Halloween etiquette

[Inyournewdress]

Hi, quick query and couldn’t find a Halloween topic!
DD is three and really wants to go trick or treating just to three or four houses, we live in London and for various reasons there doesn’t seem to be any trick or treating on the streets around us. So I am wondering, if I go to a nearby residential neighborhood where lots of houses are decorated, would it be ok to call at a few if they are decorated, even if we don’t know them? If not that’s fine, I can set something else up. Just thinking of options.

Yes, of course, that's fine. We put out decorations at Halloween, and get children from all over the area come to our street, as many of the houses here take part. And we know hardly any of the children who call.

I’d say absolutely yes, esp in London where lots of people won’t know all the local neighbours. We live London borders and I think I maybe knew 20 out of the 300 kids who turned up on our doorstep last year! (We have a very decorated house and live in an area known to be good at Halloween!

I’ve not known a single child who’s knocked on my door at Halloween.

It’s fine. Enjoy the evening.

Tbh trick or treat tourism becomes a pain in the arse. Our local street puts in lots of effort for the children but people are now coming from other areas and it’s getting too much and starting to cost more and more each year as word grows that our street is good. It is one thing providing sweets for all the little kids you see on a regular basis but another when you suddenly get groups of 30 teens from another area. I’m also now finding that as people are running out of sweets, the kids from the actual street are missing out which means people will stop.

I live in an area where Trick or Treaters travel to and I could not care less if I know the children or not.

We don't participate every year and I'd say about half the houses don't do it but the atmosphere is happy and fun. There are so many children but it's absolutely lovely.

And if we don't feel like doing it that year then we don't do it.

We always put a lit pumpkin in our window. It seems to be an unwritten rule around here that children only visit decorated homes. We love it, all the children who call are with parents and very polite.

Thank you for all the replies, very helpful. I won’t be going anyone that is really overrun with trick of treaters, I can see that would be difficult @Bunnycat101

Just somewhere that looks decorated, thanks all for the encouragement

What time do you want us @Isthisjustnormal 😂

I don't know anyone who only goes to houses of people they know 🤔 we live in London and people just knock on doors if they are decorated. Never known anyone to only knock on houses of people they know I guess if you have toddlers I can see why you might stick to houses you know.

I honestly wasn’t sure @CatsCuddles, it’s a long time since I’ve done this!

Yes it's fine if the houses are done up OP.

Also, last year in my local FB groups people were almost begging for door knockers because they'd bought a load of sweets, and couldn't give them away!

So maybe check your local groups too.

Yes, most definitely OP.
Any home that has decorations is a sign that the residents are ready and waiting to get a knock to the door, and to hand out treats to Halloween trick or treaters.
I can't imagine a home decorated that wouldn't be participating.🎃

We dont know any of the younger parents in our street but i love it when they do knock on the door for trick or treat with the kids dressed up one year no one knocked so my grandchildren did very well for sweets that year i usually just buy a bag of halloween lollies as our street is a mix of older people who have been here forever, couples with no children and a few younger families

Of course it's fine.

I live in an area that does Halloween with bells on. I have no clue where the hundreds of kids who knock my door live and I really don't mind.

It depends, if it's near where you live as in walking distance then yes it's fine. I don't know most of the kids who knock on our door at Halloween.
But travelling to a nice neighbourhood with lots of decorated houses is a bit cheeky!

Anytime but I’d recommend you come early as we almost always run out of sweets ;-) Hope you and dd have a really fun time and fingers crossed for a dry evening!