Halloween 2021 (Too Soon??) @ I'm sure

[Bad Dingo]

Is it too soon to start talking about Halloween, the most wondrous holiday of the year?

I am trying very very hard not to buy a life-size mermaid skeleton that I definitely don't need to add to my skeleton collection.

[mskitkat]

Definitely not too early. I’m trying very hard not to spend way more money than I have on this really amazing costume I saw on Etsy.

[suburbanzookeeper]

Not too early - we bought a new projector with the intent of mapping the front of our house and doing a new projection show. I'm trying to be motivated, this is our holiday, but man I'm just burnt out.

Edited to add a photo of our outdoor setup last year. 

[glw]

I'm already halfway through making my costume for 2022, so...not too early!

I have four more costumes to make for this year (3 nephews + MH) but mine is done. As of today, the big party/concert we go to is still on and I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't get cancelled again this year.

[aspentosh]

We are planning our skeleton display right now. Won't put it out until end of September, but planning has definitely begun.

Neighbors have already started asking what we're doing, so I am worried we have to live up to some expectation, lol.

[Bad Dingo]

glw, pictures please!!

[wildrice]

I love Halloween. I can't wait to put out my decorations. I am also really hoping we get a good amount of trick or treaters. Last year was our first year in the house and there wasn't trick or treating in our town, so I have no idea what to expect. We don't have kids so I love having them come by our house and seeing their costumes and excitment.

I haven't had a Halloween costume of my own in several years, though - nobody I know throws a party and without kids there would be nowhere else to wear one.

[mysteriouswife]

I’m going on my lunch to buy a life sized witch. 🤷🏻‍♀️ H and the kids decorated the house while I cooked dinner. We didn’t go all out like we typically do. We just did the mantle and downstairs bathroom.

[jlt19]

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We just moved to a neighborhood that is perfectly set up for Halloween (super communal, close houses, etc). Kids mentioned how "epic" it would be the day we moved in, in early August. What they didn't know was we're supposed to be in Hawaii for Halloween.

Now, we very well may not go. Don't have to make a decision until the week prior, but either way, we weren't telling the kids until we got to our layover in Dallas. Plan was to tell them we were going on a work trip for fall break (which they don't even have in their new district now, whoops). But DD started all this planning with friends on costumes, so I told DH we had to at least tell them about the work trip now, so people didn't get their hopes up.

Immediate tears and how she didn't want to go. So DH blurted out "FINE! We're actually going to Hawaii!". WTF dude!?! We don't even know if we're going, and it was supposed to be a surprise! Plus, DD STILL didn't want to go (weirdo). So THEN he promises we'll do a family costume in Hawaii (like we need more things to pack) AND they can have a party the following weekend. Well, it's going to suck, b/c I am NOT doing anything for it. I've got enough to worry about.

That appeased her, but she still asked for her "Eleven" costume. I ordered it and she then proceeded to wear it to school picture day...




As far as decor, we aren't even close to being unpacked and settled, so I doubt I do much this year. I do have a bunch of boxwoods out front that I may cut eyes out of toilet paper rolls and put solar lights in. 90% of the neighborhood has big front porches, but we don't. It's my only real regret on choosing this house b/c it would be so fun to decorate it for all the seasons. 

[heyjude]

We start thinking about Halloween in July over here. 😅

[pixy0stix]

I started mapping out what I want to do and will probably start setting out lights this week.

As for costumes, I don't know yet.

[basilosaurus]

My former roommate started working on his costume in July or August. A few years ago he learned to do whatever prop creation technique they use in movies.

[rubytue]

Two days ago, I asked my neighbors what Halloween was like on this street. I am very sad at the answers (less than 10 kids, probably average of 3). That makes me so sad. My last neighborhood was insane! Hundreds. There were fire pits, hot dog roasting, and adult nips.

Apparently, I could go all out and make myself a destination house, and then I’ll get kids. Which is somewhat tempting. Or I could just put out a pumpkin and buy full size bars. I’m leaning toward the later.

[pixy0stix]

Sept 13, 2021 11:20:21 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Apparently, I could go all out and make myself a destination house, and then I’ll get kids. Which is somewhat tempting. Or I could just put out a pumpkin and buy full size bars. I’m leaning toward the later.

We go all out, have full bars, and have a handful of kids. Whatever, our street appreciates us. LOL

[mrsukyankee]

Halloween isn't really that big in England though it's grown since I got here ( we do tend to have awful weather too). I might try to get in the spirit with some pumpkins and lighting.

[DotAndBuzz]

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I am really looking forward to Halloween this year. I am kind of a self taught costume seamstress (I don't do clothing to actually wear, only costumes, lol), and look forward to making my kids' costumes every year. My 10 year old wants to make hers this year (she's also learning to sew), and, in true Cruella fashion, has designed her own Cruella dress. !!!!! It's going to be completely kick-ass. We're using an old formal black dress of mine as the base. Ombre red tulle, black lace, faux leather, epaulettes, birdcage head piece....all of her own design. Can.Not.Wait.

My 13 year old is being a fairy with one of her friends, so I'm re-purposing an old sage green bride's maid dress of mine and it's going to be a pastel chiffon/tulle puff fest. I know I don't have many more Halloween's where I'll get to make her outfit, so am going all out this year.

[DotAndBuzz]

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I also think we're going to do a repeat of Covid Halloween from last year. A group of us at the bus stop talked about how having tables out on driveways actually made it feel kind of MORE community like, instead of having to go up to doors, and all that, because everyone was outside being social. So I think our HOA is going to recommend people do that again this year. That's one thing from covid I'd like to actually carry on after it's over.

[sillygoosegirl]

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I can't think about Halloween until I know how vaccinated my kid is going to be. Can we reschedule it for 5 weeks after the EUA please?

[seeyalater52]

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J is only one so we aren't going trick or treating, but I'm hoping we get trick or treaters this year! J is going to be the carebear sunshine bear and I'm going to be the rainbow carebear. My wife is declining to don a bear costume.

[picksthemusic]

Not too early. We're starting to think about deocrations, and DH is starting to want to watch Halloween/horror movies.

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The kids are starting to think about their costumes and we think they've nailed it down. We'll keep asking over the next few weeks to see if their ideas change as they talk to their friends at school. We're planning on going to my IL's house for Halloween, though, since we're not comfortable with ToTing yet. Next year hopefully.

[wawa]

Sept 13, 2021 11:20:21 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Two days ago, I asked my neighbors what Halloween was like on this street. I am very sad at the answers (less than 10 kids, probably average of 3). That makes me so sad. My last neighborhood was insane! Hundreds. There were fire pits, hot dog roasting, and adult nips.

Apparently, I could go all out and make myself a destination house, and then I’ll get kids. Which is somewhat tempting. Or I could just put out a pumpkin and buy full size bars. I’m leaning toward the later.

It should be kid central in your town, but I think people are way too into their dumb ole trunk or treats around here.  We go to your old county to ToT with friends because it's more fun there. 


I'm actually running a race on the morning of the 31st, so I've got a running costume (our group is doing super heros.  I'm Batman.).  I haven't figured out yet what I'll be for actual ToTing...the kids and I just started talking about their costumes, and sometimes they have very specific asks that include a matching parental costume.  Other times they just beeline to the thing they like best at costco and we call that good.  it's a tossup.

[mactastic]

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I've always loved Halloween a ridiculous amount and had my ultimate dream come true when I delivered my little dude ON Halloween last year. We'll be celebrating with family. My older nieces and nephews have been vocal about wanting to trick-or-treat in my in-law's neighborhood (better candy, lol) so we'll host an early dinner/smash cake dealio there and then trick-or-treat afterwards. I've been contemplating family costume ideas since basically the MINUTE I found out I was due around Halloween, but every time I think I've decided, I change my mind so haven't pulled the trigger yet. Probably need to get on that...

[pugz]

OK but what should my pug be? Taking suggestions, lol. @ One kid will be a box of donuts, other kid an astronaut.

[sonrisa]

Sept 13, 2021 12:44:20 GMT -5 pugz said:

OK but what should my pug be? Taking suggestions, lol. @ One kid will be a box of donuts, other kid an astronaut.

The moon.

[Bad Dingo]

Sept 13, 2021 11:34:38 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Halloween isn't really that big in England though it's grown since I got here ( we do tend to have awful weather too). I might try to get in the spirit with some pumpkins and lighting.

I lived in Leicester back in the early 80s for a year and a half and when I told the other school kids about Halloween they had all been told horror stories from their parents about how it was about devil worshipping and greed  .

[mysteriouswife]

We have the witch! We almost got two, but H was afraid we couldn’t get them in the car. We may have a second this afternoon 🤣 We named her Griselda

[Bad Dingo]

Sept 13, 2021 12:44:20 GMT -5 pugz said:

OK but what should my pug be? Taking suggestions, lol. @ One kid will be a box of donuts, other kid an astronaut.

My answer will always be Chucky.

[madDawg228]

With all the supply-chain issues, planning for Halloween SHOULD be done by now, I would think.
My own Halloween celebration is mostly eating candy and watching horror movies throughout October.

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I ordered a pumpkin costume for my 1yr old, it's a play on his name "Gourd"-on/Gordon.
Since he's still little, no ToT, but I do hope to go to one of the U-Pick Pumpkin Patches that are around our area.
No costumes for the adults though.

[lacey]

I’ve acquired a 12ft skeleton for this year. I’m trying to patiently wait until October to set him up!

[rubytue]

Sept 13, 2021 12:36:36 GMT -5 wawa said:

Sept 13, 2021 11:20:21 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Two days ago, I asked my neighbors what Halloween was like on this street. I am very sad at the answers (less than 10 kids, probably average of 3). That makes me so sad. My last neighborhood was insane! Hundreds. There were fire pits, hot dog roasting, and adult nips.

Apparently, I could go all out and make myself a destination house, and then I’ll get kids. Which is somewhat tempting. Or I could just put out a pumpkin and buy full size bars. I’m leaning toward the later.

It should be kid central in your town, but I think people are way too into their dumb ole trunk or treats around here.  We go to your old county to ToT with friends because it's more fun there. 

Right?! Although, this particular street is all olds. Like of the 8 houses on my end, half are still original owners from 1968. At I think, at 47, we are the youngest. The kids on the street are college age or older.