What People Really Think About Trick-Or-Treaters [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — Boo! That’s the word from several Patch readers about Halloween curmudgeons who deny America’s children of the time-honored ritual of dressing in costumes, ringing doorbells and asking for treats.

For this installment of Patch’s exclusive feature Block Talk, we asked readers if they oblige trick-or-treaters by filling their buckets with candy, or if they turn off their porch lights and hide.

About 70 percent of Americans plan to trick-or-treat, carve pumpkins, decorate their homes and businesses, or otherwise howl at the moon like werewolves this year, according to the research company Statistica. The renewed Halloween revelry comes after the COVID-19 pandemic muted celebrations in 2020 and 2021.

According to retail sales estimates, Americans are on track to spend $10.6 billion on Halloween this year, with most of their money going toward costumes, candy and decorations. That’s up from $10.1 billion last year and $8 billion in 2020, but the per capita Halloween expenditure is expected to decline slightly.

Valerie, a Milford (Massachusetts) Patch reader, said the pandemic dampened her enthusiasm for Halloween celebrations.

“Normally, I go all out with jack-o’-lanterns and decorations and adore handing out candy,” she wrote. “Not since COVID began. Maybe next year.”

‘Fun Part Of Being A Kid’

Several Patch readers are all in.

“I hand out candy, or pretzels, because Halloween is a fun part of being a kid,” Ruth, a Plymouth-Canton (Michigan) Patch reader, said.

“Fill the buckets,” Shari, a Palos (Illinois) Patch reader agreed. “It’s fun to see all the costumes from the babies to the high schoolers.”

Bob, a Patch reader from Milwaukee who commented on Across America Patch, said he will “absolutely oblige” the trick-or-treaters.

“We have a lot of kids coming into our area because it's safer than their home neighborhoods,” he wrote. “Most of my neighbors do answer. The cheapskates and people who, frankly, are afraid of people who don't look or speak like they do are few and far between. It's a fun day for most.”

Nicki, a Greendale (Wisconsin) Patch reader, said trick-or-treating is an inclusive neighborhood event.

“We welcome trick-or-treaters because we live in a small community where we still have a kids costume parade in the Village Center and almost everyone is involved,” she wrote.

The same goes for a Skokie (Illinois) Patch reader who “always” has Halloween candy. “We get a fairly good amount of trick-or-treaters each year,” the person wrote.

Patti, who follows multiple Patch sites, said Halloween is her favorite holiday. And she’s not handing out those “fun size” candy bars, either.

“Definitely open the door to give out full-size candy bars,” she commented.

A Novel Idea

Treats are not always sugar-filled candy with no nutritional value. Some people drop bottles of bubbles, stickers, temporary tattoos and other Halloween doodads into trick-or-treaters’ bags and buckets.

Greendale Patch reader Ellen offered this, ahem, novel idea.

“I do trick-or-read,” she commented. “Kids choose a book.”

She haunts library book sales, resale shops and rummage sales to come up with plenty of reading treats.

“I only feel badly for the few who ‘don’t read,’ ” she said. “That means they can’t read.”

‘All The Candy Was Gone’

Louise, a Darien (Connecticut) Patch reader turns off her porch light at 8 o’clock on trick-or-treat night.

“I wish there were specific hours for trick-or-treating,” Louise wrote. “It’s very hard to keep going to the door from 3 o’clock for the little ones to 9 o’clock for the teens.

“I wish I could put out a big bowl of candy at the end of the driveway and have the kids take a piece or two,” she continued. “I tried this once, and all the candy was gone in 10 minutes.”

Andy, a Doylestown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, leaves a bowl of candy on his porch, so he can walk around the neighborhood with his children as they make the trick-or-treating rounds.

It depends on the year, Across America Patch reader Terri said.

“If I don’t have party plans with friends, I give out candy to the trick-or-treaters,” she said. “So it varies from year to year. This year, Halloween falls on a Monday, so I’ll be handing out candy.”

Kids Want The Good Stuff

Shirl B., an Aurora (Illinois) Patch reader, said Halloween is a longtime favorite holiday, but said times have changed.

“I used to decorate the outside of my home. I just today gave all my decorations to family members. I can't do it any longer,” the reader wrote. “I always enjoyed seeing the kids and adults that came around. Things changed.”

Now, Shirl B. said, kids are trick-or-treating in more affluent neighborhoods or after-school parties.

“I don't waste my money anymore,” the reader said. “Sure I miss them, but I miss a lot of things. I'm still looking for homes that are decorated, but I haven't been able to find many on YouTube. I guess that means I won't have the porch light on.”

The Leftover Candy, Though

Nancy, a Kingstowne-Rose Hill (Virginia) Patch reader, offered a succinct response to the question of indulging or ignoring trick-or-treaters.

“Hide,” she wrote.

“I have hidden a time or two after long days in the office,” Maggie, a Fairfax City (Virginia) Patch reader, confessed.

Mandie, who found our question on a Patch Facebook page, hides, too. Her reason: The “dogs have mental breakdowns.”

A couple of readers don’t want to be stuck with leftover candy.

“Typically, I try not to be home, or turn off the lights and hide,” Linda, a Batavia (Illinois) Patch reader, said. “I live alone and don’t need all the leftover candy.”

She’s having second thoughts this year, though. “I may break down and buy some candy after all,” she said. “And I can just bring the leftovers to work.”

“I don't hide, unless finding something to do away from home counts as hiding,” Across America Patch reader Georgia wrote. “I might stick around if I could be guaranteed I wouldn't get stuck with a lot of candy.

“No one needs all those Snickers and KitKat bars lying around.”

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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