Halloween Forum banner

Rant about neighbors

5K views 46 replies 31 participants last post by  pit 
#1 ·
My neighbors are usually pretty cool. But today, they perturbed me a great deal. 3 of the neighbors on my block, two on either side of me and one across the street are wanting to do a Halloween block party on Halloween night. They want to close off our block. This, I am not happy about at all. This is the first year Brian and I were going to do bigger projects and are very excited for Halloween night. If the block is closed off, we won't get many TOT's at all. Most of our neighbors know we are hardcore about Halloween, we sit out all night passing out candy. We don't go in the house til most of the TOT's are done. I don't know why they would pick Halloween night to do a block party. Sigh. So, if the idea goes ahead, we'll have a more elaborate haunt but with not many people experiencing it. That's the whole reason we do it. It's for us because we love Halloween and we love having TOT's come experience it. Bleh. I'm really perturbed about this. Am I being unreasonable? Or do you guys get how I feel?
 
#2 ·
Are they doing a Halloween party? I can't see why they'd want to close off the block if they weren't.

If you are on good terms with them, you could very nicely plead your case.

If they do end up closing off the block, could you talk to the neighbors on either end about letting you put up a Halloween sign point the way to your house for the TOTs? Something about the haunted house THIS way with an arrow towards your house.
 
#3 ·
Well, the three organizers did something like this a few months back. They invited all the neighbors to drop by and chat at two houses. Like a moving party. I think that is what they are wanting to do for this, have houses open but also be able to chat and visit freely outside. Which is why they'd like to close the block. We got a good bit of traffic on Halloween night. Lots of kids come in from the neighboring town and their parents drop them off or wait while they go down the block. If they closed off the block, they'd eliminate that traffic making it easier to do the moving/outside party.

I don't want to sound snotty but a lot of people that take their kids to TOT always come to our house and say they come every year to see what we did to the house. They take pictures with Brian in his costume or in front of our little lighted arch. There are maybe 3-4 other houses that pass out candy and two others that decorate. So it's probably not a big deal to anyone else if they don't get very many TOT's but it's a big deal to us. I'm on ok terms with the neighbors but I feel like I can't plead my case very well. They are fairly pushy and I'm pretty meek. We could do a sign pointing to our house from the cross street which has a lot of traffic. I'm still not sure we'd get many TOT's though as most of the ones we do get come in cars. I don't know that the parents would drop them off on the corner and let them go down the block without them driving alongside them.
 
#4 ·
I understand about not wanting confrontations, I hate them too. But I'll bet they didn't even think about your situation and once you bring it up to them, you all could work it out. You'll only know if you talk to them. I've learned that sitting and stewing just gives me a bad stomach ache. When I finally get the guts to go talk to people, it's usually solved very quickly and then I end up beating myself up for not doing sooner. :)
 
#5 ·
Wow, you know that's actually a cool idea! I would love to have a block party on Halloween. But I would definitely put up a large fluorescent green sign on both ends of the street where the barricade is saying "Trick or Treaters Welcome" or "Come See the Creepiest Halloween Display Here". Then have some signs (same color) with arrows going to your house. So I suppose that you're not going to the block party and will be staying in?

As long as you have the signs, they will come. But if you have people standing guard at the barricade that'll be annoying.

Whoever is planning the block party should give out little tickets for food and drinks so anyone going to your house for TOT'ing or whatever can't just grab them on their way out of your block.
 
#8 ·
I feel for you. After spending all your time making the props for yourself and the children to have the rug pulled out from under you. I would talk to them and see if they could keep it on the other side of the street so you could still do your thing on yours. That way there would be parking for the parents too and it wouldn't interfere with your neighbors. Then they can sit in their yard and watch the children get scared.
Our neighbor next to us doesn't decorate at all for anything. He always has his lights off. Though I did hear that last year he gave out candy. Which surprised the hell out of me since in 17 years he didn't do anything. Everyone else around us turns their lights off around 8:30.
We are in the burbs on a corner of a busy street. If we are lucky we get maybe 12-15 children. It's a bummer after making props for 7 months but, I like it making them.
If you are in the middle of the block maybe you could put out votives along the sidewalk to your house and decorate the walkway to your house. Put a sign at the end of the block mentioning you are the only haunted house on the block and it's well worth the trip. Just a thought. Personally, I would still go ahead with you Halloween. It's only one night a year and you deserve it.
 
#10 ·
Surely not all the homes on the street want to see the road blocked? Have you canvassed round to find out? I like the idea of having signage up to let people know that your only closed to four wheeled traffic. The bi-pedal beasties and ghosties are still welcome to come in! :D That might be the way to go.

Talk to your neighbours about it. I'm sure a solution can be found to keep everyone happy.
 
#18 ·
That sounds more fair to me than just a few neighbors doing as they please, without worrying about the concerns anyone else has because they want something done a certain way; to me, they sound very inconsiderate, and almost tyrant-like. I'd talk to others on your block to see if they feel the same way as you do about leaving the street open for trick-or-treaters. I'm sure you're not alone:cool:
 
#15 ·
I live in a burb neighbor. Its ok......but the Mom's always have a group/party for something. If one of them told me about blocking the road I'll flat out say NO. Can't go to your Halloween party because I'll be busy pass out candy (to your KIDS). Are you going to the party if they block it??
 
#16 ·
In each state the laws are different,you may want to contact your citys managers office, usually the Process is Each request for a block party permit will be reviewed on a case by case basis. The
City Manager’s Office will send a completed application to various departments for their
approval (Fire, Police, Environmental Enforcement, Transportation, Neighborhood
Services and Risk Management). See if it's aloud to block off certain roads.
maybe you can ask them to hold a block party on a night where it doesn't interfer with kids on a night they look forward to.......now back to my coffee:D
 
#17 ·
I'd go to your neighbors and tell them that you think a block party is a great idea especially when it involves halloween but you'd be really disappointed if you couldn't hand out candy to the tots since that is your tradition and why you work so hard at it in the first place...But you still like their idea too....Then ask,since halloween is on Friday night and that's when tots will be out, ask them why not have the block party Sat night....You'd still love to participate but would absolutely appreciate if they could acommadate your wishes, that would really mean alot to you.....If they truly are good people, they would do the right thing.....ZR
 
#19 ·
It kind of sounds like they are ruining Halloween in general for kids if their reason to block the area off is so they, as adults, can freely move around and chat. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning for blocking the street unless you are having an actual party in the street - games, food, etc.
Otherwise, are they unable to use a sidewalk to get from one house to the next? I agree that if all they want to do is have a social gathering, why not do it the Saturday night before? We always have our party the Saturday night before so that on Halloween we are free to enjoy the kids that come to the house. I am feeling for you - I would be annoyed beyond belief.
Maybe I'm not really understanding what they want to do....
 
#21 ·
JMHO but Halloween is a stupid night to do a block party. Who knows what the weather will bring. Around here, a block party is done in the summer and the adults are drinking while the kids run around with water balloons and stuff. We BBQ and do fireworks, it's a summer thing!
 
#26 ·
I would talk to the neighbors first, and like someone else suggested, have the block party on Saturday, it actually could be started early with folks mostly not working Sat., and run late, then every one could enjoy your haunt, TOTers, and the adults at the block party. Other wise, either block it with the gov. agency involved, or worse case, put up a sign pointing to your haunt. Good luck, I sure hope it works out for you!!
 
#27 ·
I would tell them to forget it. Woulden't you have to get a permit to shut down the block anyway? Why go to all that trouble. You and your family have the rights to alow people to come to your haunt. Halloween is a public night. People shouldent be alowd to block things off like that. I would not get involved with this block party.
 
#29 ·
Hi Friends, I'm not meek by far...wish I could help ya ! ;)
Anyway, I would just talk to those wanting the block party to see if an agreement could be worked out, if not then I would talk to those that feel the same as you & make this a legal issue.
As one of the prior posters stated, they just can't do what they want when they want regarding public access....it's time to get the law involved & stick to your guns in the most peaceful manner possible.
If the block party crowd has any compassion they will work towards a resolve that will please the both of your interest. :)
 
#30 ·
if it is just for toting plead your case.
No offense, but I am thinking of blocking my street on either side of me. See, I run a haunted house not just for toting however I do have candy to pass out. It really is for the safety of others cuz cars come streaming by and we have kids/adults running from our house. I havent checked with the neibors on this yet. We pushed over 1,000 ppl last year. One neibor turned off the lights, they dont really go anywhere so I hope it is not a problem.
 
#31 ·
ask your neighbors if for the block party you can do a little haunted house. During october I have neighbors who host private halloween partys and ask me to set up a private haunted house in their basment or garages for their visitors. Sometimes I actually get payed real well =)
 
#32 ·
I really don't think they can close off the street without everyones approval. That said, can they wait until TOTing is over?

We live in a circle, and this year because Halloween is not on a school night, once TOT is over , we are planning on closing off the street and all the neighbors are coming over for a hot dog and s'more roast.
 
#33 ·
Wow! I am overwhelmed by all the responses to my problem. I've got a lot of good input, thank so much you guys. I'm so glad I've found this forum because I highly doubt I would have got as much input from my friends as I've gotten here. You guys are definitely my people. I think I will talk to the neighbors and tell them while I think it is a good idea, just not for Halloween night. I also have a problem with it being on Saturday, the next night. We're having our Halloween party that night and wouldn't really be able to participate in a block party unless people just want to come to our party. Which would be totally fine because we invite all the neighbors but none ever show up. Also, if they blocked off the block on that Saturday, a lot of our guests would have a hard time parking. Last year we got about 30-35 guests and are hoping for more this year. Maybe I will bring up our party and try to sell that as being our neighborhood party. But they might not like our party because it is more adult oriented i.e. lots of booze and some neighbors do not drink. It's really hard to be a good neighbor, geesh!!

There's about 11 houses on my block. Out of those, about 5 pass out candy for Halloween. 2 houses have kids. 2 are older gentleman who don't really associate with anyone. The others pretty much are quiet and don't talk very much to anyone else. So, it's the three neighbors who are always trying to get the block united. Which is nice, but it never works out the way they like. It's always just them and us at the parties for the neighborhood. So, I'm thinking if they really want a traditional block party, to block off the street, a majority of the neighbors will either say no or not respond at all. So, hopefully it will work out well. If it goes on, we'll just put signs out on the main cross street. I hope no one gets angry about that though.

Again, thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate all the input.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top