We decorated the outside of the house with inflatable skeletons and an inflatable pumpkin, and put battery-operated flickering pumpkin lamps in the window. Kids going past were shrieking 'Look at that house! Skeletons!'
I dressed as a witch with a tall hat. We had a steady stream of little ghosts, witches, skeletons, Frankensteins, mummies, vampires, fairies, you name it, between about 5 and 8pm. After that we had bunches of young teenagers, all immaculately turned out in costumes and make-up.
I have a lovely lamp, like a white globe, which glows white and then slowly changes colour. It's battery-operated and small so it fits in my hands. When the little kids came, I'd say, right, let's see how clever you are! Concentrate - what colour is my crystal ball?
Then I'd switch it on, and they'd say, blue! Pink! Purple! Yellow! Green!
I'd let the little ones hold it and they'd detect the switch so they'd know it was a trick.
Then I'd say, now, you're all very scary, but there aren't any devils here, are there? And Techy'd lean round the door in his rubber devil mask.
The kids'd point behind me and I'd say, where? Over there? and they'd shout nooooo, behind you! and eventually he'd come right out and we'd all shriek.
(Some very small kids were straight down the path to their mums at the first sight of the lurking devil. Can't say I blame them. They accepted sweets in compensation, though.)
We'd then produce a 'cauldron' full of treats and they'd dig in and scrabble around for chocolate and loose change.
The teenagers were a bit wary at first, probably having had some abuse from other households, but they were polite and friendly and all done up to the nines. Next year I'll have some special tricks and treats for the older ones, rather than bringing out the cauldron.
It was all over by about 9pm and after that, peace and quiet. No bommyknocking, egging, or fireworks in the street. This is on a
rough northern council estate. Heaven. 8)