To ask how early is too early for trick or treating?

[RumblyGrumbleNoise]

Sorry for another Halloween thread!
Never taken my kid's trick or treating and don't really like it tbh.
I've arranged with a friend for me to knock at her house to do a trick or treat.
Just realised after chatting to ds he thinks we are actually going trick or treating to numerous houses ( been at nursery today think he's been given ideas )
Is it too early if there are houses decorated on way there and back from friends to knock? 330pm ish?
Sorry complete novice. Ages of kids are 4 and 2.

I love having strangers knock on my door - in the context of trick or treating.

We leave out a pumpkin and a sign to encourage them.

However, I don't get back from work until after 7pm. So, if you came at 3.30pm you'd be out of luck.

Whinesalot,
"I'm excited too. I'll be in to answer the door for the first time this year."

Pro Tip: Grab an old hat or bag, cut a slit in bottom, insert your hand, hold hat/brim with free hand, fill hat/bag to brim with sweets.

Scare unsuspecting kids by grabbing their hand as they dive in for their stash. Prepare for loud (delighted) shrieking.

Caveat:
Pick your targets in age-appropriate way: no need to traumatise very tiny ones! And I doubt over 10s would be too impressed.

Set up now and will probably take pumpkin away at 8:30.

Thanks for the varied respones! I'm a total grump with Halloween and hugely dislike people knocking on my door so felt a bit odd going against my morals!
In the end we only went to friends and on way home one house was massively decorated with mum and small child loitering outside so we knocked. It was 430pm.
Made my ds day!

Sorry not decorated with a mum and child!
house was decorated with Halloween stuff and they were outside.

I won’t be home till after 6 so any early knockers will be empty handed.

4:30pm kick-off, all wrapt up by 7 is the best bet.

I think from dusk until 7pm is acceptable

Have had 3 so far. Normally get loads so the hoards have yet to come. Ds away to go out with one of his friends and their mum. Dd not interested but she is nearly 14

We didn't get our first (tiny witch) till 10 past 6. I usually put the front door light out, and bring the skeleton in, about 9.

Only 2 so far.
Normally would have had about 30 by now.
Odd. Is it quiet everywhere?

Quiet here- just had our first ones. Dd friend just came round and says it quiet out

As soon as it’s dark I reckon. We’ve just had a lovely bunch at the door all dressed up. 👻🎃

The earlier the better.
I blow out the pumpkin and switch the outside lights off at eight.

Quiet here (am in the North East). God almighty don't make me eat all these sweets myself....

@Bea1985 I'm in the NE too and haven't had anyone. DD and DH have went out trick or treating, while I stay in with a bowl of sweets. I've put a pumpkin out etc, but I'm on a main road through a village and it's hit and miss each year whether people come down past ours.

I made 60 bags and have 6 left

In full swing now!

My DS is 2 and it was his first time out. We went out as soon as it got dark (about 5 here). Only one house had any decorations so I did wonder if we were too early.

60 bags gone and have raided crisp tub for extras (Maybe about 20). Pumpkin switched off and outside lights off so hopefully that's them done

We had a whale of a time only hitting decorated houses. Did see some people knocking on doors that weren't decorated and got an answer with sweets but it wasn't worth the risk so we didn't bother

WhiskyOwl for you.

You sound so lovely.

We had our first trick ‘r treaters at 5.30, steady stream all evening... almost out of sweets. Pumpkin coming in and lights out at 8pm. My kids had great fun!

We had over 80, and had about 5 sweets left when I took the pumpkin in at the start of GBBO. Left a sign on the door saying we were done.