as a sure bet - i.e. it's the part of of town where there is some sense of community.

Pipistrellus · 23/10/2023 10:44

You could organise with your street to do it on an earlier day so you know it's only locals (and anyone they tell)

junbean · 23/10/2023 10:53

So I'm in the US and this is literally how it works. A lot of it has to do with safety as well, at least it is here. It's also courtesy and efficiency. Not everyone gives out candy, so it's easier if parents know a certain neighborhood is known for participation. If a house isn't giving they turn off their outside lights so no one bothers them. It's such a big thing that in the past when I've moved to a new town I'd ask other parents where the trick or treating neighborhood is.

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