South Milwaukee has set its trick-or-treat times for 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30.
This is traditionally when the city has had it — the Sunday afternoon before Halloween. I wish it was different.
I voted no on this issue at Tuesday’s City Council meeting because I think trick-or-treating should be on Halloween evening, like many other communities across the area and state.
Check out a running list from Haunted Wisconsin here.
I was surprised to see how many communities will hold trick or treating in the late afternoon or early evening of Halloween this year. Locally, they include Hartland, Germantown, Brookfield, Cedarburg and Waukesha.
Other larger cities in the state holding Halloween trick-or-treating include Madison and Appleton.
I think we should join them and start a new tradition of celebrating Halloween on, well, Halloween — every year. To me, 4 to 6 p.m. seems reasonable, as this would mean that younger kids (including my own) could trick-or-treat in daylight hours while others, if they choose, could do it at night.
What do you think? Should South Milwaukee hold trick-or-treating on Halloween no matter the day of the week? Post your comments below!
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When I grew up in suburban Buffalo, NY, the local government didn’t dictate the date and time of trick-or-treating. We would go out on the evening of October 31 and come home when people ran out of candy. I’m not sure how it’s run now, but I think it is ridiculous to have a government mandated trick-or-treating time.
What would happen if a kid in South Milwaukee went trick-or-treating on October 31? Would he/she be fined?
Joe – It is extremely doubtful that a little kid would be fined or even spoken to. I am assuming, of course, that he/she would just be going to his/her friends’ house or personal friends of the parents, as opposed to trying to get the most candy possible by hitting up everybody in the neighborhood. Even in that case, when he/she is annoying people who haven’t planned for it, I would assume the most that would happen is that he/she would be informed of the ordinance (I believe) against going door to door after dark.
Erik – Two thoughts on your suggestion of 4-6 during the weekday. 1) People with little kids need to accompany them. It is rather unusual that both parents will be home from work by 4 (or earlier to prepare). Who is answering the door at their house? 2) Growing up, we used to eat at 5 – as a family. Heck, I still eat around that time (maybe a little later). Not sure I appreciate family dinner being interrupted with doorbells. One of my elderly neighbors has not had that good of experience with the kids appreciating that the porch light being off means “don’t come”.
SM Guy, I agree with Erik that thinking 5-8 would be a good time. As a single parent that works from 9-5 those hours (of 4-6) would not allow me the time to trick or treat with my children. I think the idea of Halloween being the designated trick or treating day is spectacular. I take my children to Menonmonee Falls every year just so we can trick or treat at night. It’s so much more fun and entertaining for the children to see all of these marvelous decorations lit up at night.
SM Guy: Good points. But with this being a one-day thing, I am OK with the potential dinner interruption or even asking to leave work a bit early to take the kids into the neighborhood. How about 5 to 8 p.m. or 6 to 8? That might help ease some of the concerns. I guess my point is that other communities across the state make this work — and I think we would adapt to it as well. It would make the day more special. Reinforcing the “no lights, no knock” policy would be important.
I’m also wondering if South Milwaukee did it this way once upon a time, and if the Lisa French Halloween murder case in 1973 scared us into changing the day and time. (I know it did so for other communities.) Does anyone know this for sure? If so, post below.
So, I’m going to date myself here, but I can tell you for sure that SM had daytime trick-or-treat well before 1973,
For the past several years, the subdivision east of Blakewood School has held trick-or-treating on the closest Saturday evening to Halloween. It has been extremely successful with overwhelming participation by homeowners with many homes being decorated and a party-like atmosphere. The area does not participate in the city trick-or-treating time on Sunday afternoon.
Has anyone even thought about the fact that today’s world is a much different world than 30, or even 20 years ago? I know I’m dating myself, but I don’t care. When I was a kid, we were able to trick or treat well into the evening hours. It was fun, dark and scary. However it’s a much different time now than it was then. A much more dangerous time. Yes, many parents go with their children, but I’d bet there would be just as many parents that would not go with their kids to not only supervise their safety, but the safety of everyone else, other people’s homes, etc… In my mind, it would be a green light for more tricks than treats. If there has to be a trick or treat, I believe it should stay just where it’s been for the past???? years. If it was up to me, trick or treat would be banned altogether.
Judy – YES!!!
I am completely opposed to trick or treating on weekdays. I work all day and then when I do get home from work I follow a strict schedule of making dinner, doing homework with my child and then making sure my child is bathed and gets to bed. I don’t have time for myself much less trick or treating. It should be on a weekend.
A closed subdivision on a Sunday night works fine. The way South Milwaukee is laid out I don’t think so.
1950 yeah, but not today based only on the number of people driving on the roads with all those kids walking around at night. You can’t shut down whole parts of South Milwaukee or you could at a price, but you don’t need to in the afternoon.
I took my kids to my aunt’s house 45 minutes out of town last night. Worked great there. South Milwaukee isn’t a rural town anymore.
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