Trick-or-treat tradition and tips

(Windsor, Ont. (28/10/15)-Kevin Turpin-Gordon, 13, carefully crafts his Halloween display in front of his home on Josephine Street and prepares for for his favourite festive tradition on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. // Photo by Jillian Toman)

 

Trick-or-treat tradition and tips

By Jillian Toman

553 Josephine St. is adorned with caution tape, a grave yard scene with skeletal parts on the front lawn, a seven-foot witch that guards the porch, and a five foot welded spider mounts the archway.

For the Turpin-Gordon family Oct. 31 is more than a day for trick-or-treating, it’s a festive family tradition.

Susie Turpin-Gordon said the elaborate Halloween scene grows every year and has for over a decade. The family decorates and celebrates all the traditional holidays, but especially Halloween.

“Everyone meets here at our place, all the family and all their children. We order pizza that night so it’s a little less hectic, and then we all get ready and go all as a group,” said Turpin-Gordon.

Turpin-Gordon said the night’s festivities are enjoyed by neighbours along the block of Josephine Street.

“This area is all family, almost the whole block everyone is like family, everybody watches out for one another,” she said, and added, safety precautions are in place.

“We make sure on Halloween night we have the area well lit so everyone can see where they’re going and there is someone at home handing out candy…The children use reflective bags or armbands, everyone stays close together and candy is eaten at home after being sorted,” said Turpin-Gordon.  “We stay close together and keep track of where everyone is.”

Turpin-Gordon has noticed a change in trick-or-treating patterns.  “In the last few years there are a lot fewer trick-or-treaters and most of the time they come a lot earlier, sometimes as early as 5p.m.,” she said.

The Safety Village hosts a successful annual Trick or Treat in the Village event. Tyler Lamphier, programs and services manager said, “The concept behind the Safety Village is to enhance the safety education that is being provided in the schools in a hands-on interactive location.”

He also said, the organized event is not designed to replace neighbourhood trick-or-treating.

“The (annual) event enhances the trick-or-treating event in the neighbourhood because it gives you the foundations upon which to build a successful trick-or-treat night-out,” he said.

Sgt. Matt D’Asti of the Windsor Police Services reminds all community members who participate in Halloween festivities to do so safely.

“It’s an exciting time for children in the community that are participating going out door-to-to door collecting treats,” said D’Asti.  He adds that trick-or-treaters should stick to one side of the street, only attend houses that have lights on, utilize a buddy system and inform parents or guardians where they will be and when they will return.”

He also suggested having a plan in place and not to get behind the wheel if you are consuming alcohol.