Is anyone else turning off the lights and pretending they're not home on Halloween?

[madaboutharry]

Many of the school districts in my state have been able to mandate masks in school in defiance of the idiot governor and as they battle it out in court. It has slowed the spread in the schools. But still, there is an approximate 54% vaccination rate around here and I don't want the unvaccinated standing at my front door. No Halloween at my house this year, again.

[secondwind]

1. I would have done the same..... wipe down your doorbell, too. ugh

[Raven]

2. I don't have to. Only the bears come to my door. :-)

[csziggy]

31. Only deer come to my door!

It's roughly a quarter of a mile from the rural road to my house (crooked driveway) and we've never gotten a single trick or treater here.

[Raven]

43. same with me!

[Amishman]

58. Same, living in the country has it's pros and cons

Not having trick or treaters is a pro for me.

[csziggy]

59. Pro for me, too - it means my husband and I get ALL the candy!

[Beakybird]

3. I play music for seniors, and I get a lot of shows on 🎃 Halloween

I wish I could be left alone! They see the cars, and they ring the doorbell anyway.

[HAB911]

4. For 40 years straight

[GoCubsGo]

9. Same here, although not for quite as long.

Just leaving the porch light off is sufficient around here.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. We met on Halloween

We celebrate one year, do tricks or treats next year, and so on and so forth.

Last year was our 'celebration' year so nowhere to go really (I'm immune compromised). And due to no immunization - we didn't give tricks or treats either.

Getting my booster shot Thursday after work so we can celebrate THIS year. Squeeeeee!

So nope - no Tricks or Treats last year - and none this year. I think we are doing a haunted walking door and sitting outside for dinner. Husband's turn to plan our Halloween 'cute meet' date.

[Demsrule86]

79. I met my husband on Halloween too. We celebrate it more than our anniversary as his oldest

sister died and was waked on our anniversary years ago. She was only 41.

[JustAnotherGen]

82. How sad

I'm so sorry that happened to her at such a young age.

[Demsrule86]

84. It was horrible...and the guilt was unbearable. My husband and I had been acting like well assholes

basically...fighting over silly things. And we were supposed to go to her apartment in the city the week she died...we had a big blowout and didn't got to the ocean to see my brothers in LI the week before so we moved everything up by a week so we went Long Island the week we were supposed to go to her house (the idea being we would go the next week) and she died alone on Saturday they think...we should have been there. The silver lining is we both grew up finally and stopped the crap, went to therapy and worked things out...we have four lovely kids and a rock-solid marriage today...can't imagine life without my husband. He is the love of my life but boy we could be assholes when we were young. To this day, I still regret the argument we had that made us not go to visit her that weekend...and wonder what if?

[FoxNewsSucks]

6. I always thought that was the standard cue

Porch & yard lights on, watching out the door or window - come on up!
Lights off, no one around - keep walking.

It's not hard to tell who does and doesn't want trick-or-treaters.

[hlthe2b]

7. I did last year because of COVID. But then I haven't had kids in my immediate neighborhood

show up in more than 5 years. I actually bought candy as I usually do to put out at the curb on the sidewalk last year. But, none was taken, so I don't know that I'm even going to buy it this year. I certainly don't NEED it.

I don't know where parents take them, but most seem reluctant to do the "door-to-door" thing for some time.

[jmowreader]

8. Thanks for reminding me

I’ll have my lights off because I really won’t be home on Halloween. I never am on Saturday night.

[SoCalNative]

20. But

Halloween is on Sunday

[jmowreader]

47. We're celebrating it here Saturday

And I work Sunday night too.

[hamsterjill]

10. Halloween has paled in my neighborhood in the last few years

Last year, there were hardly any porch lights on. And I expect the same this year. I haven’t given out candy in years. I got tired of all of the adults coming to the door without any costume.

I think most of the schools in the area host trunk or treat and most kids do that nowadays around here.

[gojoe12]

11. I've decorated my porch

in hopes of trick or treaters. We had nothing last year but this with 73 % of people 12 and up vaccinated I feel comfortable along with the rest of my neighborhood in having Halloween.

[lindysalsagal]

12. Every year. Sugar is my addiction. I don't buy it. Ever.

I did it all the years my daughter was out trick or treating.

[UTUSN]

13. Like all other nights...

[piddyprints]

14. We haven't had a single trick-or-treater

Since we moved to TN, “out in the county.” Not worth chancing it, I guess, since the house is not visible from the driveway entrance. I don’t miss it. If we still lived in a neighborhood in FL, lights would be off.

[Sherman A1]

15. Yes

every year.

[luvs2sing]

16. We did last year..

but it was cold and rainy and hardly anyone was out. This year, we will be on the front porch with the candy bowls just like every other year. Only exception is we will be masked.

[Maraya1969]

17. For years now. And lately there seems to be very little Trick or Treaters around anyway

[CousinIT]

18. Every year. We don't get a lot of visitors anyway. Usually one ..

... or two who are evidently not up to speed on the etiquette that if lights are off and no decorations are out, they can just pass that house.

[Bev54]

19. I love seeing the kids on Halloween. As they did last year, many

neighborhoods are having it outdoors. A table etc outside on the driveway with someone manning it to give out the candy. Some who could not man it left out large amounts asking that the kids only take one or two and it worked pretty well. I would not want to take this too, away from the kids, they have lost so much already. I live in Canada and it can be cold but we do it for the kids. I live in a condo but I go and hand out candy for my son and wife so they can take the kids around or often one of them to hockey. I want the kids to feel as normal as possible in this day.

[relayerbob]

21. No one goes door to door in our neighborhood any more

And, oddly, enough, most of the Hallowwen parties are in churches. Go figure.

[orleans]

69. churches--kinda funny. catholic church established all saints day and all souls day to try and

knock off the beloved pagan celebration but it just didn't go over as they had hoped

so now the parties are in churches? lol
what do they give out? miniature bibles, a dashboard jesus here and there, little crucifixes? and, just to get the kids in to the parties, they hand out candies.

[Lunabell]

22. I do every year.

I'm not a Halloween Grinch, but we have 5 dogs and all the bell ringing makes them crazy.

[CTyankee]

23. I turn off the outdoor front light. That's the signal "don't come"in my neighborhood.

[themaguffin]

24. Set up something on your driveway. Last year, our neighborhood did that. No doors.

[radicalleft]

25. Not me...I'll be handing out candy and keeping the magic alive

for the kiddos...

I figure for the 20 seconds they are standing in my doorway no higher than my chest, I feel awfully safe. I go to work in a factory everyday surrounded by t-humpers so the chances that some random little kid standing outside of my front door for mere seconds will result in my death is pretty much nil

[displacedtexan]

33. So happy to read your reply.

We bought one of those Granny Grabber things that extends so I can reach the top shelves in the kitchen. We used it last year to hand little bundles of candy out the window. Flashing orange lights and a big Jack-O'-Lantern signaled the presence of Candy. BTW, Costco has cases of full size* Hershey bars and good prices on individually wrapped bite size treats.

* Not the original full size bars but still big enough to impress today's kids.

[radicalleft]

34. Thanks for the Costco tip

[riversedge]

35. SAME HERE. the kids are so excited [my nephews] as they did not get to go to door

last year. they are 4 and 6 yr old now. talking talking about halloween already.

[FSogol]

54. Same here. We sit outside in our front yard around a fire pit, drinking adult beverages.

We hand out candy (and Utz pretzels) to all the kids. Last year, kids mostly social distanced. We had a table between us and them and placed candy on the table for them. We have a good time.

[we can do it]

26. I actually leave. There aren't any kids in our neighborhood.

[lagomorph777]

27. Same here

[MissB]

28. No one trick or treats here on our street

There is one street in the neighborhood where people TOT. It’s not my street, so I’m off the hook.

[nolabear]

29. I'm shocked at how many say you do it every year. I ADORE trick-or-treaters!

Sadly we hardly get any but I will leave a bowl of goodies and a bottle of hand sanitizer out in the lap of my skeleton. Maybe I can get it to hold the bottle!

I love Halloween. But then I'm from a place where people decorate like mad and dress up for everything from Saint Patrick's Day to Halfway to Mardi Gras (I actually saw an impromptu parade for that!) It's actually my favorite New Orleans holiday--fewer tourists and lots of local fun.

Sadly everything is dialed back everywhere, but I hope it gets better. I think simple, silly fun is tremendously good for us.

[Happy Hoosier]

30. No. I built a candy chute last year to keep folks a safe distance away.

I will use it again this year.

[FSogol]

72. +1 n/t

[redwitch]

76. Great minds think alike!

Wouldn’t miss Halloween, I loved it as a kid and still do.

[Happy Hoosier]

80. 100%! NT

[ProfessorGAC]

32. Not Us

Same as last year, I'll watch out the window, go out on the porch when kids come, pass out goodies with my mask on.

[rockfordfile]

36. I agree

[HipChick]

37. Nope...I let Alexa answer the ring doorbell

[GumboYaYa]

38. Last year we set up a table in front of our house and put candy out for the kids.

We sat on the front porch and wished them all Happy Halloween as they walked by and took their no contact candy. It worked very well. We will probably do it again this year.

[Zeitghost]

39. I won't be pretending

I'll be on the beach in Oahu.

[jmowreader]

49. You know about the bus passes in Honolulu?

In July I was there, and used bus passes ($5.50 per day, sold at some ABC stores) to get around. One day I was waiting for a bus when a nice young couple beside me started pulling out the cash to get on the bus.

“You know about bus passes, right? $5.50 and you can ride all day.”
“Shit! We’ve been here four days and didn’t know about those. We’d have saved a ton of money.”

[Zeitghost]

52. Thank You!

We will not be renting a car and although we don't have too many plans this time other than relaxing (I have been accused by my better half of turning vacations into death marches trying to do and see it all), I'm sure we will want to go see a few things or do some shopping.

[jmowreader]

57. How close to Kuhio Avenue are you staying?

I always got my passes at the ABC at the corner of Lemon Road and Paoakalani Avenue. If you’re not that far down, don’t fret…ABC stores in Honolulu are as thick as Starbucks in Seattle, and they know the closest one that sells bus passes. Kuhio seems to be the principal bus route in Waikiki, and quite a few buses take you to the big hub at Ala Moana Center…which, if you’re in the shopping mood, is a must-see.

One thing you will not like: they don’t post on the bus stops a list of where the buses go. On my first full day I wanted to go to Pearl Harbor and accidentally got on the bus to Liliha Street…which was pretty cool because Liliha is not touristy.

[WarGamer]

40. Me. I've always done it. I don't really like kids... sorry.

100% of them don't need anything given to them in my neighborhood...

[Iggo]

41. Of course. Ain't ya heard? There's a raging pandemic.

[CrackityJones75]

42. WTF? Hell No!

Jeez come on. This is an outdoor activity. If they are being forced to go to school you want to punish them for doing something that would offer them normalcy?????

Good lord if you are handing out candy wear a mask. Open the door, drop candy in their bag.

Sometimes this place leaves me shaking my head.

[GusBob]

51. I know right?

this thread validates some characteristics I am becoming more aware of about DUers

[obnoxiousdrunk]

53. +1. N/T

[Iggo]

65. Me, too.

[nolabear]

83. Right? People don't seem to understand how important fun rituals are. Not to mention children.

I don't get it. Where's wonder and delight and imagination? What gets us through the hard times like these? Wonder and delight and imagination! And chocolate. Can't forget chocolate.

[panader0]

44. In my forty plus years at my house, I have never had one trick or treater. Too scary

to walk down that long dark road leading in. But, no, I wouldn't want Halloweeners if they came around.

[spinbaby]

45. We put the candy out front

Last year we set up a card table at the end of our front walk and filled a large plastic pumpkin with candy for self service. It seemed to work well—no major candy hoarders—and we got to see the kids from a distance. Lots of ninjas last year.

[DFW]

46. No, but we Halloween is not a tradition here, anyway

That is mostly in English-speaking countries. We get a few, especially if the families have lived in the USA before, and we always have something for them, but it's maybe three or four at most. This year, I think I have to be down in Switzerland that day, anyhow.

[Runningdawg]

48. For the 2nd year in a row no one will be coming to the door.

Decor has been up for a week but before sundown on Halloween the gates will be locked and grab bags will be clipped to the fence, first come, first serve. I will enjoy watching the parade from the porch.

[FakeNoose]

50. I didn't get any trick-or-treaters last year

My neighborhood has a few younger families with kids who might go out on Halloween. But last year I had to eat my own candy because nobody came to the door. I'll be ready again this year, not sure if any kids will come though.

[totodeinhere]

55. I will observe Halloween. I even have a Jack-o'-lantern on my front porch.

I am fully vaccinated and I follow all the guidelines, but I am not going to bury my head in the sand and stop living. Plus the positivity rate in my country is below 5% so I don't think it's a big risk.

[Raine]

56. I never get trick or treaters ☹️

I live on a street with only three houses, it's not worth their time to come around.

[xmas74]

60. We set up a folding table on the porch

And decorated it for Halloween. We put the candy on the table as each kid stepped up. If they crowded the table we said to set back a bit and one at a time.

We never touched, wore masks and it worked. I might continue this long after covid because it was orderly.

[Tree Lady]

61. Last year put candy bags on porch

This year I think I will put bowl next to table outside my scarecrow guys are sitting on, its down a bit from front door.

[MustLoveBeagles]

62. Our light will be on as it always is

We'll be decorating as soon as the rain stops. We'll have the cauldron with sandwich baggies

[Bettie]

64. Our town has moved to

having people hand out candy from the trunks of their cars on main street.

Because what says child safety like teaching them to take candy from strangers in cars.

[madaboutharry]

66. That is very misguided.

I agree. It is a dangerous message.

[Bettie]

67. They've been doing it for the last five years or so

"trunk or treat" and the kids all line up to take candy from strangers in cars.

Ah well.

[GulfCoast66]

68. Nope. Our yard already has fall decorations.

We have a good many kids each year. Many from less affluent neighborhoods which is fine by me.

They will each get a handful of candy. Outside where it’s all good.

I can still remember almost 50 years ago how much fun it was for me to trick or treat. We did not have candy at home and Ive never been a fan. Except for Almond Joy bars. Love those things.

I’ll do my part to insure kids still get this night of fun. It’s harmless and fun. I like seeing the kids in their costumes and how they change through the years.

[nightthinker]

70. No children are allowed to live in my neighborhood...

...and in my years of living here, no child has ever come to the door for any reason.

[shanti]

71. Always n/t

[Happy Hoosier]

74. What a bunch of curmudgeons!

Man... you people must be fun at parties!

I mean to each his own, I guess.

I love the festival atmosphere, and I love the "magic." A sense of community is important, IMO.

I actually decorate my house fairly elaborately. Lighting, sound, props... nothing too gross or scary. My house has become something of a "destination" trick or treat location in the area. People come to see what I added this year. I love it. I have so much fun!

This year I have converted my formal dining room into a Haunted Wedding Feast. The table is set with fake china, covered in fake spiders and spider webs. Fake wedding cake, a fake rat.... spooky candelabras.... and a SPOOKY Ghost Bride. My dining room is actually what is supposed to be a formal living room, but I don't need a formal living room. So, the Dining Room is now a library and the living room is the dining room. It has a great three sided end with huge windows, so it is ideal for putting a haunted room in that will be visible to visitors as they pass it on the way to the front door. Can't wait to see the visitors' reactions this year.

[GusBob]

81. A bunch of adults, full of dread, hiding from kids having fun

Curmudgeons is a very accurate term

The image of folks of a certain age, hiding in their house, "pretending" makes me just

[redwitch]

75. We made a candy chute last year. It works great!

And no one comes closer than 8 feet. We sit on the decorated front porch and instruct the kids to put their treat bags under the chute and the candy slides down to them. It’s so much fun we are making it a regular part of trick or treating forever!

[Hortensis]

77. Sure, even Dr. Fauci says trick-or-treating is safe. Sadly, no TotG in our isolated location.

We really miss our old Los Angeles neighborhood at Halloween. Children everywhere you looked, busy evening. Loved it. Including the teens arriving later who were holding onto this nice part of their childhoods just a bit longer.

[Demsrule86]

78. Not me. I am looking forward to Halloween...all decorated up. I will wear a mask.

[Tarc]

85. Sounds a little Scrooge-ish. I'll have a few decorations out, and a bowl of candy

New residence this year, not sure how busy this neighborhood is, we'll see in a few weeks.

[madaboutharry]

86. Not Scrooge-ish.

In past years kids loved my house, Kit-Kat Bars and Hershey Bars galore. But I live in a Red State with a wanting vaccination rate. I can’t risk it. There are immune compromised and elderly people in my immediate family.

I love Halloween, but it will have to wait until next year.