Thread: Pumpkins, Cardboard Robot, and an Impromptu Haunt

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What a Halloween Week. Thursday night we had a pumpkin carving party with family and friends. I spent most of my time this week working on a cardboard robot prop/character that we used at a local charity's Halloween Party on Friday night. We use the robot in a doorway and the kids and their parents fill out little slips of paper and slide them through a slot on the robot. Based on their age, gender, and interests, we give them books purchased with donated funds. Meanwhile, I'm puppeteering the robot and speaking through a voice changer to interact with the families. It was a great event and we gave many books to the kids, with some really getting excited about their books.

Then on Halloween itself, my friend put up a simple "we're not here, please take some candy and leave the rest for others" display on her front porch, with the light on. The display included several decorative items and a huge plastic Halloween bowl of candy, with a large bag of additional candy behind it. I picked her up and we went to my parents' house, where we were going to answer the door with my Dad to hand out candy. Well, when I got there, my Dad had set up a large airblown inflatable spider that my brother had lent him for the night, and we had our 5 jack-o-lanterns that we all carved at the family carving party Thursday night. I had brought a big duffel full of spooky stuff just in case, so we arranged the pumpkins around the front of the yard, set up the spider in one of the trees, and my friend put on her witch hat. I had some Party America skeleton hands and the hooded skull mask I got from Kmart when I was a kid (around 25 years ago) and set up a Michaels fogger I got for 20 bucks with a coupon. Oh, and I put up the fortune teller crystal ball I got from Ross. Anyway, we stayed in the yard all night (we ordered pizza and eventually my Mom came out to help) because we had more kids than I had ever seen, in any neighborhood. It was great. I'd say when I was a kid that 40 people would have been a good night, and the last couple years, I've heard it was like 20 maybe. There were over 100 easily last night. This was a very modest haunt by the standards of many of the fine productions that the members here put on, but kids were running from up and down the street when they saw all the fog and lights and stuff. When we gave the last stragglers their candy, we looked and their were 11 pieces left over. It was a great evening of fun with friends and family and the kids loved it. My frien and I went to an adult Hallwoeen party that had a kid's fun haunt out front, while we had drinks and eats in the house. Then we returned to my folks' house to watch the Paul Lynde and Fat Albert Halloween specials. When we at last got back to my friend's house, all of the decorations were in tact and still present. The candy was gone and the empty bag was neatly placed on the bale. I have no idea if one person took it all or if 110 came by and each got a few pieces, but all of the decor was just as we had left it.

Thanks to all HF members for their unflagging enthusiasm and creative generosity in helping all of us enjoy a great Halloween. Now, for some Fall fly fishing and camping before Thanksgiving rolls around! (oh, and Halloween merchandise bargain hunting today).

It is wonderful your night went so well congrats on your familys house getting 100 toters.

I think it is great that you donate your time and your talent to help children get books.

Especially, when it sounds as though you were already over booked for the Halloween season.