It was cold and windy here, a few rain showers, but it didn't seem to stop the trick or treaters at all. I walked around town with Amanda and the kids while David and Elery passed out candy. I figure we got somewhere around 400 trick or treaters because they gave away about 600 pieces of candy. David ate some and some small kids got two from Elery, just for being cute.

I get all sizes from kids in strollers to teenagers, I'm in a very rural/agricultural area and my town has a costume parade and costume judging at 5 pm, so a lot of kids that live in the country come into town for the parade and costume judging and stay to trick or treat.

Annie

We got less than 20,but all the churches here put on fall festivals.I imagine thats where the majority of them went.

Shelley

One trick or treater and she was the scariest thing I've ever seen!

We live in the woods and no one knows how to get here unless you have directions...

Picture on Conversation side of my one and only trick or treater!

We usually have a large crowd, but not like last night. I had almost a hundred individual bags of gold fish, pretzels and cheetos and by around 7:00 they were nearly gone. I dumped the snacks from DGS's snack canister into the trick or treat bowl and DH went to the grocery store and bought three bags of snack size Baby Ruth candy bars. When that was gone we turned off the porch light.

Our street is just two blocks long and it looked like Grand Central station, cars and people everywhere. I guess one reason was the nice weather.

I love Halloween and seeing all the children all dressed up. My DGS's were the Mario Brothers, Mario and Luigi. It was fun.

I got about 100 when I ran out of candy. I could hear there were a few more out there but not many. I thought the rain would keep them away but maybe because it was a Saturday and they could sleep in, they came in droves.

One little darling smashed one of the little pumpkins I put on my fence posts but the other 99 were sweet and polite. I like Halloween.

Wow, I cannot imagine having over a hundred kids. It would be pretty overwhelming for us to handle. But we wouldn't mind having more than 20 kids LOL. I have lived here for a bit over 10 years and had never gotten more than 50 kids. Those were the days when my stepchildren were young enough to go trick or treating.

We lived in a very well developed part of the city and we rarely see new families to the neighborhood. As the kids get older we get less and less ghosts and goblins for the big night. There are only two families on our street that have young kids. If not because the other kids had a sleep over party at their house and they brought their friends over we would have less than 15 last night.

We had less than 10, I'd say.

One girl tickled me, though. She wanted 3 pieces of candy because she had 3 bags. I told her there was only one of her! She was quite disappointed. DH had bought big size candy bars, not the little pieces, so I didn't feel too stingy at the time. However, as the evening wore on, and the doorbell stayed quiet, I wished I had given the girl more candy.

At least one local news station did a story about how some parents were keeping their children home due to H1N1. I don't know if that's why there were so few trick or treaters or if it's just because my neighborhood is mostly Hispanic and they don't have the same traditions, or if there's just not that many children in my neighborhood. I don't know, but next year I may not even bother. I don't want extra candy in the house.

Sally

Didn't have any !!!
They canceled the Hayride because of Rain.

It will be on today , late afternoon.
Probably will be about 100
Happy Halloween.
Lou

In this day and age, parents need to be more "paranoid" than they are!

Just one sick child from poisoned or tainted treats, or one injured from a razor blade in an apple, is one too many!

Trick or Treating is discouraged where I live. All the churches put on parties for kids on Halloween, regardless if it is on a week end or not. The Lions Club also has a carnival for everyone, regardless of age, that wants to attend.

The downtown merchants have a block party for kids.

Most all of these activities include costume contests.
All kinds of 'safe and sane' activites for kids of all ages to enjoy, and to keep them from trick or treating on the streets and in neighborhoods. Some parents do take their little ones to the homes of friends and relatives, but that is the extent of it.

Much safer for all concerned.

Rusty

There seemed to be about the usual amount out here last night. I was at a wedding most of the evening (I made the cake), but my son and I drove home to put his baby to bed (DH wasn't feeling great and went home early so he was there to babysit and give out candy). We passed plenty of kids on the way home and back.

We usually get a moderate amount - I don't count but maybe 50 - our street has large suburban lots so it takes a lot of walking to get house to house. We have big koi in a pond in our front courtyard and the kids are often fascinated by them.

1 group of 4..they were the next door neighbor boy and his friends..not a one over 7. But 2 neighborhoods over where my boys went with their friends....lots of kids out...

Trick or treating is discouraged here too. I don't know anyone who takes their kids around to houses. However, Wal Mart has a trunk treats event every year and they had over five thousand last night. Our church participates with various people decorating their car trunks and others donating candy.

Two......Plus D.H......he likes Chocolate. Diana55

Judging from the number of goodie bags that are left (I made around 110 but had candy reserves for at least 30 more) I had around 80 kids.

The last group was pretty cute with one girl dressed as a fairly with lighted, blinking wings. Adorable.

Sue

Our church had 'Trunk or Treat' last night with over 1000 kids.

People dress up and or decorate their cars and pass out candy. Lots of fun for adults and kids alike.
Folks from the church donate the candy.

Exactly 3 here in FL. We had 20 last year and now the candy is going to find a new home!

We had a whopping 5 kids - usually have at least 30 - even here on the edge of town. So that means 35 mini-bags of microwave popcorn left - and we don't use the stuff..... I'll take it to the Food Bank. The weather was perfect, but I figured there were so many organized "safe" options that people chose them instead of door-to-door.

-Grainlady

I think it's mostly that people (rightfully) want their kids to go to houses where they know the people, and most folks just don't know their neighbors anymore. I think it's great that the churches are doing carnivals now. The schools used to do them -- back when they had the budget and weren't scared to death of being sued for every little thing.

DH and I compared notes. We both grew up in towns that had a substantial problem with crime, gangs, "rough" neighborhoods, etc. Both of us remember hospitals offering to x-ray candy, etc when we were kids. To the best of our memories, neither of us can recall EVER seeing/hearing a reputable, factual news account of poisoned candy or razor blades/needles in candy or fruit. I'm sure there've been a couple of isolated incidents over the years, but if parents and kids go where they know the neighborhoods, I doubt the chances are any higher than getting run over by a bus.

I wasn't home last night, so I got zero.

I love trick-or-treat! It's so much fun. There are seven houses on the block; each has lived in their house 20 years or more. Three houses on our block decorate their porch. If the weather is nice we all are outside to hand out candy. I play my flute on the porch the two or three hours the kids are out. It was really cold last night. We had about 160 kids. This is such a stable neighborhood we may not know who the kids/parents are, but they know who we are. Our block always has lots of kids.

We had 129 kids of all ages....we ran out of candy and had to turn off the lights at 8:15....
It was a warm night and the kids were out. Last year we only had about 48 kids....

Linda

I went to my Mom's. She's by herself and I worry about her. She had the least yet. One scared 3 year old that came with his Mom. She used to get between 20-70 kids.

We had a cold Michigan evening (about 50) but at least the wind died down.

We probably had about 50 kids.

I have a 7 and 9 year old and I can't tell you how much they love trick or treating. They look forward to it all year. I even let my youngest go and she had a fever of 100.0!

We had our official downtown trick or treat on Friday and kids went around downtown and did their thing. Last night we were out seeing a play of the story 'Dracula' and actually didn't see any kids out at all. There were several adults dressed up though for some of the events at a couple of the local bars. There were tons of kids at the downtown trick or treat and that's a good way for kids to go around with their parents and not only get candy but do some major socializing. Works out very well.

Kate

We only had about 40. With such a small amount I usually spend a bit more to get something a little more unique. This year was Ring Pops. Since the numbers are low, I am definitely making candy apples next year. I knew every kid that came to my door last night so I think it's pretty safe to put the effort out there. I know, I'm crazy to plan for next year. I never heard of the trunk and treat thing, neat. No wasting time running house to house!

I had more than I have in my entire adult life...one. I buy a bag of whatever candy I like though, just in case. I gave the girl as much as I could fit in my hand (while trying to keep the dog from knocking her over.) I went to the dog park and that neighborhood had dozens on kids. I live in an apartment now, but lived in country houses for years.

Renee, I've worked for the local Prosecutor for 31 years and we have never had a single case of poisoned candy, a child injured from eating candy, or even one getting hit by a car, which seems to me would be the most likely danger.

A lot of local churches have parties but the kids still trick or treat.

My girls always loved it, the grandkids love it. The neighbors really liked to see Amanda bringing her kids to trick or treat, just like she did when she was small.

Annie

I'm with Beanthere and Annie. I don't know who is responsible for the horror stories about poisoned candy, apples with razor blades in them etc., but I know they've been around since I was a kid, and I have never read a news paper report or heard a news cast that dealt with an actual case of it happening. I'm not saying that such a thing has never happened, only that if it has, it's likely more rare an occasion than any number of potential threats to our children.

We were at the game last night so I'm not sure about the numbers around here this year. Last year was my first in the burbs and I was bowled over even though our addition is way out for the most part. Never had any up at the lake.

David

I'm in So. Ca. & I had 4 little kids under 5 yrs old & 1 mom. Least amount ever!! My parents had 0 & friends 10 miles out had O. Someone at church today said news had been saying shouldn't let kids go out because they could get swine flu.I didn't hear that because I only have 4 stations now since they went digital. About the candy & razor blades I think just once & once pins in apple or candy. L.A. does have some nutty people.(not mentally ill-just mean) I always took my kids. DD never has let her kids go out lot of allergies to nuts & choc. They have costume & go to church party usually but this yr. all their friends came to their house for party, plus DD turned 40 on Halloween!!We had a nice time yesterday & she took home her pumpkin pies & carrot cookies!(doesn't want cake for her birthday,always pies) I made 2 apple pies from apples on my trees & 1 pecan pie, shared with folks too. Hot cooking fri. tho, 94 degrees I think! Oh it was balmy last night over 70 degrees & most neighbors had light on. No incidents in paper today either so that was good!

I count children in numbers instead of amounts, and we had two children, both from the house across the street - they were very cute and a bit shy. It was quite warm, as I expect Halloween to be, but we had not put out any decorations to encourage visitors. In Venice we had visitors without encouragement, but not here. Next year we will put out some decorations. In the meantime, I have a lot of Japanese gummy candy to eat. Fortunately, I like it.

Lars

Here is a link that might be useful: Kasugai gummy candy

Cheetos?? Popcorn?? There is a code of honor here people-- buy some fun sized milky way bars!

I think is so funny how people worry about things that are so very unlikely. I can't imagine how disappointing it would be for a kid to be kept home from trick-or-treating because once someone put some pins a candy bar. Maybe you should also keep them away from the school cafeteria-- I saw a killer lunch lady once on a Simpsons episode. And don't ever let them eat in restaurants. Restaurant kitchens could be filthy! You definitely also don't want other children touching them, because children are germ vectors. And you can't really trust them to keep their hands off each other-- a handclap game, high five, or thumb war could break out AT ANY MOMENT. So if you love your children, you'll seal them in plastic. And make sure the air holes have tiny HEPA filters. Allergens are everywhere.

Actually, Annie's picture on the other thread gave me an idea for next year. I'll just get snack bags of chips and stuff and what I don't give out, DH can take on the road with him!

We had more kids than I thought, given the weather, a local college football game, etc., etc. There seemed to be fewer little people and more very delightful middle-aged little people with very creative costumes and with very happy and polite attitudes. Happily, no old "on-my-way-to-college people!" We usually save hubby-dubby's favorites for the last and always have some left over to take into the office. This year we are sending our leftovers to Operation Gratitude. Candy goes to troops over seas for themselves or to give to the local children. I'm really glad those bad boy candies are not calling to me, and they're boxed up and on their way overseas to give pleasure there. Looking forward to Thanksgiving -- my favorite American Holiday!
Annie1971

First of all, I can't believe that Annie got FOUR HUNDRED KIDS!!! That just blows my mind! What's in the water there? ;)

I got none. Zilch. Nada. I was a little surprised, but not unhappy. The dogs I have now go ballistic when someone comes to the door, so keeping them from escaping, or grabbing a child's bag of goodies is challenging. (yeah, bad Dog Mom..) So I didn't have to deal with that, and I have a whole, (well, half now...) bag of Butterfingers all to myself.

jessicavanderhoff - unbelieveably, I was a kid that got *something* in their candy bar. It happened in the early 70's, and the best I can figure is that it was a little bit of LSD. I am not making this up. I had a very weird reaction to something in my candy bag. To the point where my mom called the police. I was about 13 at the time, and during their investigation, the police tried to blame it on me experimenting with drugs and getting scared. Heh. I did dabble in pot at the time, but nothing else. Something was definitely spiked.

If I had children, my biggest worry would be one getting snatched on Halloween. Everyone is dressed up/disguised... it would be simple to grab a kid without being identified. I am amazed at parents that let young children roam unattended. I think the trunk or treat/community/church things are good, and as much fun as our memories of Halloween are, these types of events will be the current young generation's great memories.

Maybe if some of these young whippersnappers on here had kids of their own, or had had something bad happen to someone near and dear to them, they wouldn't be quite so flippant and smart alecky, nor quite so quick to ridicule someone for being overly cautious.

Weed30, I'm so sorry you had a bad experience, but thank God, at least you survived with no permanent damage, apparently. Thank you for speaking up.

Rusty

For the first time in almost 40 years we got more than 10 about 40+. All young and accompanied by adults. I think half were "bussed in" or coming from a group gathering. They were all cute and glad I had plenty of treats to hand out.

That's bad, Weed, but you're honestly the first person I've heard of it happening to that wasn't a sibling using poor judgement to pull a prank. We had enough cops in the family that I heard plenty else to make me cautious, but that wasn't one of them.

Wow, I've not been called a young whippersnapper in...40 years or more. (Actually, I don't think I've ever been called a whippersnapper.)

Oh, I'm damaged alright...but in a good way ;) I am sure it was a prank - reports of tainted candy were in the news at the time, and some idiot probably thought it would be funny. There must not have been a lot of whatever it was. I didn't hallucinate, but there was some mighty weird stuff going on in my head :)

We live out in the boonies now. In the past, either my DH or I took the kids around for just a few blocks. The other stayed home to hand out goodies. When the kids came home, we always checked out everything for signs of tampering. We have never had a problem after about 30 years of kids/grandkids going trick-or-treating.