@kuoh I don’t know about that. The year I handed out flashing fidget spinners (2017) I gave all the kids a choice between candy or those. All but two chose the fidget spinners. Gave me lots of good candy left over
@Kidsandliz I’ve only offered them as bonus items, can’t bear forcing them to make Sophie’s choice on a supposedly fun night. However, if the candy prices keep skyrocketing and foot traffic actually returns to the classic norms, then the late arrivals may in fact end up facing that dilemma as I am not a very good tricker, unless you count 52 card pick up.
@kuoh The kids had huge full bags of candy as I was a block away from a victorian house that was on the ghostbusters TV show (I did a tour and saw how they rigged the “hauntings” it was hilarious. If anyone is interested I can post more about that.). That house always was outstanding on halloween so I had tons of kids hit me. They went from the city downtown square a block to that house and then continued down the street to mine. As a result I felt no guilt about making them choose. They had more than enough candy to rot every tooth in their mouth by the time they hit me.
@kuoh The year of the Meh fidget spinners, we told all the kids that to get candy they had to take a fidget spinner. Only a few were annoyed, most were still happy to get one and we had more kids come later asking about them.
@hchavers
When Meh sold those huge bags of partly melted candy corn we bought a bunch.
We were handing out fidget spinners but one year I also asked every kid if they liked candy corn. Those few who did received a massive bag. 3 lbs? I forget the size. I wish I had pics of those kids with HUGE eyes.
@yakkoTDI We’ve given out the bite size bits before, but we give them out in handfuls. I’ve been told the smaller sized candies are easier to sneak eat during class.
@blaineg@kuoh@Kyeh I imagine their popularity is largely the novelty of it… but has anybody confirmed that there are not any potatoes being thrown at other houses or kids in the area?
@kuoh@unksol Not me … we get so few trick-or-treaters here that I don’t bother. They all go to the neighborhood a few blocks south, where the fancy houses are!
@kuoh@Kyeh@unksol
That’s funny, kids going to where the fancy houses are. Kids aren’t too smart, they haven’t yet learned that you don’t get to live in a fancy house without being a little bit of a tight wad! At least that’s the way I was taught!
Thoughts from yours truly, Child of tight wads! Lol
@kuoh@unksol@Lynnerizer But this is a neighborhood that likes to show off how rich they are - they go all-out decorating for holidays, and probably compete to be “THE house” to go to on Halloween!
@unksol If you live far enough South, those may be magnolia leaves; useful as shingles, but neither absorbent nor textured enough to be a good wiping medium.
We give out candy AND gather all the swag from work and conferences, as well as cheap birthday favors and every kid gets candy and a pick from the treasure box.
I think I’ve mentioned it before but the biggest hit I ever had was string cheese. As soon as I presented the offering the kids always cheered. They love the stuff and parents were also grateful. I had some fruit gummies and quality candy for the few that weren’t fans of cheese. I didn’t know how it would go over but the risk was low because I also love cheese and could throw it in my lunch until it was gone. I may do it again this year.
Take the worry and guesswork for parents about whether their kids candy may be tainted with something dangerous, give out airplane size bottles of booze.
@xobzoo
We live in suburbs with hundreds of homes, many large families (Mormon area, lots of kids), and big apartments (hundreds of units) across the street. Over 600 kids in a night wasn’t unheard of, but usually not much more than 500. Even through Covid I think our lowest year was still around 350.
We ran out of candy one year so allowed kids to pick from an assortment of Little Debbie snacks we kept on hand for school lunches. Never seen kids so happy to score a Nutty Buddy or Zebra Cake!
Last year we had a bunch of the halloween-themed 3-card pokemon card packs. Huge hit with the kiddos. Word quickly spread down the street, and had more than a few sad faces on kids that showed up after we ran out
We have a commercial style popcorn machine and give that out if kids want it; $0.50 expired spicy ramen cups would be a great one if still available
But ultimately, years with fidget spinners and stroopwafels were amazeballs
As mentioned on another thread several of us gave out fidget spinners (the year was 2017). Screams on the street that my house had fidget spinners we were giving out. I had given the kids a choice between a fidget spinner and candy. All but two wanted the fidget spinners. I had only bought candy I liked so that was a good trade.
@Kidsandliz The demand for treats at Halloween has not even begun to recover to prior levels here. Not that we ever had all that much of it, but last year was the first time since the plague started that we actually saw anybody out on our street, and it was just one small group. I would actually prefer to have something that isn’t candy and would be well received. I suspect there’s still plenty of interest in fidget spinners with the kids, but I have no in-house Intel about that anymore.
@Kidsandliz
I did the same thing: the choice of fidget spinners or candy. Only one ever chose candy, and he came back a few minutes later and asked if he could trade back for a spinner.
Since then I’ve only ever given out spinners.
Has it really been since 2017? Time flies.
I finally ran out though. After giving out hundreds every year, I finally ran out. Only a dozen or so remain now.
Glowsticks have always been popular in my area. The kids love them because they’re cool, and the parents love them because they make kids more visible on the dark streets on Halloween.
Also, in my friend’s neighborhood nearby there’s a house that puts a cotton candy machine out on their porch every Halloween and gives out cotton candy. Needless to say, a very popular house. The owners sold it recently, and rumor has it that they stipulated the new owner would have to keep up the cotton candy tradition.
Remember when you could buy the packages of coupons from McDonald’s for just a couple bucks and they would get like apple pies or cheeseburgers from them
Onions-I keep them at the door, when they say “trick or treat!” I start to put an onion in their bag…They back away. I exclaim, "But you said TRICK or treat, I picked trick!!! And I then cackle like the witch I am LOl Lol
Every time Meh has sold fidget spinners I’ve bought the maximum allowable amount. I’ve given them out for Halloween every year since… I don’t know, 4 years? When did Meh start selling them?
I’ve given out cases and cases of them. I average around 500 spinners given out each year, up until I finally ran out after last year’s Halloween.
Kids LOVED them. It was common to hear kids yelling to each other as they approached the house, things like “oooooh, this is the fidget spinner house! Let’s see if he has any more of them!” Sometime they’d loudly talk to each other about what color they were going to choose this year.
They might be disappointed this year though; I’m too broke to buy any and even if I could max out at buying a full 120 of these keychain fidget toys, they’d only last the first hour of trick-or-treat before they were all gone.
@Thumperchick I’m sending my son to your house. He collects rubber ducks (probably has over 150 unique ones). He’s too old for trick or treating now… but he’ll do it for ducks.
There can be bonus items, but there are no good alternatives for Candy. To a kid, that’s like asking for alternatives to oxygen.
KuoH
@kuoh I don’t know about that. The year I handed out flashing fidget spinners (2017) I gave all the kids a choice between candy or those. All but two chose the fidget spinners. Gave me lots of good candy left over
@Kidsandliz I’ve only offered them as bonus items, can’t bear forcing them to make Sophie’s choice on a supposedly fun night. However, if the candy prices keep skyrocketing and foot traffic actually returns to the classic norms, then the late arrivals may in fact end up facing that dilemma as I am not a very good tricker, unless you count 52 card pick up.
KuoH
@kuoh The kids had huge full bags of candy as I was a block away from a victorian house that was on the ghostbusters TV show (I did a tour and saw how they rigged the “hauntings” it was hilarious. If anyone is interested I can post more about that.). That house always was outstanding on halloween so I had tons of kids hit me. They went from the city downtown square a block to that house and then continued down the street to mine. As a result I felt no guilt about making them choose. They had more than enough candy to rot every tooth in their mouth by the time they hit me.
@kuoh The year of the Meh fidget spinners, we told all the kids that to get candy they had to take a fidget spinner. Only a few were annoyed, most were still happy to get one and we had more kids come later asking about them.
None.
There are no alternatives for Halloween candy and y’all should feel bad for even imagining it.
Blocks of candy corn, courtesy of Meh.
@hchavers
When Meh sold those huge bags of partly melted candy corn we bought a bunch.
We were handing out fidget spinners but one year I also asked every kid if they liked candy corn. Those few who did received a massive bag. 3 lbs? I forget the size. I wish I had pics of those kids with HUGE eyes.
Full size candy bars!!! None of those ridiculous fun size or bite size abominations!!
/giphy abomination
@yakkoTDI We’ve given out the bite size bits before, but we give them out in handfuls. I’ve been told the smaller sized candies are easier to sneak eat during class.
Be a good bad influence when you can.
@yakkoTDI We buy the assortment bags from Costco. They are not the little bite size ones. We do give out a handful to each kid though.
Potatoes
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025005866/en/‘Trick-or-Potato!’-Turns-Out-Kids-Love-a-Spud-with-Their-Halloween-Candy
@Kyeh Hmmmm…
@blaineg @Kyeh That’s the big potato conglomerate conspiracy for ya!
KuoH
@blaineg @kuoh @Kyeh I imagine their popularity is largely the novelty of it… but has anybody confirmed that there are not any potatoes being thrown at other houses or kids in the area?
@Kyeh I like a slice of raw potato… just probably not when I’m expecting candy. But kids are weird
@Kyeh @unksol What’s next, you’ll be serving us a tray of candied raw potato on a stick?
KuoH
@kuoh @unksol
Not me … we get so few trick-or-treaters here that I don’t bother. They all go to the neighborhood a few blocks south, where the fancy houses are!
@kuoh @Kyeh @unksol
That’s funny, kids going to where the fancy houses are. Kids aren’t too smart, they haven’t yet learned that you don’t get to live in a fancy house without being a little bit of a tight wad! At least that’s the way I was taught!
Thoughts from yours truly, Child of tight wads! Lol
@kuoh @Kyeh @unksol Mmm, candy apple red.
@blaineg @kuoh @unksol
Oh, that’s gorgeous.
@kuoh @unksol @Lynnerizer But this is a neighborhood that likes to show off how rich they are - they go all-out decorating for holidays, and probably compete to be “THE house” to go to on Halloween!
@kuoh @Kyeh @Lynnerizer
/youtube Bob’s burgers louise full bars
Apples obviously. Then you will be rewarded with all the eggs/tp you need for the year
@unksol Getting the leaves out of the rerolled bog paper may be a challenge.
@unksol @werehatrack Extra fiber for exfoliation!
@werehatrack leaves are just bonus sheets though?
@unksol
@unksol If you live far enough South, those may be magnolia leaves; useful as shingles, but neither absorbent nor textured enough to be a good wiping medium.
Those cherry flavored chewy wax candy; Lips, fangs, whistle & the ultimate harmonica
We give out candy AND gather all the swag from work and conferences, as well as cheap birthday favors and every kid gets candy and a pick from the treasure box.
I think I’ve mentioned it before but the biggest hit I ever had was string cheese. As soon as I presented the offering the kids always cheered. They love the stuff and parents were also grateful. I had some fruit gummies and quality candy for the few that weren’t fans of cheese. I didn’t know how it would go over but the risk was low because I also love cheese and could throw it in my lunch until it was gone. I may do it again this year.
Take the worry and guesswork for parents about whether their kids candy may be tainted with something dangerous, give out airplane size bottles of booze.
@growyoungagain
My 12 year old alcoholic self would have LOVED coming to your house! Trick or Treat!
(Sober now 34 years)
One year we slightly mis-judged the candy need, and ended the night giving out packets of instant apple cider.
It was well-received.
@xobzoo
We live in suburbs with hundreds of homes, many large families (Mormon area, lots of kids), and big apartments (hundreds of units) across the street. Over 600 kids in a night wasn’t unheard of, but usually not much more than 500. Even through Covid I think our lowest year was still around 350.
Pencil toppers.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:518331
individually wrapped Stroopwafels,
if only there were some place that sells them in large quantities,
@pmarin
We ran out of candy one year so allowed kids to pick from an assortment of Little Debbie snacks we kept on hand for school lunches. Never seen kids so happy to score a Nutty Buddy or Zebra Cake!
Last year we had a bunch of the halloween-themed 3-card pokemon card packs. Huge hit with the kiddos. Word quickly spread down the street, and had more than a few sad faces on kids that showed up after we ran out
We have a commercial style popcorn machine and give that out if kids want it; $0.50 expired spicy ramen cups would be a great one if still available
But ultimately, years with fidget spinners and stroopwafels were amazeballs
As mentioned on another thread several of us gave out fidget spinners (the year was 2017). Screams on the street that my house had fidget spinners we were giving out. I had given the kids a choice between a fidget spinner and candy. All but two wanted the fidget spinners. I had only bought candy I liked so that was a good trade.
@Kidsandliz The demand for treats at Halloween has not even begun to recover to prior levels here. Not that we ever had all that much of it, but last year was the first time since the plague started that we actually saw anybody out on our street, and it was just one small group. I would actually prefer to have something that isn’t candy and would be well received. I suspect there’s still plenty of interest in fidget spinners with the kids, but I have no in-house Intel about that anymore.
@Kidsandliz
I did the same thing: the choice of fidget spinners or candy. Only one ever chose candy, and he came back a few minutes later and asked if he could trade back for a spinner.
Since then I’ve only ever given out spinners.
Has it really been since 2017? Time flies.
I finally ran out though. After giving out hundreds every year, I finally ran out. Only a dozen or so remain now.
Glowsticks have always been popular in my area. The kids love them because they’re cool, and the parents love them because they make kids more visible on the dark streets on Halloween.
Also, in my friend’s neighborhood nearby there’s a house that puts a cotton candy machine out on their porch every Halloween and gives out cotton candy. Needless to say, a very popular house. The owners sold it recently, and rumor has it that they stipulated the new owner would have to keep up the cotton candy tradition.
@mamajoan I guess you will find out about the cotton candy tradition soon then.
@mamajoan
What’s the address, I LOVE COTTON CANDY!
Ketchup packets
@ebatch Add in some Taco Bell sauce packets for variety.
@ebatch @yakkoTDI
I have a lot of soy sauce packets, and a few Sriracha.
@ebatch @Kyeh @yakkoTDI Well then maybe the little green wasabi packets you get with store-bought sushi? That’ll get the kiddies fired-up.
Pennies, Nickels, Dimes & Quarters. What kid wouldn’t want some FREE spending money??
/image spare change
Remember when you could buy the packages of coupons from McDonald’s for just a couple bucks and they would get like apple pies or cheeseburgers from them
@Cerridwyn Wendys has Boo Books for a $1.00. You get FIVE frostys and then there is a coupon for a kids meal for $1.99
I went Sat and bought a bunch of them
Onions-I keep them at the door, when they say “trick or treat!” I start to put an onion in their bag…They back away. I exclaim, "But you said TRICK or treat, I picked trick!!! And I then cackle like the witch I am LOl Lol
@cannedpoo I like that!
@cannedpoo And with a username like yours, you could be trying a lot worse trick.
@cannedpoo @xobzoo
That’s the truth! I hadn’t really noticed the username until after reading the comment. Lol
Am I supposed to know what a mystery key is? Are you going to make me use Google?
@Fuzzalini It starts the Mystery Machine.
KuoH
I got 30 air pods in the last Foku or whatever it’s called these days. I’m giving them out with Full Size Bars…
King of the neighborhood
Last year I got the superhero socks here, gave kids choice of a pair of socks or candy. Most picked the socks…until I ran out.
We don’t get many trick or treaters. Those who show up are going to help me get through my shelves of meh buldak
Toys are better alternatives. Kids would love it so much
Every time Meh has sold fidget spinners I’ve bought the maximum allowable amount. I’ve given them out for Halloween every year since… I don’t know, 4 years? When did Meh start selling them?
I’ve given out cases and cases of them. I average around 500 spinners given out each year, up until I finally ran out after last year’s Halloween.
Kids LOVED them. It was common to hear kids yelling to each other as they approached the house, things like “oooooh, this is the fidget spinner house! Let’s see if he has any more of them!” Sometime they’d loudly talk to each other about what color they were going to choose this year.
They might be disappointed this year though; I’m too broke to buy any and even if I could max out at buying a full 120 of these keychain fidget toys, they’d only last the first hour of trick-or-treat before they were all gone.
@mbimeh We have never seen more than a total of twenty in a single year, and I have been here for 33.
Ecstasy
@OnionSoup my favorite fb meme this week says:
We’re giving out glow in the dark rubber duckies this year.
@Thumperchick I’m sending my son to your house. He collects rubber ducks (probably has over 150 unique ones). He’s too old for trick or treating now… but he’ll do it for ducks.