Where I live we don’t do the door to door thing. There are not many subdivisions with rows of homes close to each other here. There is no public transit or street lighting. We live on a small forested island. The topography is challenging even in day light hours (hairpin turns, blind spots, huge inclines & drops).
As a result 50 years ago a children’s Halloween hayride and large community party was brought into being. There are two beaches that we use to set up an outdoor Halloween wonderland. There are several homes converted into “haunted houses” for touring set up close by. We have multiple marquee featuring games, skits, music and dancing. We have lots of homemade treats & hot chocolate. There are also wandering minstrels, vampires, werewolves and clowns that give out candy. There are fairies, witches and vampire brides who do the same too.
As this is an an artists colony full of artists, musicians and theatrical people everyone goes all out when it comes to costuming and being “in character”. All our local business people go all out and their employees are costumed throughout the week prior to Halloween. Perhaps the best part of our Halloween here is “The Tunnel”. It’s a stretch of road that cuts through the deepest part of the forest like a tunnel. One week prior to Halloween people bring their carved pumpkins and set them up with candles along the sides of the road, in the ditches and on tree branches. They return each night to light the candles. The result is truly spooky and very cool.
The volunteer fire department has a barge in the bay where they have a tremendous fireworks display at 10 PM to end the night.
@Bird
Yes, I do know what you mean. I was delighted to find out how islanders celebrated Halloween when I first moved here. It’s an all age party that’s loads of fun. It’s safe and it’s very cool.
Wow, this is EXTREMELY cool! How I like to imagine Americans celebrating Halloween – well, anyone actually but you know what I mean :)
It is a magical time when the community comes together to insure that everyone has a great time.
I enjoyed my Halloweens, hauling home grocery bags (the big paper ones!) full of candy and running the streets until all hours but then I didn’t have anything like your celebration to compare it to! If so I would’ve been big-time jealous! What a magical time for all there…
Around here, unfortunately, they deride Halloween as the “Devil’s holiday” & instead the dress up in 1800s costume for Xmas markets in November. *snort*
@Tabitha
It seems that when humans live in low density communities they are capable of working cooperatively to create celebrations that are inclusive. Sadly when populations increase divisiveness occurs and and emphasis on differences rather than similarities replaces a will to be inclusive and cooperative.
@Ben
It is a great place to live. :)
that’s incredible, i’ve never heard anything like it. I lived for a year on Scotland Island, which is in Sydney Australia. It has a few hundred people and the island is unique, the only one we’ve got that people live on. the community there is very strong and the kids are amazing. anyway, i just wanted to say hi and thanks for inspiring me with your story :)
Seems like a great place to live. :)