Neighborhood Halloween carnival... not sure how I feel

[Guinastasia]

@bump

The annoyance on my part is that I already bring candy to the neighborhood Halloween carnival… which is on Halloween, for the neighborhood kids, along with hot dogs and buns.

Then, when I get home, I basically get harassed by people who aren’t even from my neighborhood.

I guess it’s my upbringing- we stuck to the local neighborhood because that’s where you trick-or-treated. I think a time or two we may have gone to the mall when the weather was bad, but we absolutely never went to a “better” neighborhood to sponge off people with more cash than us.

The idea that people would do that is kind of offensive to me; it’s not about who gives out better candy, but rather the experience and fun of trick-or-treating. And if they’re not coming because the pickings are better in my neighborhood, and it’s because where they live sucks so bad with regard to trick or treating that they have to come to where I live, then they need to address that issue where they live, not expect my neighborhood to provide it for them.

And, I already foot the school bill for them- we’re all in the same school district.

I’m gonna repeat the same story I always do when this subject comes up:

@Guinastasia

I always used to go trick or treating with my cousins when I was a kid. I didn’t really have anywhere to go and they lived in this huge neighborhood. Plus, it was just way more fun for all of us to go together. Two of my other cousins would come too, even though they lived in a big neighborhood as well. It worked out great for everyone – we got to go together and have a blast, my dad and my two uncles took us around, and my mom and my two aunts stayed behind to pass out candy. The adults liked it because they didn’t have to do all the work by themselves.

In my case, it had nothing to do with the size of my aunt’s neighborhood, although I’m not gonna lie – it was pretty cool. And yes, I got TONS of candy. However, the best part was going around with all of my cousins. It’s not nearly as much fun going by yourself, even if you do live in a big neighborhood. (Which is why our other two cousins came along).

And while I totally agree about teenagers who don’t wear costumes, as people have pointed out, they show up in every neighborhood, no matter if they live there or not. Like others have suggested: put up a “No Costume, No Candy” sign, pass out raisins, or if it really bugs you that much, or turn off your light, and don’t give out any.

@iljitsch

WTF!?

No wonder America has an obesity problem!

As stated, my cousins and I got quite a haul and yet none of us were fat, not then, and not now either. If anything, I was downright scrawny as a kid. (Not bragging, I’m just stating a fact). Of course, my parents didn’t just let me gorge on all of it – my mom would dole it out piece by piece, usually in my school lunch or whatever, and it lasted a long time.

@flatlined

Personally, I wish that Halloween was earlier in the year when its not so cold that the costumes are covered by jackets and coats. At least its warmer here than it was in Arizona.

Yeah, I know what the day means, but still…when all you see of the cute ballerina is her shoes and tiara…its rather disappointing for both of us. I buy candy so kids will knock on my door and show me their costumes and they want to show off.

Where I come from, parents have become pretty good at designing costumes that go over one’s coats, or figuring out ways to stay warm underneath that don’t involve coats. (I can’t count how many layers of tights and turtlenecks I used to wear under a cat costume!) Besides, most of the time you got so warm running from house to house, that coat would be off in a jiffy!

It just takes a little creativity!