Thread: Halloween Better on East Coast?

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From my many years of lurking on various Halloween sites, and from my own personal experience, I get the distinct impression that Halloween is embraced much more in the Midwest and East Coast than here in stupid southern California. Every year I stalk the surrounding areas hoping to find just one of those "Halloween neighborhoods" that I see so many pictures of, to no avail.

I guess it doesn't help that I live in Orange county, which 90% of is under the control of the evil, life-sucking HOA's. God forbid you become a "distraction" to your neighborhood, which would surely detract from your neighbors' resale value. Barf. But I digress...

What do you think, is Boring Halloween pretty much a West Coast tragedy?

Not if we keep it alive. I have found that after a few years of decorating like crazy and giving out cool TOT candy/toys, my neighbors are getting in the game too.

Who cares about "better" or "worse"? Just do your part and have your own fun...people will follow.

Let me share my experience.

I grew up in Toledo, Ohio. Halloween was/is HUGE in the Midwest. Much of what inspires me to do my display comes from my years TOTing and later doing my own porch haunt when I was a high schooler/college student.

I then moved to New York. There seemed to be more parties, and less displays. Halloween was more sophicated, I guess.

Then I moved to Virginia. I was guaranteed to have the biggest diaplay there. The season came later and people seemed to decorate less.

On to Florida.....even less. The weather seems to play a big role in how people feel about the holiday.

My next location for 17 years was NC. I was always guaranteed to be the biggest display in town. Through the years my neighbors started to decorate more, but I think that was due to pressure from their kids. lol

Now I'm in Washington State. By far the least into Halloween of all my travels.

I think the weather plays a huge role in Halloween spirit, but I also think it is the traditions of the past that influence how people decorate and participate in the holiday.

I think it's hard to beat the Midwest in terms of involvement and inspiration. Then the Atlantic states come second.

Just my experience.

I have lived in Seattle and people decorated where I lived. It generally rains on Halloween though, it falls right at the beginning of the rainy season.

@Pumpkin Princess, I lived in N.C. too. And, now we are both in good ol' WA state.

Well, I have to say the ultimate place I've seen Halloween celebrated was in Asheville, NC believe it or not.

My husband was stationed out there, and I was less than enthused. We wandered Halloween night looking for places to tot but we were unable to find anything. Then, finally, we went up this hill and couldn't figure out why there was no parking.

The further along we drove, the more kids we saw and less parking.

This place was something from the movies. Every house was decorated on about a three block radius. There was a live Halloween band out in front of one house, scary movies playing on another house. Lines to every house while people waiting to see what spooks haunted the doorways. The streets were littered with children. It was like it was from a movie scene. My husband and I still talk about that neigborhood to this day. It was insane.

Wouldn't it be great if a group of haunters all lived on one block. It would be insane!!!

BadTableManor, here's something else to keep in mind: A LOT of people in SoCal are from other places. This is one area of the nation that is somewhat transient (that's a generalization, of course; there are certainly "old towns" and old families here in SoCal).

But in general terms, many people come here from other places due to the better weather, work opportunities, acting/media opportunities, etc. (That's a fact; not just making that one up. )

This means that in any given area, particularly the closer you get to a city (say, L.A.), you will see a fair sprinkling of "imports" (like me!), many of whom are wishing, just like you (and again...like me!) for experiences more like the ones we grew up with. This includes H'ween.

I truly feel that if you start the spark, and other people just like you think, "Oh wow...I can't believe it...some people here ARE really into H'ween," they'll begin decorating. I believe that's what's been happening on my street. If not, I don't know how else to explain it. When I first moved here five years ago, we got two or three TOTers (seriously) and practically nobody decorated until the evening of H'ween (we actually had people still setting up while we approached their doors to TOT).

By contrast, last year, more people decorated, and now this year, people are starting earlier. I was amazed to see people putting stuff up in SEPTEMBER. Seriously, I could not have envisioned such a thing five years ago.

When people move, they bring some of their traditions with them. This is true of any time, any place and any person/family. One great thing about America is that we really are a mix-and-match of cultures. This makes us perhaps more open to at least "trying" something new, particularly if that new thing is fun. For instance, five years ago I couldn't have imagined that Cinco de Mayo could be huge fun (or Dia de los Muertos, for that matter).

Bring your own traditions to your neighborhood, enjoy them, and see if anybody else wants to participate! You never know!

As for those citing the midwest and the northeast, yes, I know. H'ween IS a bigger deal there. I grew up in the northeast. Everything was harvest, harvest, harvest and H'ween, H'ween, H'ween. But please...sometimes, it hurts those of us who miss it, to hear, "Yes, you're right, things ARE so much better in X or Y place". Just sayin'. It's a very deep loss to many of us as there are deep emotional childhood ties. So if anybody else has suggestions for the OP, please state them!!! I would LOVE to hear more suggestions and also hear from people in SoCal who really dig H'ween, and/or neighborhoods (like Pasadena, as I understand things) that offer old-world H'ween charm. Just wanted to throw that in and am bookmarking this post to keep reading.

I've never, ever experienced Halloween anywhere else than here in good old northern Nevada.

We are a weird location being that...well, this is sagebrush country. However, we are also very close to the Sierras which, while primarily a dark, seldom-explored evergreen forest do have a decent smattering of deciduous groves which light up upon the mountainsides every autumn. Our close proximity to this vast wilderness and the massive alpine lake cradled therein also guarantee us seasonal weather.

This city is well-known for it's trees, despite our desert nature. The neighborhoods of my childhood were/are shadowed by ancient leafy trees -- cottonwoods, elms, maples, and willows primarily, the branches so expansive they curl over the asphalt and fill the charmingly worn sidewalks and gutters with piles of brightly coloured foliage, prime for kicking through and throwing at unsuspecting family members.
The wealthier sections near where I currently reside particularly feel the spirit. The houses of course are not your standard fare...many remind me of old English cottages. Every October 31st 90% of the residents decorate and attract hordes of children from all over town. The street lights are few and far between, and the sounds of laughing and the smell of spices and woodsmoke fill the chill air.

Heck, last year when TOTing died on my own street, we drove around and saw many a happy, flickering jack-o-lantern, silent ghosts and strings of lights in several of the yards of our neighbors around the block.

As I've posted before, the more rural communities south of us are positively insane for Halloween.

It is one of my dreams to experience H'ween on the east coast, but it is far from faded all the way out here in the boondocks. I do complain about an apparent lack of enthusiasm, sometimes...but all I have to do is look around, take a walk and remember.

Maybe living in the country has kept the holiday strong around these parts. A large section of the people living here still ranch and farm for a living, so the old traditions are a bit more bright.

let me guess better pizza & hot dogs too...
Different song, same old tune... get over it..
if east coast really was better you wouldnt all have to be shouting about it all the time..
& you all woulnt be leaving it in droves to come over here now would ya.. I cant wait till the next big earth quake to scare ya all back for a few years LOL..
.. but welcome & we can always use a new haunter.. & may I sudgest movig to an older neighbor hood ,, the decor does get better when you leave the HOA's, but ya might get your car stolen LOL

I really have nothing to compare. I've always celebrated Halloween here...southern folklore and haunted history of the lands have romanced me into enjoying every season whether my neighbors are engaged or not.