Attack of the Trick-or-Treaters
Decatur Metro | October 9, 2008
There’s a great question on Oakhurst’s Message Board that’s inspired me to ask a similar question here:
How many trick-or-treaters come to your door on Halloween? (Don’t forget to mention which neighborhood you live in)
I ask because many newcomers are caught unaware by the critical mass of children that take to Decatur’s streets with demands of Snickers bars and Reeses on All-Hallows Eve.
That was us last year when we unknowingly didn’t buy enough candy and my wife was browbeaten by a 12-year-old punk for not turning off all the lights and putting a “No Candy” sign on the door fast enough.
We’d rather not have a repeat performance of that.
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Is doling out one m&m per child acceptable?
When we lived across from Winnona Park, it would vary depending on the day Halloween fell on, obviously Thurs – Sat Halloween’s had much heavier traffic, but we would usually purchase, and go through between 7-10 large bags of candy. The year I decided to cut back and buy only 7 was a disaster – lots of oatmeal and hot chocolate packets ended up in bags. Good way to clean out your pantry if you’re creative.
We live on the other side of South Candler from Winnona Park, and we have never gotten more than a dozen groups come to our door, which is sad for me, but good for our candy budget. Every once in a while, we’ll get a bunch of giddy Agnes Scott students in last minute costumes.
We live in a neighborhood off Adair St., and we have a steady stream all night, some of which are carloads from nearby neighborhoods. We have been known to raid our kids’ buckets to replenish our supply. Since Halloween is on a Friday this year I expect bigger and later crowds.
I just moved from Midway Woods, just south of Winonna Park. In the 7 years I lived there, I never got more than 3 groups of kids on Halloween. Most years, I only got 1 group, and last year there were none at all. I guess all the kids from my neighborhood (and there are a lot!) go elsewhere for candy…
Every year we would stock up, though, just in case – and end up with a LOT of leftover candy!
Julie – only if they are individually wrapped!
Rebbeca – what about jars of tomato sauce? Hmm..I guess that kind of heavy. Same with bottle of Vitamin Water.
Paula – that’s strange you don’t get that many kids…do you think its because S. Candler is a busier street?
Our experience last year was more like Decatur Mom’s. A steady stream all evening and lots of kids getting bused in from other neighborhoods. (FYI – We’re in Ponce Heights)
We live in Springdale Heights (not really Decatur, but thanks for letting me read/respond to the blog even though I am unincorporated) and rarely get more than one trick or treater. Could be because before I lived in the house, my husband forgot it was Halloween and gave all the kids potatoes as they were all he had. We but about 5 bags of candy – have even left them in a basket on the porch only to come home to find the candy (and the basket) still there and untouched. So, if any of you run out of candy this year, just come on by – we will have plenty.
I should clarify that we don’t live on S. Candler, but on a side street, But, yeah, we’ve always assumed that the kids from Winnona Park don’t want/aren’t allowed to cross S. Candler. Too bad for them, because I always get the good stuff just in case!
We live in the west side of Oakhurst, literally on the line with Kirkwood. I would say we get between 10-15 groups each year. We’ve never needed more than 1 or 2 bags of candy.
I’ve noticed the kids who actually live on our street or nearby tend to come early in the evening, and kids who don’t live in the neighborhood start showing up later in the evening. So, we are very generous with the candy early. When we run out, we simply turn off our porch light.
I was visited by trick or treating teen moms and their babies. They’re much nicer and not particular about treats.
We live right outside of Decatur city limits on the border of Clarkston and last year we actually opted to not be at home rather than deal with the nightmare of people we have had in the past. We had car after car of children pull up to each house-most of them not even dressed up!-demanding candy. There were at least 10 mothers who claimed to have a “sick child at home” also who wanted candy. The final straw came when a group of 13 year old boys, all wearing dark hoods asked me if I was the trick or the treat for them?!? It’s really too bad-I used to love Halloween but I just don’t trust kids OR parents these days.
We’ve lived on Sycamore Dr. for 8 years, and I’m happy to report that we have more and more trick-or-treaters every year. When we first moved in, we really didn’t have any. But we’ve had an influx of new families and new babies over the years. My own kids go up and down Sycamore and then hit Sycamore Ridge and always end up with way too much candy. Also, our neighbors decorate much more than they did years ago, so maybe the kids feel more welcome on our street?
Madison…that’s just creepy.
Its interesting. From everyone’s comments it seems like you could get a decent reading on how “safe” the neighborhood feels by how many trick-or-treaters show up. Though other variables like density and traffic probably affect the number too.
But, I guess its pretty safe to say that if you’ve got all three of those things going in your favor, you’ll be swamped.
We get around 20-30 trick-or-treaters. We decorate so that might attract them. We’re on Woodlawn in Ponce de Leon Heights. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I can’t wait!