Nothing is as routine in local municipal government as the annual setting of designated trick-or-treat hours.
Except in Twin Lakes last night.
Typically all of the Western Kenosha County municipalities that set a trick-or-treat time set it for 4 to 7 p.m. on Halloween with the exception of Wheatland, which usually designates a Sunday afternoon. Salem, Silver Lake and Randall have already set those hours for this year.
On Monday, Twin Lakes Trustee Sharon Bower made a pitch for that village to change recent practice and go the weekend-day light hours route.
Speaking at a Committee of the Whole meeting, Bower said she has received requests from constituents for the change.
“In the small neighborhoods, there’s a lot of kids out and if it’s light out I think they enjoy it more,” Bower said. She added that evening hours can be problematic if some kids do not get home from school until 4 p.m. and then their mother is not home to take them out and their father is still working.
Trustee Aaron Karow said he has heard talk from constituents about Sundays too, but among board members who expressed an opinion Bower’s’ proposal did not seem to have a lot of support.
” I say keep it on the traditional day,” said Trustee Tom Connolly. Village President Howard Skinner pointed out that the official hours have been on Halloween evening for at least the last seven years.
Trustee Kevin Fitzgerald took yet another position. “Let them do it both days,” he said. “What do we care?”
A vote on trick-or-treat hours will be taken at the next Village Board meeting on Oct. 15.
As a resident and parent in Twin Lakes, it is my strong opinion that moving trick-or-treat hours to a weekend-day would be the most beneficial thing to do. It is nearly impossible for working parents like me to make it home in time without sacrificing time off from work, as I personally have had to do for the past 2 years. Working parents also have to rush to ensure children have a proper meal before attempting to squeeze in trick-or-treating. By the time most parents and children are out the door, there is only a short time left to even participate in the event.
Having this event on a school night could also affect participation, as many children have after school activities and homework they are responsible for. Is it really fair to make children and parents choose between an after school commitment or a community event when there is clearly another option that allows for participation in both? Schools typically have events on Halloween, which means children still have the opportunity to celebrate and dress-up on the actual day. Additionally, having it on the weekend means more parents will likely be accompanying their children and that alone has obvious safety advantages.
If Fitzgerald’s take on it is “What do we care†then listen to the parents that DO care. I strongly encourage the board to set aside tradition and take into account what makes sense for those it actually affects.
Why don’t we just move all of the holidays to the weekend, so this type of atrocity never happens again.
Think about this…. it’s daylight, parents don’t have to run with the kids because it isn’t as scary. Plus I can take my kids around my town on the 31st AND your town on the weekend! ( and I have seen this happen, Big van pulls up at the corner, and a group of kids you “know” don’t live in your town, swarm across your lawn, some of them make an attempt at a costume.) My kids will be set for candy for the year!
Dan, I hope you are being facetious. I think parents with that mentality is sad honestly. With the economy and prices of candy as it is, why would you deliberately take from our community and kids? Essentially we are passing out candy for our neighbors and trying to make the best of it….so why impose on it causing less to be given for who it was intended? Does any kid need candy for a year?!
Yes, I was joking about me, my kids have kids. But the out of town van thing, is something I have seen before…
Why do people feel the need to overthink everything?! Of course Trick-or-Treating should be ON Halloween. No date is going to be perfect for everyone. (If it’s switched to a weekend there will be people complaining about it then, too.)
Trick or Treating should be ON Halloween. Anything else is just plain ignorant. Why mess with tradition? Don’t be an idiot Sharon Bower…
Trick or Treating should be on Halloween. This tradition should not be changed!
Absolutely! Keep it on Oct 31st, that is Halloween after all. Parents should be out walking with their kids…..that’s the way it was when I was growing up. We went at night WITH our parents and had a great time! Halloween is supposed to be dark and a bit scary. Why is this even up for discussion? It’s bad enough all the surrounding areas have changed one of the most loved childhood traditions, lets not join in Twin Lakes!
I love Halloween, it’s my favorite holiday, and Trick or Treat is part of Halloween. Perhaps for the families that seem to have trouble getting things together, we should make it so Christmas and the 4th of July only fall on a weekend also. What about Easter, that changes every year…CRAZY! How do you deal with that predicament! That way the kids won’t miss out on anything or you would not have to take the time off of work. Please people, you can’t do everything and if little Johnny or Jill have to only get a half of pumpkin full of goodies instead of two or three because there is not enough time so be it. Trick or Treat is suppose to be ON HALLOWEEN and in the EVENING hours! NOT on a Sunday afternoon, give me a break! Village Board, please have the guts to stick to tradition and not fall victim to the few who want to take everything good and fun out of life so its more convenient for them! IF anything extend it an hour on either side of the time frame.
I am a mom and a resident of Twin Lakes for 9 years now. We need to stick with tradition and keep it on Halloween!! Like stated in previous posts, should we switch every other holiday to a weekend as well? no. Keep it on the actual day.
I agree with having trick or treating on the Sunday before Halloween. I grew up in mukwonago and that is how it was there. It was safer to go out during daylight hours, it was more convenient for most since many more are off of work on Sundays, and since it typically began at noon, there was plenty of time to have lunch and be finished before dinner. It has been inconvenient to try and make it home from work to take the kids out the 8 years I have gone in twin lakes and annoying to have dinner repeatedly interrupted by the doorbell. I go with my kids, but worry about all of our safety as we walk the streets in the dark . I think safety should be put ahead of a date on the calendar.
This is a joke right? I grew up in Twin Lakes. I moved a few towns over 2 years ago. Did Twin Lakes turn into a scary place? Last time I checked it was a safe place to live. Get real people. Also, last time I checked- we do our Easter egg hunts on Easter and open Christmas presents on Christmas, trick or treating? Yep , that would be Halloween. If you can’t sacrifice a few hours once a year where everything isn’t perfect, then maybe ask the neighbors to take the kids out. We don’t need negative attitudes on the streets causing an UNSAFE environment for all the kiddies.