I was never very drawn to the spirit Halloween. I don’t like scary things, I’m not much for candy, and I think orange and purple is the tackiest color combination imaginable. But as I’ve gotten older I have wanted so badly to give out candy from my own front door for trick or treaters. For one reason or another I haven’t gotten to do that yet in adulthood, living in apartments or taking my own nieces trick or treating. Now I had the house, but I wasn’t sure if I would have the trick or treaters.

Andrew says American Halloween traditions (mainly excessive consumerism) is just starting to pick up here. So I didn’t know what to expect. Halloween I could probably bear to live without, but I had to have my pumpkins. Coming from rural Pennsylvania where pumpkin patches are as rampant as Dollar Generals, I had big expectations. So I was extremely excited when a drive in the country turned into a surprise pumpkin patch visit.

We got there early and it was already getting busy, with a team of high schoolers directing traffic. We entered into the farm and there were tents with bounce houses, crafts, and halloween knick-knacks for purchase. A few food trucks were set up, including a s’mores truck that I was obsessed with. You could purchase a little smores kit and toast the marshmallows in a fire pit right in front of the truck. On top of the hill there were wheelbarrows to borrow and wheel out into the patch to pick your pumpkins. After lot of inspection I picked out a nice round baby with an intact stem. Andrew, an unexperienced scotsman, was not amused by my pickiness, but his was the one that ended up with the rotten bottom so…

We carved our pumpkins two nights before Halloween. I had just watched Men in Black so I went with an alien, but it looks more like a jack-o-lantern with botox (halloween slay). Andrew’s cat is giving it’s 9th life to be out tonight. We bought probably more candy than we would need but we had no idea if we would even have trick or treaters. But hopefully the pumpkins would give the signal, if they weren’t eaten alive by the slugs first.

I was still unsure of what the night would bring when I stepped outside just before dusk to light our pumpkins. I looked over my shoulder next door and was delighted to see them setting up a full yard of decorations! The neighbors in the window across the street were putting up ghosts and spiders. I was relieved our candy wouldn’t go to waste as little by little holiday ornaments appeared on the street. I set up a cozy spot by the front window to wait on my guisers.

I started hearing kids out on the street and was waiting and waiting and finally I got a knock! Two sweet girls made my entire night. Moving to a new country and not knowing anyone can feel lonely at times, but getting to be a part of a holiday tradition in your community feels so welcoming. I’ve been able to meet a few neighbors too! And it got even better when the kids starting coming to the door with jokes!! And songs! They put in the extra effort here. The biggest seller of the night was the BBQ monster puffs, which we wanted for ourselves but are so happy to be giving them out.

I told one of the neighbors I wasn’t sure if Halloween would be popular here, and she replied “On this street it is!” There were more trick or treaters than I ever imagined, we ran out of candy! I stole into our snack stash while Andrew went to buy more! Eventually visitors dwindled and the last few kids were encouraged to take candy by the handful. This really is the dream. I am so excited for how busy it was tonight, and it has me wanting to go harder for next year!!

Happy Halloween!

Katy