Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 14:27     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Your parents should put up a sign and make it very clear they are giving out treats. They don’t have to obey what the neighbors are doing. I would hate a centralized table. Door to door is the whole point!!
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 14:27     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Even dumber than trunk or treat!
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 14:25     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:My parents have lived in a close in neighborhood for over 30 years. When we were kids and even after, my parents were heavily involved in the civic association, block parties, school events, and were always helping a hand. In the last few years they have been less involved but have always been "good neighbors." Last year, the people on their street decided they would have a joint trick or treating where kids cam to one central location to hand out treats. My parents have always enjoyed Halloween and seeing kids in their costumes. Last year the neighbors told kids not to go to any houses because candy was only available at one location. Some of the older kids came any way. My parents are not trying to be hostile but really would like to see the kids. My father is thinking of putting a sign in the lawn saying "treats are here."

They tried to explain to the organizing neighbor that they would like to have kids come to their house and were told "we are changing the rules and kids can't come to your house."

Any suggestions beyond the sign?


I would tell them to go to Hades and put up "Treats are here. Come one. Come all trick or treaters welcome."

Who the Hell do these a$$holes think they have the right to tell anyone else what they can do on their property!!
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 14:23     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:But... the entire point is to go door to door! Otherwise it's a boring candy grab at a boring table. Unless there are activities and events in the central square?

Anyway, unless this is the binding decision of an HOA or a temporary police order to keep the peace, a mere neighborhood association cannot forbid people going door to door on Halloween.

Your parents should speak up on the listserve and say that they are opposed to the central candy grab idea, and that any trick-or-treater who comes to their door will be given candy.

Neighborhood associations do these things because they believe people agree or will at least not disagree. The only way to counter bad ideas from that quarter is to speak up and encourage others to do so. Courteously, of course.


This.
What the neighbor has done is rude. Hopefully some others feel like your parents and will continue to do it the regular way.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 14:19     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Why must some Karen ruin the fun of Halloween???

Turn on all the lights at your house, put up some outdoor lights and a Halloween inflatable, and hand out candy.

If you build it, they will come.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:57     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
OP, they should get-with-the-program, whatever's being done, and not be an outliner. Express to all neighbors that they want to be included or just show up - at this "central" location.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:55     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
I guarantee that if they hand out king size candy the kids will come.

All it takes is one kid bragging that they got a king size at the Skeleton house on the corner and they will be mobbed 🎃
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:45     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My parents have lived in a close in neighborhood for over 30 years. When we were kids and even after, my parents were heavily involved in the civic association, block parties, school events, and were always helping a hand. In the last few years they have been less involved but have always been "good neighbors." Last year, the people on their street decided they would have a joint trick or treating where kids cam to one central location to hand out treats. My parents have always enjoyed Halloween and seeing kids in their costumes. Last year the neighbors told kids not to go to any houses because candy was only available at one location. Some of the older kids came any way. My parents are not trying to be hostile but really would like to see the kids. My father is thinking of putting a sign in the lawn saying "treats are here."

They tried to explain to the organizing neighbor that they would like to have kids come to their house and were told "we are changing the rules and kids can't come to your house."

Any suggestions beyond the sign?


Lead paint really did a number on Boomers.



Why are you calling 30-something parents Boomers?


+1 It must be a slow day in school for the math challenged. Boomers are either grandparents or getting close to it.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:39     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They should get full size candy bars and hang out on their front lawn. The kids will figure it out.


+1.

I hate the central candy idea, it's not fun at all. My neighborhood set one up so that all the parents could sit in the common and drink and snack together while the kids ran around (but didn't ToT, because candy was out on a table). Such a bummer.


In my neighborhood we call this the “block party” part of Halloween and it starts once trick or treating hours end.

Kids are tired from running around and are happy to drink some water by a bonfire. Parents are happy to drink adult beverages by the fire. It all works out.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:39     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
our neighborhood makes a loop for trick or treating so the people on courts and other dead ends buddy up with neighbors where the treats are. It's not one central location though. we are between busy streets so this keeps the kids a little closer in and keeps people on the ends of the street from feeling left out. maybe your parents can find a middle ground. it also means TOT ends earlier which is nice for everyone. It works for us.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:38     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:But... the entire point is to go door to door! Otherwise it's a boring candy grab at a boring table. Unless there are activities and events in the central square?

Anyway, unless this is the binding decision of an HOA or a temporary police order to keep the peace, a mere neighborhood association cannot forbid people going door to door on Halloween.

Your parents should speak up on the listserve and say that they are opposed to the central candy grab idea, and that any trick-or-treater who comes to their door will be given candy.

Neighborhood associations do these things because they believe people agree or will at least not disagree. The only way to counter bad ideas from that quarter is to speak up and encourage others to do so. Courteously, of course.

Similar concept to the trunk or treat. Sooo BORING! The kids just kept circling around until the candy was gone.


Right? Trunk or Treat was started by churches as another way to control their members and it's sad that the idea has spread.


That's not true. It was a safery issue going to various homes plus Covid. Not a problem if you live in a safe area and know your neighbors.


Uuuuum, no it's not. Trunk or treats have existed for as long as I remember and when I was kid they were ALWAYS at a church.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:37     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:I remember taking my kids to empty streets and the joy of the elderly homeowners to finally have treaters. They ended up giving them too much candy though. It was nice for the kids too to be received so warmly.


Yes - most of our neighbors are boomers and we only have maybe 10-15 trick or treaters every year and the older neighbors are just so incredibly generous and sweet to our kids, even the older kids come away with a ton of candy. Our HOA president sits on his lawn and gives out full size candy bars to the kids AND their parents.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:34     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They should get full size candy bars and hang out on their front lawn. The kids will figure it out.


+1.

I hate the central candy idea, it's not fun at all. My neighborhood set one up so that all the parents could sit in the common and drink and snack together while the kids ran around (but didn't ToT, because candy was out on a table). Such a bummer.


Wow - we just have a pizza party for people to hang out and then everyone goes trick or treating immediately afterwards.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:34     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My parents have lived in a close in neighborhood for over 30 years. When we were kids and even after, my parents were heavily involved in the civic association, block parties, school events, and were always helping a hand. In the last few years they have been less involved but have always been "good neighbors." Last year, the people on their street decided they would have a joint trick or treating where kids cam to one central location to hand out treats. My parents have always enjoyed Halloween and seeing kids in their costumes. Last year the neighbors told kids not to go to any houses because candy was only available at one location. Some of the older kids came any way. My parents are not trying to be hostile but really would like to see the kids. My father is thinking of putting a sign in the lawn saying "treats are here."

They tried to explain to the organizing neighbor that they would like to have kids come to their house and were told "we are changing the rules and kids can't come to your house."

Any suggestions beyond the sign?


Lead paint really did a number on Boomers.



Why are you calling 30-something parents Boomers?
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2025 13:33     Subject: Not letting neighbors hand out candy at Halloween
Anonymous wrote:They should get full size candy bars and hang out on their front lawn. The kids will figure it out.


THIS.