How to be a trick-or-treat stop for apartment-dwellers by neighborsproject
This is an easy guide to being a trick-or-treat stop on Halloween for people who live in medium-sized apartment buildings.

Just because you live in an apartment building doesn't mean you can't be part of the Halloween fun. Being a trick-or-treat stop is a good excuse to sit around, eat candy and shoot the breeze with your neighbors, people and dogs walking by in outrageous costumes.

Though some big apartment and condo buildings organize inside trick-or-treating routes for kids, those of us in medium-sized apartment buildings are usually ignored. The trick to getting in on the fun is to set up a trick-or-treat stop in front of your building or on the corner of your street. If you start the trend on your street, don't be surprised to see more and more people imitating you the next year.

You will need:
-A bowl of candy
-Scissor
-Friends
-A folding chair
-Warm clothing/blanket
-Halloween decorations
-Strong tape
-Dog treats
-Two bowls, one large, one small

Being a trick-or-treat stop is an item on Neighbors Project's Neighbors Checklist.
 
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Step 1: Invite your friends

The trick to having as much fun as possible is to turn this into your own little party. Invite your significant other and friends to be part of the party. Give them a week's notice and ask them to bring their own folding chair. You can have a simultaneous indoor-outdoor party, or arrange an indoor post-party for a larger group of friends when you get tired of being outside.
LadyLuck1337 says: May 27, 2008. 7:13 AM
Trick or treating is becoming all but outlawed where I live. Last year I had 7 trick or treaters. It's so sad. Maybe this year I'll organize something like this to encourage a return to our roots. Thanks.
maximus276 says: Aug 24, 2011. 9:54 PM
you should put up posters send emails and party (convince people) so more children will go around next year.
maximus276 says: Aug 24, 2011. 9:52 PM
you are just like everyone else in North America who has left over candy...you eat it!
chuckr44 says: Oct 6, 2008. 10:15 AM
I don't recommend giving out chocolate. Sure people love it, but it's simply sugar and fat, solid at room temperature. Like lard. I prefer the fat-free jelly candies. Chewy, fruity, yum-ness.
nerdologist says: Oct 14, 2008. 7:05 PM
I disagree. Most people love chocolate. If you are worried about fat, don't go trick-or-treating. Halloween is all about the candy. And costumes. BTW, I like the dog treat idea.
Alpvax says: Sep 5, 2010. 9:22 AM
I once knew someone who was allergic to chocolate lol
R4Man18 says: Oct 20, 2008. 12:58 AM
You sir go out of your way to hand out candy. You are a nice man. I am 19 but still grumpy as hell. I get angry when the teens come up to my door with no costumes but I grit my teeth and give em candy anyway.
Bartboy says: Mar 20, 2009. 10:47 AM
Just put up a sign that says " No costume? NO CANDY!"
Big Nasty says: Jul 15, 2008. 8:27 PM
it says "vampire plats drink blood" on the top thing
=SMART= says: Jun 11, 2008. 11:49 AM
a great way to do this would be do do it autonomously like a skeleton that disposes sweets !
hydrnium.h2 says: Dec 6, 2007. 3:23 PM
Dumbledore is gay?
fungus amungus says: Dec 6, 2007. 4:18 PM
Was... if he existed, that is.

link
mandible says: Nov 18, 2007. 2:12 PM
What a great Instructable! I've long been an apartment-dweller, which deterred me from handing out candy ... until this year. Even though our landlord wasn't home -- and he controls the porch lights, so I couldn't put it on -- I hung a big sign on my front door to "Knock for Treats." (I live on the first floor of a two-flat, so I was able to hear knocking. Others might consider asking trick or treaters to ring the door bell.) By the end of the night, about 50 kids had stopped by! It was a lot of fun, and I got to tend to my chores in between handing out treats. Maybe not as fun as having a party, but efficient for busy gals!
mrmath says: Nov 1, 2007. 6:48 PM
I wondered. Doesn't "trick-or-treat" imply that if you don't give me a treat, I'll trick you? If it does, then shouldn't it be "treat-or-trick"?
neighborsproject (author) says: Nov 1, 2007. 6:51 PM
I think that you're free to call it whatever you want. I'm a fan of treat-and-eat.
!Andrew_Modder! says: Nov 1, 2007. 6:16 PM
nicely done! also, yeah ppl buy chocolate, cause i used to freaking HATE getting like 1 dumb dumb pop from houses ;-( it pissed me off lol, cause cmon how cheap can a person get to give 1 dumb dumb pop per person, good man giving chocolate ;-)
neighborsproject (author) says: Nov 1, 2007. 6:18 PM
Amen.
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