We saw a huge increase in the trick-or-treat count this year compared to the previous years we’ve tracked.

Usually in the 7:00 - 7:30 pm time block we see a decrease in trick-or-treaters showing up; this year we saw a huge increase. We again ran from about 6:00p to 8:30p and that seemed to encompass the majority of visitors. There may have been some folks we missed pre-6:00p, but we had quite a lull after about 8:20p so shut it down at 8:30p.

• Lots more little kids this year compared to last year, where we saw average age increase.
• Halloween was on a Friday this year and I think that contributed to the increase in visitors. More parents willing to take their kids out for longer if they don’t have to get up early the next day.
• We got the animated Halloween projector running and showing a “Happy Halloween” message on the garage, which I think contributed to the number of visitors. A more festive atmosphere increases interest.
• This is the second year for the new daylight saving time change due to the energy bill that passed, but I don’t think it affected the trick-or-treat count.

Around the 7:00p time we ran dreadfully low on candy. With about 15 pieces left, Jenn hopped in the car and headed to the store, at which point a tidal wave of kids showed up and drained me of the last of the candy. I raided the cupboards and subsequent visitors drained me of all of my Indiana Jones fruit snacks and small packets of Swedish Fish that I nabbed from the candy jar at work. By the time Jenn got back (only 15 minutes later) I was into handing out my stash of chewy ginger candy, which is pretty spicy stuff that I’m sure caused some surprised faces on a few youngsters. (Sorry, kids, it’s all I had!)

I had a few favorite costumes that came by, but the three most memorable:

• A kid of unknown age had a huge homemade fabric garbage can costume. A great costume by any count, but I had to ask where to put the candy since there were no arms, bags, or other receptacles. The garbage can rotated 90 degrees and a little flap opened with a hand poking out - “Put it in my hand.”
• A middle-school aged kid was a Lego brick made of cardboard and paper. Really accurate - six Lego studs hanging out of the front, the whole thing to scale… but no arm holes, so his dad was carrying his candy bag.
• A high school kid with a banana costume, a backpack, and a plastic knife. Normally I don’t like handing candy out to older kids, but when a banana shows up and yells, “I’m a banana! Put the candy in the bag!” I was dying laughing. You win - here’s your candy.

A banner year for trick-or-treaters this year. Next year I’m considering doing more than just the projector on the garage. I think Halloween falls on a Saturday next year, so I anticipate even more trick-or-treaters.