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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think driving to roads where there's good trick or treating is a bit wrong

447 replies

sahknowme · 30/10/2017 23:38

We live in an area that puts a lot of effort into trick or treating (assumingly for the "local" kids). There's recently been a thread on a forum asking for streets/routes that are good to drive to for their kids to trick or treat, and our street has been mentioned.

AIBU to think this is a bit wrong/grabby, and we are doing it for our local area - not for randoms to drive from all over town?!

OP posts:
CountDuckulaTheSqueaky · 31/10/2017 12:43

That's fine ArcheryAnnie, I was Halloween Shock at Amd's parents!

CountDuckulaTheSqueaky · 31/10/2017 12:46

I have my own stash of Milky Bar ghosts and Ghost Eggs in the fridge. Halloween Grin

WomblingThree · 31/10/2017 12:51

I’m well aware that it originated in Scotland thanks. It didn’t filter down to England from Scotland though, otherwise we would have been doing it for hundreds of years, which we haven’t, so I stand by my original statement that the English (I specifically said English, not British or UK) co-opted the current Halloween obsession from the USA.

Spudlet · 31/10/2017 12:52

We'll have to walk across the fields into the village when DS is old enough to want to take part. It never occurred to me that this would be some huge problem. If he's not too much of a scaredycat, I may set up a spooky surprise on the path (hopefully without frightening any dog walkers to death!). He sure as hell cant go out on our road, there are no street lights, no pavements and a 40mph limit. I like him all in one piece and unflattened, pfb that he is...

Hopefully no one will decide to introduce village lanyards or passport control at the borders in the meantime... 🙄

treacletoffee23 · 31/10/2017 12:56

I am in a village. I put a post on the village site asking when we were " doing" Halloween as it was a weekday. The consensus was Tues and houses with decs only.
Saturday night a gaggle of witches turn up to my unlit door! Luckily l hadnt eaten all the goodies so gave them one each, but was a bit miffed as tonights the night lol.
I do think its a bit cheeky going to other areas, but l dont like teenagers turning up in Scream masks either - no effort Haloween Sad

TheHeartOfTeFiti · 31/10/2017 13:00

Who go with friends who live in a kid friendly area wouldn’t just drive to the area and get out people do though!

purplecollar · 31/10/2017 13:11

We have a similar situation here. There are a group of streets known for good grabbings and people travel to get there. I think it's gross myself - how many sweets do dc need? But for some the lure of a bucket of sweets outweighs all pride/decency.

ToadTheVampireThreadKiller · 31/10/2017 13:12

The first year we were here there were hordes of them, arrived in mini buses. It was that bad it needed crowd control.
When the first few little ones turned up I thought it was fun, then the crowds arrived and that was the end for me. Lights off, doorbell turned off.
They spoiled it for all the locals because there were so many of them, people simply didn't have enough to hand out. The greed didn't pay off. Find the places in your own area that are participating and don't take advantage is the best way. And have someone in hi-viz to keep the older troublemakers away.

Warhammerwidow89 · 31/10/2017 13:17

I care not, I love trick or treat. I take my boy and we dish out sweets too. It's for the kids at the end of the day.

madnessintheroost · 31/10/2017 13:19

Thank goodness it will soon be over

SonyaY · 31/10/2017 13:29

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MinervaSaidThar · 31/10/2017 13:32

Don't worry SonyaY, the neighbourhood rich kids will be along soon, salivating for your Poundland Haribo.

sparklewater · 31/10/2017 13:35

I couldn't care less about the sweets, it's to see the houses and join in the fun as far as I'm concerned.

Are monkey nuts supposed to be a turn-off? I love monkey nuts!!

sparklewater · 31/10/2017 13:37

Toad Where are you? That sounds insane! I'm talking about popping 2 mins down the road, your situation is totally different. I'd hate that to be fair.

SonyaY · 31/10/2017 13:42

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Original poster
sahknowme · 31/10/2017 13:47

Toad's story is exactly what I'm worried about. I believe you should have some link with the area you're ToTing in - e.g. You have friends or family in the area, or your child goes to the same school as people. We could quite easily get to the point of needing crowd control round here.

OP posts:
bonbonours · 31/10/2017 13:48

I can also see both sides. If you live somewhere where it's mostly elderly people or flats or for whatever reason people don't really do it, it's not your kids' fault is it? Why shouldn't they have fun just because they don't live on a party street?

But I know some people who live on streets that are known for trick or treating and end up spending a huge amount of money and effort on other people's kids and then end up with a load of litter in their garden whereas the people in quiet streets could get away with a £1 bag of chocs for their few visitors. Also not fair.

I guess it's something to check when you buy a house....

bonbonours · 31/10/2017 13:57

Staples surely no one is that starved of sweets that they can be arsed driving somewhere and walking miles to get some. To get a bucketful you have to knock on a shed load of houses as mostly you get one sweet at each. It's mostly about seeing the houses/pumpkins and showing of your costume, and seeing other people's costumes.

OohMavis · 31/10/2017 13:57

This is happening here too! Everyone's flocking to the village up the road. It's awful.

This shit costs money, decorations, sweets, costumes to make it all fun. You do it for your neighbours, not families from three miles away...

OohMavis · 31/10/2017 14:01

We have a nice little community where I live, we have an annual thing. We put flyers through doors a few weeks ago to arrange for people to put out a balloon or decorate their doors for an early trick-or-treating night, which was Sunday. Loads of people joined in, families grouped together and went round and had a blast.

It gets bigger every year. My worry is that people from surrounding areas will start hearing about it and taking it over.

sparklewater · 31/10/2017 14:04

sonyaY A bag of sweets and some change?! You've made a rod for your own back there!

It's pretty much one sweet per house here, regardless of whether there's a whole house covered in decorations or one half-manky pumpkin.

Givemeallthechocolate · 31/10/2017 14:07

No I get this completely (though I don't care who knocks on my door for sweets! I've bought plenty!)

My mum used to take us to a wealthy Village about 20 minutes away to get the best sweetie hauls, and actually it was really uncomfortable.
We would have preferred to have gone on the estate and have seen a few kids from school on the way.

SonyaY · 31/10/2017 14:07

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SuburbanCrofter · 31/10/2017 14:10

Our experience has been similar to Toads though not as bad. We are a nice friendly community and always do a lovely Halloween. However last year somehow word got round and there was an influx from outside the community, and it turned into big groups of 20-30 kids tearing through everyone's supply of Haribo. It completely changed the atmosphere.

MummyMuppet2x2 · 31/10/2017 14:18

Wow. I'd NEVER have considered it an issue to go where the sweets are for Halloween Confused
That's exactly what I'll be doing this evening.