Hallowe'en 2025 -- Our Plans & Stories

[TBoneTX 48,366]

This is our thread to list our Hallowe'en plans and stories -- what we're offering for the kids, how many visitors we end up with, how this compares with previous years, parties we attend, etc.  Join in!

[TBoneTX 48,366]

To hand out, I have some "dumdum"-type lollipops from Ecuador in various flavors, some Welch's fruit snacks, and some sealed 2-packs of Pop-Tart knockoffs (strawberry, & cookies-&-cream).  Mini-Bone has lost his taste for these toaster pastries, and I can't eat them any longer.

 

Matter of fact, this will be the first year, likely of lifetime duration, when I can no longer snack on Hallowe'en treats between trick-or-treater visits or as leftovers.     We can blame my recalcitrant pancreas.  

Edited Friday at 05:01 AM by TBoneTX

[mam521 2,726]

We've opted for the common "Canadian" thing of handing out potato chips.  There's a Gordon Food Store not far away, so we grabbed  a couple of 50 count boxes of Lays.  It's a nice alternative to candy.  Kid2 used to be severely dairy intolerant so doesn't care for chocolate and is old enough to know it's not worth the door to door effort when you can simply go to Kroger tomorrow and buy exactly what you want for massive discount.  

 

A couple of years ago, I used to grab the Costco Halloween Playdoh packs.  Kids actually loved it.  I just haven't paid enough attention when at Costco to grab said packs, so chips it is.  

[TBoneTX 48,366]

6 hours ago, mam521 said:

potato chips

As called by Mrs. T-B., "cheaps."

6 hours ago, mam521 said:

massive discount

Music to the ears...

[TBoneTX 48,366]

T-B.'s report:

 

Beautiful weather -- zero wind, temperatures falling through the 60s F.

Sat outside garage at 6:30p with an aluminum turkey tray filled with goodies per above.

Kept both garage lights on.  Had phone flashlight to illuminate treats when Treaters came.

Probably 90% of houses on block were dark (why???).

 

Read a book until first lone Treater came at 7:10.

Nothing more till 7:20; pretty fair rush till 7:35.

Pop-Tarts went first (had to explain what the silver pouches were, & market them).

Encouraged Treaters to take all that they wanted.  Most were very conservative.

Replenished Welch's Fruit Snacks once.

One small Treater thankfully took 2 handfuls of the Colombian (not Ecu) dumdum pops.

Lone Treater came at 7:50.

Last Treaters came at 8:10 (jumping from a car driven by parents -- good idea).

Gave it up at 8:20.

 

Treaters were all invariably polite and grateful -- the parents, even more so.

Costumes were overwhelmingly creative and showed much effort.

Few if any hyskool-aged Treaters came; perhaps most were at their Friday football games.

Most Treaters were very little, and so cute.  The little boys reminded us of Mini-B. at that age.

 

Still have enough fruit snacks & dumdums to offer again next year.

I might supplement these with the inexpensive house-brand Pop-Tarts from Aldi.

 

Summary:  Distinctly fewer Treaters than in past years.  Disappointing, but encouragement depleted the treat supplies acceptably.  Lord willing, looking forward to dispensing future Hallowe'en largesse.

[Neonred 3,954]

We are, of course, in the Keys and the weather has been spectacular.  Staying in the 70's day and night.  One set of grandkids are here so we were ready to go.  At our home in Naples we live in an area where everyone is on several acres so it's not ideal for treating and we never get any kids.  A different story here in the Keys.  

 

Last weekend was Fantasy Fest in Key West, adult trick or treating.  Basically drinking with parties, parades, and nudity.  Been there before and it is a site to see and a special event, but honestly many of the women that take it all off and get body painted...shouldn't!  We didn't go the last several years.

 

Our neighborhood here in the Keys is noted for putting on just about the best "normal" kid friendly Halloween party in the entire Keys.  I had heard about it but never seem to have been here at the right time.  Also I'm on the quieter side of the neighborhood.  This year with the grandkids here we decided to go for it.  I even had a couple of costumes in the closet for us adults.  Our son in law was a chicken, and I wore the cow costume.  The kids, 6 and 8,  were some kind of turtle and biotoxic super hero.

 

This event was UNBELIEVABLE.  Below is a short video from 4 years ago, and now it is twice as big.  Almost every house in the other 1/2 of the neighborhood participates.  We covered 8 blocks and were getting tired so headed home.  We missed probably 1/3 or more.  Many houses had treats for kids as well as treats for adults.  The organizers had a keg.  One house we went to had kids treats, and then your kid could "spin the wheel" to see what "treat" dad or grandpa would get.  I got a beer!  Choices were beer, wine cooler, jello shot, pudding shot, or hot dog.  Others had special over 21 coolers with "witches brew" (beer) or goblin gool (alcohol mini bottles).   Several houses had haunted mansions underneath (we're almost all stilt homes).  I was so impressed.  Activities started at 6 and started winding down about 8 but the somewhat official end was supposed to be 9.  There were more people than I ever imagined, and great costumes.  Almost everyone including adults were prepared.  I'm glad I had a few costumes hidden away.  Our little island puts on so many great kid friendly events each year.

 

A good time was had by all! 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 11:30 AM by Neonred

[TBoneTX 48,366]

17 hours ago, Neonred said:

A good time was had by all! 

Geez -- great report!

On 10/31/2025 at 9:15 AM, mam521 said:

handing out potato chips

Upon reflection:  Good/excellent idea for variety and health; however, many kids have little pumpkins or bags, and the chips cheaps might not fit or would get smashed.

[Neonred 3,954]

On 10/31/2025 at 10:15 AM, mam521 said:

We've opted for the common "Canadian" thing of handing out potato chips. 

Really?  LOL  

On 10/31/2025 at 10:15 AM, mam521 said:

 

  It's a nice alternative to candy. 

Here I noticed several people giving out glow in the dark rings and bracelets and pencils and....popsicles!  When it's nearly 80 degrees out the kids enjoy the popsicles.  Just need to eat them at that moment.

[Boiler 48,160]

I think was about 40f where I was bt the cold wind made it much worse, there is an area of town that they put up barriers and where most of the children come, you need serious stocks.

 

A lot of Dinosaurs around.

[yuna628 9,917]

Not a single kid this year. Very strange indeed. Seems most were driven in to a neighbor's house for party.

We've had crazy Halloween displays in the neighborhood this year so I thought surely there would be kids, but someone has had their house fully decked out in Christmas displays since two weeks ago.

[Crazy Cat 45,693]

No kids...here in our 55+ apartment building..I loved it.......

---old codger....

[TBoneTX 48,366]

4 hours ago, yuna628 said:

Not a single kid this year. Very strange indeed.

Holy mackerel.

15 hours ago, Boiler said:

was about 40f where I was bt the cold wind made it much worse

Awful.

3 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

No kids...here in our 55+ apartment building..I loved it

Got all the candy for yourself.   

[mam521 2,726]

I ran outta "cheaps" by 7:45pm!  I probably should have grabbed another pair of boxes but usually I only get about I dunno...80 kids?  

 

As for the bags, they fit in the pumpkins and I had all but one kiddo say "Lays!  Awesome!" or "this house has chips!"  or "Cheetos...my favourite!" 

 

Halloween is a big deal in our neighborhood.  There's a couple of houses that go ridiculously all out.  It's pretty fun if you're with the kids.  Very different to the Halloweens we had in Canada where you pretty typically had to choose something that fit over layers because it was anyone's guess as to whether there would be snow on the ground or not!  Those cold Halloweens separated the wimps from the champs and typically, if you stuck it out, you came out loaded with goods.