Thread: How do YOU give out candy?

Tweet

Growing up, there was this one amazing house down the street that went all out for Halloween with their decorations. The woman that lived there dressed up like a scary witch and would slowly come out of the porch shadows as you came up to the house. She never said a word - you'd walk up, say "trick-or-treat" and she'd put the candy in your bag, staring at you the whole time with a wicked little smile. It used to scare me so much, but I loved it, and lived for her house every year.

Last year was our first Halloween in our new house, and it became my mission to duplicate that feeling for the neighborhood kids. I want to be "that house" that everyone looks forward to. I did the same setup, scary witch costume, no words, slowly walking out of the shadows. My husband thought it was a little over-the-top at first, but soon found himself peeking out of the window to watch the reactions. He's already given me suggestions this year as how to improve my witch costume. Not really sure what all the neighbors thought!

When I joined the forum I was thrilled to see other people who put on full-scale haunts that are probably 1000% scarier than what I do. But now I'm curious, how do most of you answer the door/hand out candy? For you full-scale haunters, in-between scaring the bejesus out of kids, when do you give them candy? My mom is a classic "name the costume" door answerer - "oh, what a beautiful princess, and such a scary vampire, and hmmmm, what are you sweetie?". My mother-in-law gets so few trick-or-treaters that she likes to ask all of them questions: "Did you make your costume? What grade are you in?". How do YOU give out candy on Halloween night?

I have 3 areas that I decorate outside but where its all located I don't have kids walk up to my door I sit outside on my driveway as they come up for their candy. I would love to do something like you do but being I am about the only house that does the full out Halloween display in the yard the parents all come up to me asking me how long I've been doing this, how much they love it and tell me what I put out new this year so I end up doing a lot of taking instead of what you do, I would love to but I don't see it happening any time soon. But my dad comes over the house with a mask and a trench coat and will scare the kids as well as some adults every now and then. They think he's a prop but when he gets up to move everyone screams.

Keep up the good work. That is way cool.

Thank you snigglez! I'm also the only house around that decorates outside of a pumpkin and a string of lights. I did find myself breaking character a few times to talk to some of the adults. But most of them got the picture as they were walking up and realized what I was trying to do, and either didn't ask questions or waited until the kids were walking away. I love the idea of a "prop" coming alive. I'm trying to convince my father-in-law to come do that some year!

One year, I also dressed as a witch. When TOTs rang the doorbell, I paused a moment, then I flung the door open and yelled "What do you want?!" Some kids laughed, others jumped back and then sheepishly said "trick...or......treat?" LOL It was great. Scared the crap outta some teenagers too....and even a few parents waiting on the sidewalk... which was the icing on the cake

I am a yard haunter who changes it up every year. I am lucky and live on a cul de sac at the very end.. my neighbors all come down to help in the haunt. so i can concentrate on being the person of odd and crazy antics I prep the kids for the scares as they come down the street buy playing a part,, anyways back to your question

we usually have a spot mid way thru the haunt where we have a person hand out candy. our fav is for the kids to reach thru the full sized gilotine to get their candy as the candy guard runs the Blade. if they dont say "trick or treat" she doesnt raise the blade

we also always have a "mad hatter" for the little ones who dont want to go thru the frights,, this person guides them to the short cut so they can go directly to the candy..

Originally Posted by snigglez

I have 3 areas that I decorate outside but where its all located I don't have kids walk up to my door I sit outside on my driveway as they come up for their candy. I would love to do something like you do but being I am about the only house that does the full out Halloween display in the yard the parents all come up to me asking me how long I've been doing this, how much they love it and tell me what I put out new this year so I end up doing a lot of taking instead of what you do, I would love to but I don't see it happening any time soon. But my dad comes over the house with a mask and a trench coat and will scare the kids as well as some adults every now and then. They think he's a prop but when he gets up to move everyone screams.

Keep up the good work. That is way cool.

It's funny i do the same as you they go in the garage and i am at the end or somewhere insider at the end of the driveway and give candy there .The first year i was giving candy at the door and they were running pass my display now they do not have the choice to go in if they want candy .Except the little one who run out of the garage without the bag i have to run after them to give it to their mom ....
keep the good work all !

The one constant in our haunt...I christened it the altar of greed. AKA "The biggest candy bowl I've ever seen!!" as one neighbor kid put it.





I'm considering a change this year, however.

Couple problems. It likes to fill with water if it's raining.
Where years ago, I could fill it once and that was it, we now have to refill it about 5 times (see the pile of empty cases behind my son in the last pic?). I need something MUCH bigger. Thinking of a table...