On Oct. 31, as the sun disappears, ghosts and goblins, superheroes and princesses head into neighborhoods to inquire, “trick or treat?” and fill their baskets with candy.
But this tradition may be a thing of the past — at least on Anna Maria Island.
Sharon Allen, a Holmes Beach resident for 35 years who raised her three children on the island, said she has seen changes.
Allen said she can remember when families in her neighborhood would trick or treat together at familiar homes and people went “all-out” with haunted houses.
“The biggest difference I see now is we don’t have that many families living here and people don’t know their neighbors,” Allen said.
Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon attributes the decline less to neighborhoods and more to “the times.”
“It’s scary out there — so it seems people everywhere are moving toward gatherings at churches and businesses,” Shearon said.
On Halloween, Oct. 31, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Trail of Treats.
It provides a safe venue for families, according to chamber president Deb Wing.
The event will begin at 3 p.m. with a costume contest, followed by trick-or-treating at island businesses.
Kelly Smith, a resident of Anna Maria with three young sons, said her family attends Trail of Treats and then meets up in the 500 block of 75th Street in Holmes Beach, where people in the neighborhood “go all-out and decorate like crazy.”
Smith said residents on the block greet and hand out candy in their driveways to trick-or-treaters.
“It is fantastic, safe and enjoyed by kids and adults — Halloween here is magical,” Smith said.