To think that trick or treating should be confined to your own street or friends/family

[Moonnstars]

Showing my age here, but I remember when I was younger firstly trick or treating wasn't really a thing, but even when it started to become popular it was only your friends and family you called in on. I remember visiting my grandparents and their neighbours (who had been prepared so had sweets in) and then doing the same with my friends family.
Now it seems that people are asking where is the best street to visit, and I even saw today on social media someone saying they are on holiday in the area and where is best to go, happy to drive around to find the best places!

I have my own children who will be out, but we stick to our own street. I also have sweets in to give out, but am I being unreasonable in thinking I shouldn't have to have enough in to supply people coming over from different places and that it should just be people you know or at least living in the same street you hand stuff out to.

Also I do acknowledge some people go all out and advertise their address and want people to visit - however these are often for charity and as for a donation.

YABU - stop being so tight and buy more sweets

YANBU - it is getting out of hand, people should only go to people they know/stay local

It is a long-running tradition in Ireland, although the phrase "trick or treat" is an American import. "Help the Halloween party" is what I remember.

I live in a suburb of a big American city and I couldn't disagree with you more. In fact, I scratch my head every year at the misery guts here. Just what is so hard for some to understand about the concept of community?

DD and I set out for a walk this evening to see the fun after we had given away all the candy I had bought, to admire the costumes, the decorations, and participate vicariously in the excitement. We live on a main street and we generally don't get many trick or treaters because traffic is heavy.

DD remarked that Halloween was such a great holiday because it brought so many people out, all having spontaneous fun together, and she was right. There were people sitting out on their front steps or right by the sidewalk, giving out candy. Adults and children alike were dressed up. Neighbours were making s'mores at front yard fire pits. Kids were having a ball. It is really fantastic for children to experience kindness and generosity from people they don't know.

...and time honoured tradition here is that Halloween happens on 31st October whether it's a school night or not, and starts at 4pm, ending at 9pm.

People do that here (US) too, but nobody gets their knickers in a twist about it. It's just candy and it's bought to give away anyway. Nobody wants to be left with a pile of fun size bars, after all.

And why shouldn't kids from a deprived neighbourhood have fun in a safe place on this one night a year?

I think there is a balance to be had. Halloween is often quite big in our village and I can easily get 100-150 kids. Last year people were coming in from elsewhere and it must have been closer to 300. Most people ran out of sweets and there were lots of disappointed kids and a slight edge later on. it’s one thing participating for local kids and another when large groups are going round who don’t live near-by. This year was actually back to the 100 odd mark and it was nicer. The rain probably put off a lot of the extras.

I agree it should be local - and definitely on foot! I remember it being fun walking round with my children and seeing other little groups all dressed up.
Only ok to knock if there’s a pumpkin!
Mine are adults now but I still put a few decorations up and have a fake pumpkin in my window!
I get sweets in - and when they’re gone , they’re gone and the pumpkin gets switched off. I stop answering the door about 7:45.
Not feasible to have any controls I guess - but I never comment on social media requests for names of good roads to visit!

I like it when the teens come as long as they are polite-makes me happy they still enjoy a wholesome event.

Our street is mad for Halloween and really goes all out, including a parade. Some kids clearly come from a neighborhood just south of us which I think is pretty sketchy and where I wouldn’t want my kids walking after dark. I don’t begrudge those kids, it’s much safer on our street.

We lived somewhere where neighbours messaged to let us know when they’d be coming with their children and check it was ok. It was all very restrained. We moved to where we live now years ago and I was blown away by how all out the area goes. Streets filled with groups, amazing costumes and word being passed between groups on the street of where the best houses are… sometimes because of decorations or kids swapping info on unusual treats. Houses fully decorated and themed and so much fun. I was really moved by how much effort people had made to make it fun for children.

My lovely parents in law used to be excited to report back to us how many kids had visited each year. They were really pleased but surprised to have a long queue at one point. Father in law had changed up money to give the teens a pound coin each with their chocolate 😆 I know they were lucky to afford to do that but also how lovely to not view teens as the enemy.

I used to take DC to a handful of neighbours who I had prewarned and checked they were OK with it. I couldn't get my head around taking children to get sweets off strangers. After five or six visits I felt they'd got the spirit of trick or treating and we'd go back and do Halloween games and they would be happy with the amount of sweets they had.

We are a popular area for TOT and in the past there have been parking issues because we've been descended on in this area. I think that's a bit off and greedy and not really a good lesson for your children. I am not going to stop giving out sweets, but I'd rather it was to those who live in my town.

My adult DC still love Halloween and still ask for my creepy meal every year. Growing up in the South West in the 70s and 80s, Halloween wasn't a thing, so it all was a bit alien to me at first.

We used to have a parade too - all the neighbours without kids would sit at the bottom of their drives to watch the kids in their costumes.

I loved that neighbourhood - it was such a community.

We just put a couple of decorations in the porch to let people know we are happy to have trick or treaters. That seems to be the done thing here.

My kids get very excited about the sweets but also love seeing the houses and honestly, their sweets will probably not be eaten fully this side of Christmas. My youngest took one lolly from one house, walked to the next one and put it in the box and took a different one and sort of just sweet swapped all evening. I think they have about 4 sweets in their bag (which I grabbed for them). Bob if mine were most excited about going for a walk in the dark which we never really do.

That's my memory of it from the 80's. Started when you got home from school with pumpkin carving and finished at bedtime.

Problem is my DC's have grown up with the American version and get annoyed because we don't decorate the house inside and out like Christmas for weeks before.

This year there has been the usual dramas over who to go TorT with , what outfits to wear etc. It simply hasn't been worth it. I actually think this is the last year we really acknowledge it.

I’m told not to put decorations out if I don’t want to participate. I never put decorations out but it doesn’t stop the long line of door knockers. It started at 4.30 and went on until 10. My poor dog was sick of barking. I’m on my own now, since DH died and it’s horrible. I felt under attack.

I put my address on the Halloween map but was quite shocked when some people drive up in their cars, parked on the zebra crossing zig zags outside my house and their kids got out, got the sweets then they drove off.

You shouldn’t have to but could you put a note on the door asking people not to knock?

Ds hates Halloween and that’s what we did when he was younger and it was always respected. Thankfully here now people do seem to respect the not knocking if no decorations.

This

We are on the lists of areas in London good for trick or treating. I love it, I buy loads of cheap packs of haribo and love giving it out to all the kids who come round all dressed up and excited. I don't care where they come from, it's just really fun for all the children. I definitely don't think only the kids on our road should get to enjoy it. I gave out about 200 mini bags of haribo.

Whatever happened to 'Penny for the Guy??'

That’s for Bonfire Night. Still happens in our village but separate to Halloween.

Just buy whatever you like.
When it’s gone it’s gone.

It’s got a bit much I agree, last night will be my last time. People start coming REALLY early from about 4 now, I hadn’t even got my decorations all out because of the wind and rain yesterday!
Then it was virtually non stop hammering on the door with a couple of small lulls until about 7.30 when the rain put a stop to a majority, last year people were still knocking at 9! That’s 5 odd hours! I had to raid my own choccy/treat box as I ran out SO fast. Some of the children are really grabby, greedy and rude. It’s started pissing me off now, and my kids are older so don’t go anymore.

@Moonnstars I agree. I think if I was a parent I’d prefer to know the house my kids were getting free food from! This is a huge benefit of sticking to your own street/people you know as well getting to strengthen neighbourly relationship’s especially where I live where you barely see the kids as they’re bundled into the huge Chelsea tractors as soon as they step out the door either for school or endless after school clubs!

We have about 10 kids left in out street trick or treaters age..I had about 60 at my door last night..we do every year..bowl was emptied and I had to raid cupboards for more..our street has always been well known for being a great street for trick or treating in..I'm in ireland live in the town so loads to choose from..when mine were little they didn't need to go further than our street as they got loads

I'm from the USA. I'm in my 50's, and went out with my younger brother as a kid. We were told to stick to our neighborhood, and certainly don't go towards the main street in our town. So we roamed as far as we thought our parents would be okay with. I personally don't have an issue with kids coming to my house from other neighborhoods. I buy as much candy as I can afford, and give it generously. When it's gone, it's gone. But then I don't get hordes anyway. The general rule for many here is, porch light on, means we're giving out treats. When it's off, we're done.