There are not many nights in the entire year that are as exciting for youngsters as Halloween. Everywhere you look ghouls, goblins, little Frankensteins, jokers and transformers yelling out, ‘trick or treat’ at every orange tinted, pumpkin lit door.

Most kids are content with the ‘treat’ part of Halloween, but a few enjoy a little ‘trickery’ here and there. This is nothing new.

My father often told me of times when he was young, in the 1920s and ’30s he and his friends would knock over the teacher’s woodpile. My father would also tell me that they would stack it back up the next day. This I believe was the moral of the story. Have fun, but make sure you repair any of the trickery you participate in.

During the Halloweens of my youth a favourite trick was throwing rotten tomatoes. My father would leave a few out in the garden and by October 31, having seen a few frosts they were nice and juicy and mushy. If you have ever thrown a rotten tomato you will know that half of it usually ends up on the person doing the throwing. And who did we throw them at; each other, of course.

Every now and again a few eggs would be thrown, but they were harder to come by. Occasionally, a handful of windows would be soaped. Members of the coming graduation class of DTSS would clean the windows the following day. In my day the much revered, yet strict, English teacher, Murray Johnson, organized the cleaning.

Of course, older children play Halloween tricks. The younger kids are happy making the rounds. Some travel in groups, others are walked with parents, while still others are carpooled to hit the maximum amount of houses.

When I was a child, Invermere was spread out and had a much lower density. We were fortunate to have grown up before smart growth. We wondered the entire town from Westside or 13 Avenue to Wilder Subdivision to 5 Street or Rotten Row. 5 Street was a gold mine as it was the highest density in Invermere. Rotten Row was a ‘can’t miss’ street for every trick or treater that wanted to top up their bag.

Nowadays, Halloween seems as important to adults as the children. While handing out treats it is easy to remember the excitement we felt as we yelled, ‘trick or treat’ or hurled a soggy tomato.

Halloween falls on Saturday this year. The streets will be teeming with youngsters making the rounds. As well, many adults will be making their way to nightclubs or private parties.

It is a good idea for parents to make sure your child’s costume has some reflective tape on it so he or she can be easily seen on the streets. And for adults, be especially careful behind the wheel throughout the night.

Have fun and have a happy Halloween.

Bob can be reached at bandlede@telus.net.