Our daughter, Julie, has lived in Mesa, Arizona for years.  Every Halloween, she dresses her 5 daughters up in original Halloween costumes that she has made.  Halloween is a big event in her area of Mesa.  The weather is just about perfect.  Everyone can actually see the children's costumes because there they don't have to wear coats (unlike what we do here in Idaho).  My husband and I have listened to Julie and her family talk about their Halloween traditions, and every year we would say, "One of these years we need to go to Mesa and spend Halloween with our daughter."

Well, this year we finally did it.....and we loved every minute!  On Halloween eve, all of Julie's neighbros gather together about 5:30 p.m. out in the cul-de-sac for dinner.  They have done this for so long that everyone knows exactly what to bring.  For instance, one family does the hot dogs and sausages, along with the kraut.  Another neighbor brings all the "good" food to offset the candy.  Julie's next door neighbor always bring out his fire ring and wood and has a huge fire blazing all evening.  This year there were soups, chips, dips, carrot sticks, apples, rolls, salads, hot dogs, casseroles--and the list goes on and on.  After all the children who live in this cul-de-sac have eaten something good for dinner, they take off in groups with friends and dads for their own trick-or-treating adventures.

For those of us who stay behind, there are tables and chairs set up for eating, and chairs put around the fire ring for talking and having fun.  One table is set up just for the bowls of candy.  All these neighbors put their candy on this table.  Then as the trick-or-treaters come, they are told to take one piece of candy out of each bowl.  When they're finished they have just "trick-or-treated" the entire cul-de-sac.

This was such a fun evening!  My husband and I were welcomed by all of Julie's neighbors.  We made many new friends--ones that we can wave at and talk to when we come to visit again.  There's fun, laughter, comraderie, and memories.  It doesn't get any better than that!