Trick or Treat Moved to Halloween

Latrisha Oswald September 10, 2012 at 04:02 pm

I have always taught my children that life isn't fair or easy, but they should still be allowed to be kids and to enjoy the things that childhood brings. And as far as responsibility, how responsible is it when they have to miss dance and soccer practice in order to go trick-or-treating. They shouldn't have to miss either and as a parent I shouldn't have to make that decision. All the residents, teachers, & coaches in Upper Macungie know that trick-or-treat has always been the Friday before Halloween and schedules were made based on that tradition. Speak for yourself, but I am not spoiled and work hard everyday for my family. I expect my kids to do the same. We have enough to worry about in this society. Excuse us for wanting a night with our children without the township making us rush through it.

Rebekah Gehman September 10, 2012 at 04:17 pm

This is a terrible decision. My daughter and I would much prefer to enjoy the FRIDAY trick or treat knowing we can have a good time with friends and not have to hurry to get to bed for school the next day. How many kids are honestly going to get done trick or treating, get out of costume, get ready for bed and be to bed on time after the excitement of trick or treat night? Not to mention how many adults who participate by handing out candy, really want to be bothered by the doorbell on a work night? What a mess. Supervisors feel it's too early to do it on the 26th? I wonder if they have young childern?

Mom September 10, 2012 at 04:22 pm

We should all look at the bigger picture. Most of us moved here for the small town community. For small class sizes and safe neighborhoods and safe schools. The board is saying yes to building everywhere. The school distict can't build schools quick enough to hold all the students. They say yes to building gas staions and banks infront of our schools. They are proud of how fast the township is growing along with all the crime that goes with it. But it's more money in their pockets. So why would they care about grade schoolers being up till ten on a school night or missing the activities that give our kids the excercise they need. This is a bigger deal then trick-or-treat night.

Lauren Crisano September 10, 2012 at 04:24 pm

Again, what did kids/parents do in the past? When you were all kids? Or your parents, parents were kids? They dealt, they made the best of it. I just don't get it. It's annoying and frustrating YES I understand. Change always is. But I can think of a ton of other things that effect kids day to day that you all should be fighting against. Not this.

Melissa Harrison September 10, 2012 at 04:26 pm

Well I guess we can all stop commenting, Lauren's clearly the expert on child rearing, managing schedules and teaching responsibility. Thanks for your comments Lauren!

Mom of DnNnD September 10, 2012 at 04:26 pm

I have children and I agree with Lauren. October 31 is the holiday not October 26. Why don't we just change Christmas to a Friday or Thanksgiving, because that would be more convenient.
BTW, I work full time but somehow I make it home in time to give them a quick dinner (usually takeout even though I usually cook a proper dinner), get them dressed and out the door by 6:15. While we walk I check the candy they want to eat (2 pieces only) and get home by 8:15, shower and bathe them and off to bed by 9:30. If I can do it, so can everyone else. And homework gets done in the 2 hours between 4 and 6 PM. It's one night out of a whole year.

Lauren Crisano September 10, 2012 at 04:41 pm

I'm definitely not an expert, and i'm not trying to offend anyone's parenting skills. Im just saying that in MY opinion, people love to complain and whine about everything! One night out of the year isn't going to kill anyone! Again no one has answered me. What did you do as a kid? or your parents? so on and so on. Halloween is the 31st. If a town was stopping trick or treating all together then I could see a need to fight. Changing the date back to the DAY THAT IT'S BEEN FOR GENERATIONS of other children and the day it is for most now a days isn't. Like that mom above said, she manages- kids bounce back very easily. All they care about is trick or treating and the fun of it. It's one night, if you make it a big deal then the kids pick up on that. Everyone has a right to their opinion and I totally agree that they should have gave much more notice than they did! That wasn't fair to the people who did make plans.

Lauren Crisano September 10, 2012 at 04:45 pm

And i never picked up that Mom DnNnD was saying her family was perfect. She was simply stating that It is possible to do on a school night!

Mom September 10, 2012 at 04:46 pm

If it's so easy to make it home for trick-or-treat then it should be that easy to make it once a month to a PTO or school board meeting. Where do our prioritys lay????? Looking forward to packed meetings. LOL

Spider-Dad September 10, 2012 at 05:44 pm

On Friday, no problem. Wednesday's just wont work!! Without my wife there to assist, I can't possibly get my Spiderman titight on. Hence the word, tight. :(

Donna Jacobsen September 10, 2012 at 05:52 pm

same would have happened to us last year when we planned our vacation around the halloween in Disney !

Donna Jacobsen September 10, 2012 at 05:54 pm

When we moved to PA, nine years ago, we thought it very strange to celebrate halloween on Friday, before the 31st. I am excited to have it switched back to the 31st and celebrate it like I had for the previous 46 years of my life !

Philip Wagner September 10, 2012 at 06:08 pm

@ everyone that is for moving it to Halloween night why didn't you complain before when for years it has been that way? Please clarify why they moved the date? Nonsense, its been that way for years why change now?

Matt Gustantino September 10, 2012 at 06:45 pm

I usually put on a big display on Warba Drive with upwards of 250 kids coming by. I get help from some friends. Friday night is always perfect because I invite my friends over to party or watch a movie afterwards being next day is Saturday and most people don't work. If it's changed to Wednesday I probably won't set up this year.

Philip Wagner September 10, 2012 at 08:52 pm

Attention all: there is a board of supervisors meeting this Friday at 4pm we are all welcome to attend to voice our opinion on this matter. The meeting is at the municipal building on Schantz Road. If you truly care about keeping trick or treat on Friday please show up.

Elsa September 10, 2012 at 09:18 pm

Well maybe the kids can have their Halloween parade in school on the 31st and then go out trick or treating. I bet if you ASK THE KIDS they would love that. Go to the meeting of you are so upset. I think in the big scheme of things it does not matter. It was made so all the kids were not out on the same night. We are no longer a small rural community so that no longer applies. This might stop all the kids who trick or treat two and three nights in all the townships.

Rick Oswalt September 10, 2012 at 09:32 pm

The Friday night gets my vote for all of the reasons noted here. By the way, I've heard that Allentown has moved trick or treat night to the Friday...if the decision stays for Wednesday Oct 31, be ready for the onslaught of trick or treat "double dippers" from Allentown.

Luvinlife September 11, 2012 at 01:20 am

It's about time! Halloween is October 31st. I always thought it was ridiculous to trick or treat any other day. For those who will miss their Friday night party, still have one with your friends on the weekend, like people do all over the country. Yes I do have children and I don't get why it's such a big deal to adjust your schedule for one day? Seriously.. Yes I work full time etc... Adapt & adjust, it's really not that stressful. Sheesh.

Philip Wagner September 11, 2012 at 03:25 pm

The point is the township had a whole year to make this change and then they decide to change it a little over a month before Halloween in September. They clearly don't take into consideration that people do plan their lives and certain schedules (sports) have already been planned and set.

Linda M. Lemak September 11, 2012 at 07:23 pm

A meeting at 4:00 when people work!! Isn't that nice or wonderful ?? Whatever!!!
For the past 30 years, it had been on a Friday night. We live in the area for 45 years, and we and my boys always went Trick or Treating the last Friday of the month in the township. I can not be there at 4:00, on Friday--I still vote for Friday.

Parent September 11, 2012 at 10:14 pm

If you can't attend the meeting, maybe you can email the township. They have their emails listed on uppermac.org

John September 12, 2012 at 12:39 am

@Dave jennifer etal.......so your children come home every day and study.....no sports, no arts, no dance or music, no play? Wow, that's too bad.......of course I understand your point....the inconvenience of holidays coming in the middle of the week is so interrupting to your day....that's too bad as well.

John September 12, 2012 at 12:46 am

Melissa....now you're talkin.....it's not about homework, candy, sleep or school.....it's really about the parents walking the kids around carrying the koozies, followed by the after Halloween party by the adults.....news flash....the average 5th grader knows that mommy and daddy are drinking while they trick or treat.....how do I know? I hear the kids tell the stories of the after Halloween party as they get older....point being, it's an inconvenience to the parent, and interferes with THE PARTY.....

Brunell September 12, 2012 at 02:45 am

I was at that meeting. They attempted to set the date for the Friday, like all the other years and people in the audience sacked to move the day to the 31st. Show up to the meetings! This is truly a case where the Supervisors were trying to accommodate the people in the audience. The meetings are the first Thursday at 7:00PM. Don't complain just show up! At least when you voice your opinion our elected officials get to hear it first hand as well as they usually reply to the concern.

Danell Weaver Fowler September 13, 2012 at 03:08 pm

Matt, your haunted house is what kids talk about in this neighborhood! The kids LOVE it and WANT IT!!!! We need Friday back!!!

Anne Smith September 14, 2012 at 02:10 am

If it ends at 8 why are you kids up until 10? Let's move Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter - all the holidays for your convenience. Honestly, of all the things happening in the world celebrating a holiday on the holiday seems pretty trivial and complaints that you're inconvenienced are kinda pickyune.What about the poor middle school kids who miss Halloween every year because they have games, football, cheering, band, etc. Don't you care about THEM? Oh, they'll get a chance to join in the fun...but who are they when YOUR happiness & convenience is in jeopardy. Your inability to get you kids to bed for two hours after the 8pm end time of treating is much more important. How DO the rest of the adults in the country endure the hardship of Halloween on a weeknight?

Brunell September 14, 2012 at 03:03 am

Philip, the supervisors did not just make this change with flagrant disregard to all of us. There we several members in the audience that asked for this change. What I find most disturbing about this blog is that all of these people making comments regarding trick or treat nite when we all should be attending the meetings to voice our opinion regarding ALL of he decisions being voted on that have so much more impact to us, our tax dollars and how they are spent, and the wellbeing of our community. I too, don't feel like leaving my family on the first Thursday of each month to attend but at least when I voice my opinion I am voicing it to my elected officials. I encourage everyone else to do the same!

Julie Choma September 14, 2012 at 03:05 am

Lauren you may not have kids but you couldn't have said it better even if you did. The parents who are complaining about being inconvenienced, or think you can't possibly understand because you don't have kids are simply just whiners. I have 3 children and know that all of them will have their homework and dinner done before trick or treating. They will come home and be in bed at a reasonable time and wake up the next day for school with no problems. If your kids want to have a sleep over or you want to party with your friends, no one is stopping you from doing it on Oct 26th. For years my kids haven't been able to trick or treat on Halloween. October 31st has been just another day. This is not the way it should be, just because it's not convenient.

Latrisha Oswald September 14, 2012 at 04:14 am

@ Brunell, I agree with all of your points about attending the meetings. I have tried to stay involved as much as possible in our school and community even though I cannot be present as much as I could be in the past and appreciate people like yourself that are regulars at these meetings. And yes, there are countless other more important topics to concern ourselves with. However, this trick-or-treat topic is obviously something a lot of people feel strongly about and past Morning Call articles demonstrate it was just as heated when townships in the school district tried to change it before. Another person commented about emailing the township and I have received prompt responses from our officials in the past using email communication. Regardless of whether Upper Macungie keeps trick-or-treat on Halloween or returns to the local tradition of Friday nights, I would suggest that all of the townships in the Parkland School District reach a consenus on which night to hold the event. Many of the sports, clubs, activities, etc., that children in the area participate in involve residents from several different townships in the school district. When each township designates a different night, evidently there will be children who miss out.

CT October 29, 2012 at 11:12 pm

Totally agree with you. As a kid, our Halloween parade at school was on Halloween itself, the teachers gave little to no homework and we went trick or treating that night. Sports practices were either over or cut short, lessons were skipped if we had them because, hey, trick or testing is only once a year. If you don't over schedule our kids so much, this wouldn't be such a problem for people. And if our kid has homework, I'm sure they can get it done between 4-6pm. I feel bad for the kids because Friday nights mean a lot of people aren't home because they're going out for their weekend plans. I know we weren't home to hand out candy but hey, you all saved me a ton of money on candy because I didn't buy any once I saw it was moved back to Friday. Maybe we should all vote to move Christmas, New Years and Thanksgiving to Saturdays every year so we don't have to miss work any more. How would that work for everyone who can't fit them into their 'schedules'?