Jon and Susan Farrier’s house is a Halloween destination for Preston Hollow residents.
This Halloween, Dallas neighborhoods noticed a decline in visitors at their doors on Tuesday night.
In some Preston Hollow areas, such as Sparkman Club, Royal Chapel, and Park Forrest, reported higher numbers of trick-or-treaters. However, even with prominent signs directing visitors to the candy on the front porch (and sometimes literal signs), most neighbors lamented the low turnout, with fewer than 10 children making their rounds.
“It’s been this way for five years, and it always makes me so sad,” said a West Haven resident. “I have fond memories of traveling in flocks when I was a kid in our neighborhood.”
Some houses had their lights off, but determined children still attempted to visit them. A neighbor in Sparkman Club noted, “The first ones coming down the streets tried to go to people’s houses that didn’t have lights on.”
“We were disappointed last year when we tried to trick-or-treat with our seven-year-old and five-year-old, only to discover that there were no kids out,” said a Preston North resident. “I’m guessing there are more empty nesters and older kids here than trick-or-treating-aged kids. This year, we decided to meet up with friends and visit another neighborhood.”
One possible reason for the decline in trick-or-treaters nationwide is the growing popularity of trunk-or-treating.
According to NPR, trunk-or-treating has been a phenomenon since the early ’90s and is typically found at YMCA centers, churches, and sometimes car dealerships. Adults decorate the back of their cars with spooky decorations, providing a safe and convenient environment for children to receive treats.
Other contributing factors may include the unfavorable weather on Tuesday night or the Texas Rangers’ World Series game, which they won for the first time on Wednesday night.
