Halloween here has been on a steady decline. I think it's more about the lack of commercial success than anything. Here in Alberta it has an important signifigance in that it's the night before the big game season opens. Lot's of hunters running around out there today high on sugar fixes.

 

Now there is a scary thought, very appropriate for Halloween.

 

Lot's of hunters running around out there today high on sugar fixes.

Oh I do not think it is only sugar fixes I think some of them also have good deal of beer inside.

 

I thank my lucky stars my wife got bored with Halloween. She started a few years back decorating a 10x10' tent, wrapping it in black plastic, them making me do some walls inside. Kids went in and out of the same door. Inside were some spooky things as we don't want to horrify very young kids. A skeleton is scary enough for them.

Next two years was a 10x20' tent in the driveway. You entered one door and out another, inside you'd twist and turn so every corner was crossed at your peril!

I would let kids in (not too many at a time) and my wife would stand at the end to deliver treats to any "survivors." At the very end I'd leave a spot for my wife to hide, we'd call it "the parent trap" as she would touch the parents as they left.

The best one was the father who screamed "holy bleep" so loud the entire neighborhood heard him. Everyone had a good laugh at his expense. I got to go up to him and ask "did you just curse out my wife?" and then smiled.

Then can the over the top year. Same 10x20' labyrinth, but the front was decked out with surplus wooden shipping pallets to create a pirate ship complete with decks, ships wheel, gangplank, and a square sail (in tasteful black, of course). Inside we had skeletons done up as pirates, one chained inside a prison cell (PVC tubes painted black), one hung by the neck who slowly revolved over and over.

Then "things" happened, wife got busier with work and her charity work, so we now just enjoy Halloween. Yesterday we just had an illuminated scary cat in the window and a ghost next to the door. Didn't even get out the fog machines.

I kind of like it that way, as I am the clean-up guy.

 

Here in FL is was hopping. I went to the store around 9pm and within 3 blocks I must seen over 40 kids out. Granted the weather was great, 65f and no rain.