I like my neighborhood. There are some things about it that really help to make is special. The annual car show is one. The fact that I can walk to a number of different types of restaurants (Indian, Thai, pizza, Mexican, etc.) and the several bars and other types of businesses – well, it’s a good neighborhood.
Then there are things I don’t like about. Two major storefronts on the main intersection of the neighborhood have been vacant for a long time. It’s a problem. But it doesn’t upset me nearly as much as the annual neighborhood safe trick-or-treating event.
Every year businesses in the neighborhood hand out candy on a coordinated night to give parents a safe alternative to trick-or-treating going door to door in the dark. I like this idea, I really do. But the execution of it stinks. Why can’t it be on Halloween? Even when Halloween is on the weekend this neighborhood event takes place the weekend before.
This year Halloween is on a Friday. This event could easily be done on Halloween. Businesses will be open. Why do this safe trick-or-treating event when kids wouldn’t normally go out trick-or-treating? As a matter of fact, every year why not hold this event on Halloween? By not holding the safe trick-or-treating even on Halloween it sort of defeats the purpose because kids will wind up trick-or-treating twice. Once on the day of the event and then again on Halloween. That doesn’t seem as safe as it should be.