We normally get between 500 and 650. They start lining up around 5:30-5:45 and by the time 6:00 pm (official TOT starting time in our town) there are close to 50 people ready to go through the haunt. The line often stretches four houses down from us. We use the sidewalk as the que line. One of our helpers breaks them into groups of 4-7 people to go through, and holds the rest back. As soon as one group is out, the next one is ready to go. Candy is handed out at this point so that anyone not wanting to go through the haunt gets a treat regardless. We have clearly defined entrance and exits to the area. Traffic is an issue and there are lots of cars either dropping off or picking up kids or just rubber necking to see what we have going on but never had a mishap yet. We have no fewer than 5 adults working the entrance and que line so that helps too.
Halloween foot traffic?
Greetings everyone! 
My question to all you ghouls and witches out there is how do you deal with a large amount of foot traffic during Halloween?
History:
We live in a suburban area near Silicon Valley that gets thousands of trick or treaters. We've experienced our first Halloween in 2014. The Halloween spirit here has been alive and well for over 25 years and now is spreading throughout the neighborhood. They close down the street at 3pm and open back up at 9pm. Some of my neighbors that started the Halloween tradition on my street are older now and don't have the time energy. They have passed on their Halloween wisdom down to my GF and I. When we moved down here from San Francisco, the first thing the neighbors warned us was about Halloween. Fair is fair, I made a flying crank ghost, monster in a box, and blew up a couple of inflatables. Last year I made the rookie mistake of passing out candy by myself, wrong move! The foot traffic was SO bad that I literally did not get a chance to sit down! If it wasn't for my kind neighbor to cover for me, my bladder would have taken sweet revenge! So why make a big deal about the foot traffic for my first post, I can give you 3000-5000 reasons why!
Anywho, this year I have some help from family and friends. These are some suggestions that were made by some of my fellow haunters on my street. I will update this post accordingly. Thanks for your help!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsO-x42Mt9w
1.) Put tape putting tape arrows on the sidewalk indicating the flow of traffic.
2.) Rope off a portion of the sidewalk so as not to have people come from all directions.
3.) Have multiple people pass out candy?
4.) Have someone direct foot traffic with a flashlight?
5.) Cancel Halloween and don't pass out candy? Yeah right!
My question to all you ghouls and witches out there is how do you deal with a large amount of foot traffic during Halloween? History:
We live in a suburban area near Silicon Valley that gets thousands of trick or treaters. We've experienced our first Halloween in 2014. The Halloween spirit here has been alive and well for over 25 years and now is spreading throughout the neighborhood. They close down the street at 3pm and open back up at 9pm. Some of my neighbors that started the Halloween tradition on my street are older now and don't have the time energy. They have passed on their Halloween wisdom down to my GF and I. When we moved down here from San Francisco, the first thing the neighbors warned us was about Halloween. Fair is fair, I made a flying crank ghost, monster in a box, and blew up a couple of inflatables. Last year I made the rookie mistake of passing out candy by myself, wrong move! The foot traffic was SO bad that I literally did not get a chance to sit down! If it wasn't for my kind neighbor to cover for me, my bladder would have taken sweet revenge! So why make a big deal about the foot traffic for my first post, I can give you 3000-5000 reasons why!
Anywho, this year I have some help from family and friends. These are some suggestions that were made by some of my fellow haunters on my street. I will update this post accordingly. Thanks for your help!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsO-x42Mt9w
1.) Put tape putting tape arrows on the sidewalk indicating the flow of traffic.
2.) Rope off a portion of the sidewalk so as not to have people come from all directions.
3.) Have multiple people pass out candy?
4.) Have someone direct foot traffic with a flashlight?
5.) Cancel Halloween and don't pass out candy? Yeah right!
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Wow, this is awesome! It's great that you have a bunch of neighbors that really get into the spirit! I spot that Bone Chillers Atmosfearfx DVD! What is also nice is that your neighborhood can decorate way ahead of time, and I'm sure that you all are looking our for each other so there is no theft.
We have a neighborhood a few blocks away that decorates up for Christmas. Some neighbors go all out with carolers and treats/beverages, etc. They cannot block off the street due to logistics, so they are limited to what can be done in their yard and driveway. Traffic is a nightmare!
Are those neighborhood kids that do the Thriller dance? Maybe we'll see a video of you out there dancing this year?
Great videos.... thanks for sharing! Lots of ideas there!
What is also nice is that your neighborhood can decorate way ahead of time, and I'm sure that you all are looking our for each other so there is no theft.We have a neighborhood a few blocks away that decorates up for Christmas. Some neighbors go all out with carolers and treats/beverages, etc. They cannot block off the street due to logistics, so they are limited to what can be done in their yard and driveway. Traffic is a nightmare!
Are those neighborhood kids that do the Thriller dance? Maybe we'll see a video of you out there dancing this year?
Great videos.... thanks for sharing! Lots of ideas there!
I get about 550 kids and with adults probably close to 800 people coming through. I have my treat table set up right at my garage and have the kids walk up to me. I have 2 props holding "enter here" signs and I built 3 stanchions out of PVC pipe and plastic chain to funnel them up to the table. It's wide at the bottom of the driveway and narrows the closer it gets to the table. If they follow the "enter here" signs it flows pretty smooth and I don't get a mass of people around the table.
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