Stick to firm sked for your popular Halloween ‘show’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/10/2023 (1069 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: People come from far and wide to see our Halloween house decorations and I love the parade of families driving by or stopping for the view. The thing is, I don’t like to take the decorations down right away and some of the neighbours get really annoyed. They complain they put up with the constant car parade to see our house pre-Halloween, and then they’ve had it by the end of October.

The thing is, some people from farther away don’t have time to come and see our place before Halloween so they come the week afterwards. What can I do to “stay open” and still placate my complaining neighbours?

— Halloween Decorator Guy, south Winnipeg

Dear Halloween Decorator: The question in your neighbours’ minds is this: “When is this Halloween light show and parade of cars going to end?” And if you play music to accompany the light show, “When is this dreadful din going to stop?”

So answer it for them, and offer them the reason why, and hopefully everybody can relax. Let them know exactly when your Halloween show will be ending. Once they know the date — say two or three nights after Halloween — they will probably relax.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: On Halloween I like to play really spooky music and dress up in a costume myself to answer the door. But last year a new neighbour brought her preschooler over for the first time. He was dressed as a little clown.

I’m a big tall guy and when I came to open the door, the boy looked way up at me in my big white bunny costume with the ears, and burst out screaming and crying: “It’s a giant bunny!” My neighbour looked at me with disdain, and said, “I thought Halloween was for the children!” She took her wailing child back down the walk without any candy.

This year I won’t be wearing any costume, but I’m feeling disappointed. I still wonder though, who was in the right on this issue?

— Harmless Neighbour, St. Vital

Dear Confused: The candy-collecting part of Halloween is all about the kids. Parents generally don’t wear costumes to take their kiddies door-to-door, and the people at home opening their doors are mostly not in costumes either.

Why would kids — especially little ones — be scared? All year long, kids are warned to stay away from strangers — and nothing could be stranger than a giant person in a strange-looking costume, like a six foot rabbit standing on its hind legs.

So, maybe just let the kids be the ones wearing costumes at your door this year! Enjoy the fun they will be having.

To enjoy Halloween more yourself, start throwing an annual adult party the weekend before the big day. Wear your favourite costumes to host these parties, and give amusing prizes to people in the best get-ups. You could make yourself quite popular on an annual basis!

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Maureen Scurfield
Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

   Read full biography