By Kira Ford, Business Manager
Most high schoolers have retired from roaming the streets Oct. 31 in hopes of filling bags or buckets with all the candy their neighbors are willing to give away. However, there is something to be said for those who still put on uncomfortable costumes and go out into the cold to collect supplies of candy that could easily last through the next calendar year.
Trick-or-treating can be a lot of fun for any age group, but is also a decent amount of work for those who spend a lot of time trekking through neighborhoods that often are not their own. Thought needs to be put into where to spend the evening to make the activity the most worthwhile.
A great location that is used by thousands of trick-or-treaters every year is Buena Vista, the massive neighborhood surrounding Reynolds. There are plenty of flat roads lined with sidewalks and street lights, which can be reassuring when there are hundreds of people dressed in sometimes terrifying costumes walking all around.
“The streets in Buena Vista are calm and well lit, so you can walk around without having to worry about getting hit by a car,” senior Jacob Weinberg said.
There is one other benefit.
“The BV is the place to be,” junior Bo Kenan said. “You can always find a couple of houses that give out king-size candy bars.”
Oaklawn Avenue in particular has always been a trick-or-treating hot spot due to the length of the flat road running through Buena Vista. It’s a prime location that should be among the first spots to visit before homeowners run out of candy and turn off the porch lights.
“The BV is the best place to go without a doubt because you have a lot of older people who have nothing better to do than to give out candy to strangers,” Weinberg added. “There are also the people who go all out and make haunted houses in their front yards and hand out buckets of candy.”
Ardmore is also a great location for candy collecting and walking through its decorated streets. Many houses go all out with Halloween decorations and lights, which adds to the trick-or-treating experience.
For those who cannot make it to one of these two spots, going close to home with a group of friends can be just as much fun.
Old Salem has also had trick-or-treating for kids for the past four years, with volunteers stationed at the historic buildings to give out candy. The event lasts from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and everyone participating should bring a flashlight for safety purposes on the stone and brick sidewalks that are often uneven. Everyone is welcome to join in for a night of fun.
The best route to take on Halloween is one that is safe and surrounded with friends. As long as students are in good company, they will have fun anywhere they go.