Anonymous wrote:We used to live near a school and would usually get a few kids trying their luck on the way home, so yeah in the 4 o'clock hour. I'd always tell them to go home and put on their costume and come back. I agree that 6 is generally the norm, which means some people start at 5. As long as I'm ready, I don't care. And if I'm not ready, I don't answer the door.
Be grateful you're in this area--some places go much earlier, like days in advance, is the 31st is on a weekday.
+1 This. Elementary schools had trunk or treat on campus after school, kids wore costumes to school, kids hit that and then hit the houses that looked like they were participating on the way home (which by OP's account, it probably looked like she was ready for kids from the sidewalk). Then they ate dinner, met up with friends and did the real trick or treating, from 6-8ish.