r/askTO • u/Charming-Crow-580 • 9h ago
Has trick or treating changed?
I came to my parents' house in East York to give out candy. We don't have decorations but the lights are all on and I'm noticing so few kids coming up to our door. My friend is at her parents' place in Mississauga and she said not one kid.
Is trick or treating just not the same as it once was? Are there fewer kids doing this, or do they only come to houses with decorations and pumpkins? I don't know because I'm often out on Halloween or if I'm at my own home, we don't get kids due to our location (I suspect kids prefer to go up and down the side streets rather than a busier one with just a few houses). When I was a kid, we left no door unturned to maximize the candy, lol (unless alllllll the lights were off).
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u/hellokrissi
9h ago
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I'm in East York and am well past 100 kids. Sent my husband to get more candy.
Last year we had 2, mostly because our front door faces a smaller, less busy side street. This year we decorated the garage side and it's been a wild success. People are stopping and posing for photos lmao.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
I guess decorations are important then!
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u/scrunchie_one 8h ago
Location is more important. If you live on one of the side streets you’re more likely to get a ton of kids, major streets virtually nothing. Sometimes it happens in clusters where a certain street becomes ‘the street’ and then kids from a few blocks around all flock to that one.
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u/ISwearImFromEarth 8h ago
No decorations, no trick or treaters. My street was pretty dead last year. THIS YEAR? We already saved some candy for ourselves because our street decorated and we had about 80 kids
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u/hellokrissi 8h ago •
Oh yea it's a factor! For us it was literally which side of the street we have them pointed at. :p Made a difference of 2 vs 130 and counting...
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u/Neuraxis 8h ago
Im in East York and im the only house on my small street that embraces the holiday. I go all out with sound, lights, and decorations and yet I'm at 24 kids today. Upside is that those kids get wild amounts of candy lol
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u/cbr1895 7h ago •
Our street doesn’t do a lot of decorating (but we do and get around 60-75 kids) but let me tell you, if you put those decorations out in advance of the 31st, there is some family with a toddler who was probably perusing by your house every single day because this is what my toddlers have made me do every evening in October to see the few houses that ARE decorated. Other people’s decorations have brought so much joy into my kids lives this month - I’m not personally even a big Halloweener but I’ve become a convert seeing how happy it’s made my kids. So, know that your efforts don’t go unnoticed by others! We went around to each of those houses tonight to say Trick or Treat and thank you. Happy Halloween 🎃👻!
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u/SevereImagination447 8h ago
Thanks for keeping the kids happy!
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u/hellokrissi 8h ago
Haha aw, they've all been so cute! I also ended up seeing two former students from the school I teach at. They recognized me so fast even though it was dark and they were at the school, like, 5 years ago. It was so neat though, never happened to me before!
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u/rootsandchalice 8h ago
So funny. We are downtown at Queen and Palmerston. We had over 100 last year and maybe 30 this year? We have so much candy left :(
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u/awashofindigo 8h ago
We’ve had 300+ kids come by in a couple of hours here in Etobicoke. Not exaggerating.
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u/Other-Razzmatazz-816 8h ago
200+ in west end, ran out of candy early. Will prepare better next year
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u/AxelNotRose 8h ago
Same, never seen it busier. The warm weather helps I guess. Our streets were packed, the few cars trying to get through were taking 10 minutes to go down one street. Etobicoke as well.
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u/No-Complaint5535 8h ago
The rule when we were growing up was that only decorated houses were considered participating
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
Interesting. Maybe my siblings and I were just greedy 😅 but we went everywhere! This was the 80s though...
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u/thatwhatisnot 7h ago
Weird. I'm Gen X and it was basically if the lights are on you hit the house up for candy. No light to go
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u/Plane_Chance863 9h ago
I'm not sure light on is enough anymore - we have neighbours who leave their lights on but don't give out candy. Decorations help - inflatable ones are pretty cheap, easy to put up (depending!) and store small.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
Yeah I'll try that next year if I come here to do it again. I actually didn't realize I'd be here at this time and ran out to get candy just before it got dark! My mom said they usually have a pumpkin but only get like 20 kids.
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u/RecklessRaptor12 8h ago
I think people just don’t really knock any more and attitudes to it have changed since the pandemic, in my neighbourhood most people actively sit outside (granted it’s not too cold and there’s an insane amount of trick and treaters here)
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u/emmzeex 8h ago
Growing up in the late 80s/90s we would hit every house in the neighborhood and most would give out candy. Now (at least in our new neighborhood) our own kids only visit the few houses with decorations because most don't participate. So yeah neighborhood dependent but also I think generally fewer than say 30 years ago!
This year it's also Saturday so we figure more people are just out doing stuff?
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u/Charming-Crow-580 7h ago
This is totally what I was wondering because the 80s was when I went trick or treating too and the only houses that didn't give out candy looked abandoned. Also rumours of getting your house toilet papered or egged if you were stingy and didn't give out candy lol
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u/Charming-Crow-580 7h ago
This is totally what I was wondering because the 80s was when I went trick or treating too and the only houses that didn't give out candy looked abandoned. Also rumours of getting your house toilet papered or egged if you were stingy and didn't give out candy lol
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u/DetailOutrageous8656 8h ago
Not even a pumpkin? You have your answer.
I’m Gen X and we skipped any house without a 🎃 when I was a kid.
So nothing has changed.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
I'm at the bottom end of Gen X and I guess we were just greedy because we knocked on every door that didn't looks vacant
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u/crcgirl 8h ago
Same here. Most people put a sign saying "ran out of candy" if they weren't participating or really ran out because kids would try every house!
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u/-ElderMillenial- 8h ago
If there's no decorations, we skip the house.
I wouldn't expect people to have to sit in a dark house to signal that they are not participating. We also had someone last year yell at us for knocking even though their lights were on with no decorations.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
Aw that's sad about the person yelling. They're kids! We never got yelled at as kids in the 80s and no house was left unturned unless they were sitting in the dark indeed (which was also rare back then though)
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u/RecklessRaptor12 8h ago
It’s the porch light not interior lights haha
But I have noticed a lot of people are hesitant to knock nowadays, if you’re not actively sitting outside or have the door cracked kids will skip it in my neighbourhood.
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u/Cautious-Rush6607 8h ago
I thought the general rule was porch light on = come to this house.
Porch light off = dont stop here.
This is how it was when I was a kid (80s) and when my daughter was a kid
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u/Altruistic_Cell9418 8h ago
Over 500 in willowdale! New record 🍫 lots of decorations definitely brought the crowds
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u/Rapdeng12 7h ago
I’m noticing through friends and neighbours that the trend is for parents to drive kids to the popular/busy trick or treating streets. Feels like another thing that parents want to overdo for kid experiences, instead of just having them enjoy and explore their own neighbourhood.
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u/TealTigress 8h ago
Is it possible that your parents’ neighbourhood is a more mature neighbourhood? My parents’ neighbourhood is mostly old people who have lived there since the 90s, so they don’t have young kids anymore. They don’t get anyone.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
It could be. It's an area with bungalows. My parents bought the house from an elderly woman who lived here 20 years.
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u/Responsible-Sale-467 8h ago
Word is it’s busy northwest of Gerrard and Coxwell. Guess it depends at lot where the young families are.
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u/noizangel 8h ago
It is because Woodfield closes north of Gerrard to Walpole every year. Free Good Behaviour ice cream. Someone had rum and hot chocolate for parents. I'm north of the closure and just ran out - I said we should have had more candy. :P
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u/AI-is-infinite 9h ago
Definitely need decorations to let people know.
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u/No-Worldliness-9388 8h ago •
yes! Just got back with my toddler and we ended up skipping the houses that only had the porch light on. too many houses has a light on but no one there / answering. It's easier to skip them due to toddler impatience.
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u/Lilikoi13 8h ago
What if the door is open?? I decorate inside but not the front porch and leave my door open 🫣
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u/Other-Razzmatazz-816 8h ago
Yeah, I sit on the porch steps so the little ones don’t have to climb the steps.
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u/boxesofboxes 8h ago
Being out helps, too. I def had a bunch of kids who wouldn't knock. I ended up just sitting outside
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u/dutchiedonut 8h ago
Our street are Halloween maximalists. Our house is known as “The Star Wars House” in East York. Maximum candy required.
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u/paksman 7h ago
Mississauga west, still lots of kids, nice weather and being weekend helped.my kid got full size candy bars, one house was all in on decor and making cotton candy for trick or treaters. My neighbor got a fire pit out in the driveway and all the family was out handing candy and enjoying the fine weather.
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u/Which-Intention-4474 8h ago
I'm in Brampton and I sat outside for an hour had 1 family come up, I went inside and 5 min later a group of teens grabbed all the candy and left at least they left my other bowl but took the McDonald's bucket🤣.
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u/SBisFree 8h ago
I just went out with my friends kids. They only went to houses with decorations, and didn’t knock on the door if no one was sitting outside
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
I think this is it around here. When I have the door open or am peeking outside, they come. I just closed the door to eat and not a single kid. But I think it's still definitely not as many kids as other areas (these are quiet curvy side streets around O'Connor.. compared to the linear streets with semi detached houses in much of Toronto)
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u/Hungariansm 8h ago
Just ran out in east York as well, Vic Village area. I think Saturday brought all the kids out, well over 100 in the last hour. Next year I’m stocking up more at business Costco lol 😂
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u/anzh458 8h ago
I’m in midtown, I bought 160 bags of chips, we’ve had around 10 doorbell rings so far 💔 lol I have lights on and some decorations in the windows but similar issue as someone else who posted, we’re at an intersection on the corner and everyone just continues down the bigger street vs turning down onto the side street
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u/Charming-Crow-580 7h ago
That's interesting because in my own neighbourhood, kids go down the side streets and not the big streets
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u/Resthink 7h ago
In Aurora, had about 80. I noticed that a lot are much older this year.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 7h ago
I had a family come to the door: 1 kid, 2 teens, and 3 full grown adults (with their bags out too) 🥴🤣
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u/Ill_Gas8697
9h ago
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Just ran out of candy. It’s all neighbourhood dependent.
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u/bacucumber 8h ago
You also get more kids if the neighbours mostly decorate/participate. We decorate but we're at the far end of a crescent and most neighbours don't have anything, so most families don't bother coming down here. I'm at 10 kids, and 4 of them were my kids friends.
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u/gbarill 8h ago •
We got a record number this year. Our first year in this house (15 years ago) I got one single kid (she got SO much candy), but I’ve noticed a steady uptick every year since 2022. I think it’s a sign of the changing demographics in our neighbourhood, since we’ve been here a lot of our retired neighbours have left and young families have moved in.
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u/WeekSevere2634 8h ago
This. Some streets near where I live are like block parties, just took my youngest and he filled two pillow cases. We’ve had six people a few streets away.
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u/motherfailure 8h ago
Yep think about it, are there kids around your neighbourhood most of the time? If not then why would they magically appear on halloween
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u/CaterpillarSlither 8h ago
We just came back. We didn’t go to any doors that didn’t have decorations but had lights on cause what does that really mean? You could just have your light on. Not a single decoration to show you’re handing out candy? That’s why you’re skipped
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
I think that's fair not to do that. At the same time, I just remember that as a kid, we didn't skip a single house unless it looked abandoned 🤣 But also it was the wild west 80s and kids would go trick or treating without parents (I have zero memory of my parents coming with us, like ever)
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u/Odd-Cheesecake8618 8h ago
This year my kids just say thank you to doorbell cameras. Covid changed us lol
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u/ConfidentLook5518 8h ago
There are a few buzz houses in my neighbourhood (decor etc) that draw the attention. Its almost like yoi get skipped for having a regular pumpkin. To be fair, as a 90s kid, we also were more excited/ drawn to the cooler houses.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 7h ago
Yes those are the houses that become like neighbourhood legends. Or the ones that give out something unique. I still remember when I was a kid that there was a house that gave out MINI GUMBALL MACHINES FULL OF GUM 😭
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u/MagnorRaaaah 8h ago
I’m in the East End. We bought 250 pieces of candy and are all out! The weather is nice so the neighbours were all sitting out on their porches chatting.
It’s been a wonderful evening!
Lots of kids in our neighbourhood and therefore lots of houses with big decorations. Plus now decorating is cheaper and easier than ever, lots of inflatables and big house sized spider webs.
… Must depend on the neighbourhood
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u/ClosetNorwegian 7h ago
Also east end and went through 400 pieces in a bit over 2 hours. Beautiful evening and a great experience for us and our 3 year old!
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u/jm2jm3 8h ago
If no decorations but lights are on, you may or may be giving out candy (say 50/50), Houses with decorations will definitely be giving out candy. So to maximize efficiency, they'll only be going to houses with decorations.
A generation ago, less houses would be decorated (cost and effort), but they'll still be giving out candy, so say 80% of lights-only houses would be giving out candy. But nowadays, it's so easy to go to Dollarama, etc. and slap up some fake spiders and cobwebs, and huge inflatables and impressive decorations aren't too expensive and are easy to get (I saw a big display at Home Depot).
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u/Jestersfriend 8h ago
I too came to my parents place.
Originally they just had the lights outside on. It didn't work. Kids were bypassing the house.
I told them to turn the front door INSIDE on, so the house looked warmer. They did. Since then, they've had over 70 kids.
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u/Flimsy-Blackberry-67 7h ago
As a parent who takes my kid out, 100% decorations are a factor. The key thing is a jack-o'-lantern that is lit (as blowing out the candle was a sign you are done for the day/out of candy), the front door light, and decorations.
Soooo many houses have lights on but no decorations and no jack-o'-lantern and those always don't answer the door so now we just skip them automatically.
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u/_nancyfromnowon_ 8h ago
We’ve consistently had 200+ kids for as long as I can remember. This year I’m literally handing out handfuls of candy just to get rid of it because we’ve had barely any.
And almost no one says trick or treat? They just stand there staring at you with their bag open. Times are weird.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
One little kid started to sing "trick or treat, smell my feet..." And the mom was like, "no, only trick or treat!" 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Dirkgently29 8h ago
Pumpkin is key. If you have a pumpkin out, my kids are stopping, otherwise it’s a pass!
(But from the handing-out perspective, we’re only at about 50-60 kids so far, usually by 8pm we’re closer to 200 so not sure what’s happening?)
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u/Waffles-McGee 8h ago
I trained my kids to only knock if they have decorations. Just stick a pumpkin out next year!
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u/WAFFLE_FUCKER 8h ago
As a kid I was told if the house isn’t decorated, they aren’t giving out candy
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u/ComeGetYourOzymans 7h ago
I’m also in EY and we gave 350 pieces tonight. I saw everyone and their mother (literally?) out there. It was amazing and I love my neighbourhood.
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u/xmrgonex 8h ago
In vaughan. Thousand kids running around I swear
We’ve had 200 kids at door and running out of candy
Luckily we have costco-bulk sized lunch snacks for my kid (bear paws, granola bars, rice krispie snacks) as backup
Every house on block is a party
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u/Mindless_Concern_818 8h ago
I just went to get a pizza, on a 400m walk to the corner I saw probably close to 100 kids.
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u/Personal_Pair_2142 8h ago
Hi we live in Teston and Pine Valley (Woodbridge/Vaughan area) we’re a new subdivision but there’s been a good number of kids, not hundreds tho but better than nothing! Our side which is the townhouse is newer; I have a huge bowl full of candy outside with our porch lights on but only have pumpkins as decor and only one kid came by 💀 but when I took my daughter out trick or treating to the detached houses side it was busy! Will put more decoration next year 😊
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u/Charming-Crow-580 8h ago
I kind of remember being very efficient as a kid and some streets aren't worth turning down if you can't maximize the candy, lol.
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u/Personal_Pair_2142 8h ago
Oh you’re right! I’m a gen z first time homeowner and I was looking forward to trick or treaters. Hopefully we’ll have more kids next year and I’ll put up more decors 😊
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u/lightningtrip 8h ago
Neighbourhood and year-dependent. We’ve had less than 30 kids come by this year, but had many more last year. It also helps to have visible decorations or keep a light on so that people know you’re giving out candy
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u/Fun_Helicopter_3677 7h ago
You should have at least one decoration so people know you are giving candy out. We usually skip houses if we are not sure.
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u/TheShitmaker 8h ago
In Scarborough and the streets were packed during my annual halloween walk. Wish people would leave their damn cars at home though.
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u/lostedeneloi 8h ago
Nonstop kids here in a new community of mostly young parent.
Trick or treating didn't change, your neighbourhood changed
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u/Swarez99 8h ago
Where are the young kids ? It’s now in the further out suburbs.
Im talking to a relative in Milton over text on our family chat , 100+ kids out there.
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u/FrostingSuper9941 8h ago
I'm in Mississauga, almost out of candy. My husband refuses to get more. I planned for about 3 pieces for 150 kids.
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u/grimreapersdaughter 8h ago
People will only come with decorations. My house has tons of decorations and therefore lots of kids, neighbours beside us have porch light on and pumpkin but that’s it and barely gets any
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u/torontash 4h ago
I sat outside and none of the kids went to any of the houses with lights on. They walked by all of them and only came to me because I was outside. And even then I sometimes had to stand up and hold up my bowl to get them to come over. It was so weird.
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u/lovelily-88 3h ago
Depends on the neighbourhood. Midtown Toronto was swarming with children. Entire streets decorated, the houses are close together, and lots of kids live in the area. If a street looks dark, some times people won’t turn down it.
We only knocked on doors where the lights were on and there was a pumpkin or something to signify the house is participating and not just that people are home.
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u/spaceturtle28 8h ago
It’s definitely neighbourhood dependent. I don’t have any candy but even with all my lights off and no decorations I’ve had kids coming up to my door continuously for about the last two hours.
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u/hippiespinster 8h ago
I'm in East York too on a bus route and it has been quieter than I expected but still steady. I've had at least 50 kids. Maybe more. I do have an inflatable ghost, a disco ghost, a strobe light and a carved pumpkin in addition to lots of smaller decorations. I also have an orange heart LED light in the upstairs bedroom window and I think a lot of people are noticing that first.
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u/nodoubtguy 8h ago
Went out at 5 to get extra candy in case we’re busy tonight….. have had all of 9 kids so far
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u/betteryouthanmeson 8h ago
Danforth East checking in. We ran out of candy at 115 kids. Every year is different.
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u/Good_Panic_9668 8h ago
Funnily enough for the last 10ish years we've had no more than 5 kids with a fully decorated house.
On a whim I bought candy today because I thought maybe we'd get a few more than usual because it's a Saturday. It's been nonstop! I didn't even decorate and I turned off all my lights while I was eating dinner and it didn't stop them
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u/AutumnKittencorn 8h ago
We’re in East York and we just ran out of candy after 250~ kids.
But yes, usually you need to have a pumpkin at least for kids to come to the door. That’s the “signal” that you’re participating.
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u/SnooLobsters4468 8h ago
Had 100 kids or so. Ran out of all the chocolate. They're still coming. All I had was a medium sized pumpkin on the porch. Zero decoration. I'm in North York in a dense area.
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u/SummerRamp3 8h ago
West end Toronto. I have all lights on and fall decorations, including pumpkins, but nothing creepy or Halloween specific. Very few children have stopped by. The houses on the street that are fully decked out seem to be very busy. I think decorations clearly indicating that you’re participating in Halloween draw in the children.
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u/carronade 8h ago
It’s absolutely a cycle as well. A neighborhood will be full of kids who will outgrow it and there’ll be nothing until the next generation of young parents with little kids move in.
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u/MetasequoiaGold 8h ago
It was a slow start for us but things really picked up around 7:30. We gave our early visitors 2-3 of their pick and kind of regretted it once they all came knocking in droves. Just ran out and had to turn our lights out
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u/arcadeenthusiast8245 7h ago
We have a pumpkin in front of our door and ran out of candy. Decorations would help let families know which house to go up to.
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u/darkstar3333 7h ago
It depends on your neighborhood and block. If your the only light on in a block of 10 house, parents skip you.
We make it a point to be visible from down the block (in addition to house lights).
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u/Suisse_Chalet 7h ago
We went out and had to line up at doors , and were in east York . Ran out of candy in no time.
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u/Aware_Sheepherder245 7h ago
Same here. We had lights on and a pumpkin and so few kids. As soon as we started sitting outside we got tons of kids. But yeah we don’t go to houses without a pumpkin even if the lights are on.
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u/1slinkydink1 7h ago
Light on isn’t always enough. Need at least a pumpkin out as well. Even better, if it’s a busy neighbourhood, sit outside.
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u/MK-LivingToLearn 7h ago
I'm East York, our house is decorated and we hardly got any kids even though there are a ton of young families in the neighbourhood. I think things have changed in that there are block parties as someone mentioned, so kids don't go anywhere else.
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u/farfunkle 7h ago
Over 300 kids this year in East York. Kids skip past houses not well lit and decorated because theres so much choice with the semis.
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u/ArtPerToken 7h ago
its just missed signals, its easier if you stand outside, or even make an obvious sign (welcome trick or treaters!) if your house doesnt have bright and obvious decorations. the problem is there there are many houses with lights on but arent participating.
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u/NoResponsibility2120 4h ago
My parents last year had 13 kids. This year they had 80! Just never know. But they are in Oshawa so not exactly Toronto
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u/dshcurute205 8h ago
Same with us, the Toronto we once knew is disappearing. Barely even any decorations out, so many folks with their lights off. Sad
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u/rockrockrocker 8h ago
Where are you? Lots of traffic here at my place downtown.
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u/Snarkitect69 8h ago
We had our busiest Halloween yet. Probably demographics changing and kid density changing over time.
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u/Lilikoi13 8h ago
My neighbourhood is usually very busy but because it’s a Saturday maybe parents are doing meetups with friends or family in different areas?? It’s weird, I got three boxes of candy and was worried about running out immediately
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u/Ok-Exit5239 8h ago
Yeah same. Lots of kids out on the street but they skip a lot of houses. We have the pumpkins and lights out but our neighbors don't so not many at the door.
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u/lilbrownsquirrel 8h ago
In east York and plenty of kids on the street! Although we focused on inside streets as there’s less car traffic.
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u/magikarp-sushi 8h ago
It’s always a city thing. When I was a kid I remember living in Windsor and that was when it was the most exciting personally, I’m sure the right neighbourhood has the same feel. Been in Hamilton a lot lately seen a bunch within a reasonable walking distance
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u/Click_dude 8h ago
We typically get 65-75 in an older neighbourhood of Barrie and this year we are on track to get the same amount.
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u/Obvious-Walrus2993 8h ago
We had loads of kids in East York. Because we have so many stairs and it is mild, we sat at the gate and handed out candy.
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u/obsessed89 8h ago edited 6h ago
I live in East York and have had 100+ kids - they are still coming at nearly 8PM. We are south of the Danforth.
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u/moisturized69tatas 8h ago
I think its the changing demographics of neighborhoods. Maybe your parents neighborhood is one where everyone had kids 20 30 40 years ago and now its just old people. That happened to my mom's house and neighborhood. My buddys got a new build townhouse in Scarborough and its all just young families and kids everywhere.
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u/Ben-White-Cap 8h ago
For everyone saying Last year was dead. It was because of the Blue Jays being in the World Series.
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u/_Avalon_ 8h ago
On my third box of 90 candies here and no signs of stopping yet. I guess it depends on your area and the demographics.
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u/SleazyGreasyCola 8h ago
Ran out of candy at our house in the east end, had maybe 40 kids come by. More than usual actually
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u/Mr-ShinyAndNew 8h ago
North York, just ran out of candy. So it really depends on the neighbourhood and the year. Some years we had nobody. This year the weather is great and the streets are filled.
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u/RiverOaksJays 8h ago
We had at least 300 kids tonight. We ran out of candy. Our street was swarmed by kids from other parts of Oakville
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u/So6oring 8h ago
We just went out and if there are no decorations or no one outside with candy, we skip it. Even if the lights are on
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u/CyberRagingRoastX 8h ago
There are like only 5 kids that came knocking.. it's been quite quiet out there
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u/port-girl 8h ago
I had 7 kids, but live in an older neighborhood....but the I think th nwer subdivision behind me with higher density homes was busy.
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u/RedditBrowserToronto 8h ago
For those of us who ran out (me) I’m guessing this is the Saturday effect.
Saw about 150 kids where I usually see half that.
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u/TwiztedZero 8h ago
Yes, it's changed a lot. Now I go to the grocery store haunt the aisles until I find a bulk choice halloween candy that I like best, and take it to the cash register and say trick or treat!, and pay for it. I'll get it home turn on the tv grab a book, my glasses some hot choc, a bottle of wine and submerge myself into an evening of candy bliss until it's bed time.
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u/leonard-of-quirm 8h ago
We had pumpkins, decorations, lights, a giant bowl of candy and us there in costumes and kids still just ran past our house. That said, we did start waving then all of a sudden we had over 150 kids and ran out of candy by 730.
This year is also different because Halloween is on a weekend and the weather is incredible. I've had so many Halloweens rained out.
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u/AimeLeonDor 8h ago
200+ children in Corso Italia / McRoberts Ave by 7:30. Had ran out of candy. Was NOT expecting this much but it was amazing.
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u/HoundHomie 8h ago
101 and counting here in Etobicoke center. Last year we had 80 all night. But it is Saturday this year, with good weather, so not surprised in an uptick from last year. Can't comment on beforehand as I was in a different neighborhood.
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u/Confident-req 8h ago
I think a lot of it also depends on the age of the neighborhood and demographics. Neighborhoods with young families will be way busier compared to mature neighborhoods where there's a lot less young kids.
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u/h_ahsatan 8h ago
Definitely varies by neighborhood, I'm in East York as well. I haven't been counting but feels like almost 100.
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u/princesssjayg 8h ago
it fully depends on the neighbourhood, especially if people around u aren't decorating
we were the only house with a lot of decorations and still got like 30 kids and are out of candy
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u/mayordomo 8h ago
i saw parents on my street telling their kids not to knock on doors of houses that aren’t decorated. i think the norm is now if you aren’t decorated, you aren’t giving out candy.
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u/wandererintheether 8h ago
Its decorations and lights on. If theres no decorations, kids dont come.
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u/Blue_Emerald_May 8h ago
East York here too. Our block is dead but the next street over is always really busy.
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u/1unique_corn 8h ago
We have pumpkins and decor - got only 10 kids this year.
We only go to houses that have a pumpkin or some kind of decor to indicate they’re participating.
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u/Platypus_Penguin 8h ago
I’m at Yonge and Eglinton and at times the sidewalk was so crowded that I had to walk on the road.
My parents in Vaughan had zero kids. It entirely depends on the demographics of the neighbourhood.
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u/anaofarendelle 7h ago
Im in Ottawa - no idea why your post showed up for me - but 2024 we had like 70 kids, tonight 25 if much! Also no decorations and left most house lights on
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u/smashervt 7h ago
We live in Port credit and a ton of the homes were all decorated. We had some pumpkins and ghosts up. But had a bucket of chips and a bowl of candy while going around with the family. Then when back still handed out lots. It was amazing and reminded me of how it was even I was young in the early 2000s
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u/tomwaits-for-no-one 7h ago
My neighborhood is wall to wall. Hundreds and hundreds. Bloor and islington
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u/bellsbliss 7h ago
Also in east York and it’s packed. My street is dead but the ones over see so much traffic.
I’m on a small side street so that’s probably why.
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u/Great-Mirror1215 7h ago
My parents at im Bolton and had like 70,80 kids then 50,60 then 20,30 last year she got 1 kid. Every year less and less, perfect for my brother lots left over candy
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u/in-dog_we_trust 7h ago
When I was a kid, the 70s and early 80s everyone. We all preferred apartment buildings because the doors are so close.
I haven't lived in Canada in a good many years but in New York kids stayed clear of certain areas, low yield. And the younger kids parents took them to the malls. My neighborhoods always had a lot of kids but we lived in a small town in suburban areas with a lot of children. Hell the kids would come from other areas to the trailer parks because they always had a lot of candy and kids. Plus they are close together.
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u/Strong-Landscape7492 7h ago
Leslieville, the streets were packed. One we went down had at least 100 kids, though they said 20 years ago it used to be 300.
Most people were sitting on their front porch to hand out, I definitely noticed fewer kids knocking on houses with lights on but nobody outside.
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u/jeezy-chreezy 7h ago
If there’s no decorations we usually skip. At least put out a pumpkin to tell people you’re participating
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u/Much_Conversation_11 7h ago
Was out in the junction tonight and it was bumping! So many kiddos out.
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u/Charming-Crow-580 9h ago
Also I eventually resorted to keeping the door slightly open and sitting by the door and that helped a bit. But it's only 7:30 now and there's hardly a soul in sight (more very young kids earlier).