HALLOWEEN 2017: Trick-or-treaters roaming Westwood Village

| Holidays | West Seattle news

4:47 PM: How often do you get to trick-or-treat at a haunted jewelry store? The decorations are up and the candy is out at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor), which sent the photo as Westwood Village (2600 SW Barton) trick-or-treating kicked off. We’re on our way for more photos.

5:15 PM: We’re here and the crowd’s big and steady!

At Wyatt’s Jewelers, they had counted 400 kids after just the first hour! The candy-hunting continues until 6 pm here too. (See the rest of tonight’s Halloween happenings in our guide.)

JRR October 31, 2017 (5:11 pm)

I wish people would actually trick or treat in their own neighborhoods in this town. While it’s nice that businesses do this marketing, it has definitely removed some of the community and meet your neighbors aspects from Halloween.

WSB October 31, 2017 (5:22 pm)

In Admiral, they do … every year when we head that way for Skeleton Theatre, the crowds are huge along the streets for blocks around. Where we live in Upper Fauntleroy, there are very few kids (was the same way even when ours was little a long time ago) and, correspondingly, we don’t see many when we’re home inbetween coverage stops …
chemist October 31, 2017 (7:00 pm)

I was similarly shocked to hear that my aunt in Portland who sells watercolor paintings was doing so at an art walk hosted out of her home, as that art walk program does.
dsa October 31, 2017 (7:27 pm)

I agree, the businesses who want “our” business are ruining traditional trick or treat. We are only getting a fraction of the kids we had last year and the weather this year is perfect.
- WSB October 31, 2017 (7:45 pm)
  
  How do you know the businesses are “ruining” it? (Trust us, it’s a lot of work for them, a lot of expense for candy, too … one Junction business told us last weekend they had invested in $800 worth for Sunday’s festival.) Westwood Village always does it on Halloween. I just went back through 10 years of Admiral District coverage and it’s been on Halloween more often than not (the last two years, it was the Friday before). The Junction’s been having its festival, incorporating trick-or-treating, on the Sunday before Halloween for six years now (and you’ll recall that before the festival, it was a trick-or-treat event, usually on a Saturday). So nothing has changed in a long time in regard to what businesses have been doing. – TR
  - dsa October 31, 2017 (9:19 pm)
    
    It got better. I guess we just got a late start, ended up with 50.
    - WSB October 31, 2017 (9:25 pm)
      
      Wow! Even before we started WSB and went on to spend Halloween evening out covering stuff, I don’t think we ever counted more than a dozen here on the Fauntleroy/Gatewood line.

1994 October 31, 2017 (8:17 pm)

I got 70 kids at my house in Arbor Heights, ran out of treats and had to shut off the lights so not to disappoint those still out at 7:45….the traditional trick or treating remains alive and well.

I think it is great people have the option to visit the businesses or neighborhoods.

AJP October 31, 2017 (8:25 pm)

I am the biggest proponent EVER of trick or treating in your own neighborhood, if possible. But this event serves a purpose too. It’s before the usual time (after dark) and families with small kids with early bedtimes can participate. Tonight is a school night. There might be lots of reasons why this fits better in a family’s schedule. I think the sad attitudes from the 80s and 90s about poisoned candy and kidnapped kids are pretty well gone, which was one reason people ended up at the mall. My neighborhood in Highland Park has had a steady increase of trick or treaters over the past few years. Besides all that, Westwood’s been getting a bad rap lately, and this is a great way to bring in a family-friendly vibe.

Gina October 31, 2017 (9:16 pm)

68 trick or treaters two streets west of Admiral business district. Before the local businesses began hosting I was only seeing about a dozen or less every year. There really was a sharp drop in the late 70s that continued until fairly recently.

justme October 31, 2017 (9:25 pm)

I love that communities offer fun and safe alternatives to going door to door. If my children were small today, I’d never take them out and let them walk up to stranger’s homes. It just seems foolish now.

1994 October 31, 2017 (9:48 pm)

Apartment or condo buildings with secure doors are not an option for neighborhood trick or treating so guess the business district fills a need.

Canton October 31, 2017 (9:57 pm)

Big shot out to my Highland park neighborhood. My shy little Batgirl,(when she’s not fighting crime.),had an awesome experience, and all the neighbors were great.

BlairJ November 1, 2017 (12:01 pm)

Glad the stores do this for parents who are more comfortable with that option.

We were swamped with trick-or-treaters at our house in Highland Park. Had to run down to the store restock part way through! It’s always fun to interact with neighborhood kids and their parents through this tradition.

Sorry, comment time is over.