How Early Is Too Early To Decorate For Halloween: Block Talk

Holiday creep — a retail trend where stores introduce holiday-themed merchandise, decorations, and sales well before the traditional start of the holiday season — isn’t limited to Christmas anymore.

We asked for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column, if Halloween decorations are going up too early, and if they are over the top. And because Halloween is all about having fun, we told readers to respond using their Halloween alter-egos if they wanted.

“Yes to both!” said “Tiger Tom,” a Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader said. “You typically don’t see Christmas decorations up on November 1st, do you? That’s the equivalent to putting up Halloween decorations in early September!”

Tiger Tom’s homeowners association sets limits on when holiday decorations of any kind can be displayed. People who aren’t similarly restricted “should self-limit how long they leave up decorations,” Tiger Tom said, adding that “leaving them up too long takes away from them being ‘special.’”

‘I Don’t Want To Look At This Crap’

Jo, a Massachusetts Patch reader, was emphatic.

“OMG, yes!” Jo said in reponse to the question. “Honestly, I don’t want to look at this crap in September. For the love of god, please wait till October!”

Kay, who reads Across America Patch, as well as local Patch news sites, also urged restraint.

“September 1st is when I decorate for fall,” Kay said. “It’s hard to see all those ghoulish decorations up in the large garden centers spewing smoke at you and making creepy noises. Then you go for an errand and see them in a yard — not one, but usually five to seven. The yard looks ridiculous.”

Kay added, “Oh, well, to each their own to express their seasonal feelings.”

But some people leave “those big ugly skeletons up all year,” said “I Don’t Celebrate Halloween,” who reads Cheshire Patch, Meriden Patch and Clinton Patch, all in Connecticut.

Labor Day had barely passed, and four houses in the Connecticut reader’s neighborhood has already been decorated.

‘Garish, 8-Foot Monstrosities’

Rhode Island Patch reader Terry can relate.

“My neighbor had some up in the last week of August! It’s still summer,” Terry said.

“As early as August here in Enfield, and garish, 8-foot monstrosities, too,” Enfield (Connecticut) Patch reader “Jadwiga” commiserated.

Most displays are “normal,” Jadwiga said. “Several are stupid and over the top.”

“Fall doesn’t start until Sept. 22,” said Cherry Hill (New Jersey) Patch reader Jeannie.

Also, the Connecticut reader who doesn’t observe Halloween, added, “Take the decorations down right after; anything after two weeks after Halloween is just tacky to leave up.”

“I guess that I am rather traditional. I am fine with Halloween fun, but feel it should wait for October,” said Stratford (Connecticut) Patch reader Paul.

“I am not comfortable with over the top scary or gory displays that are visible from public property,” Paul said. “The unintended effect these may have on small children must be considered.”

A Burke (Virginia) Patch reader said displays are not only going up too early, they are “very horrible at Halloween and stay up way too long.”

“There is time for everything, and everything in its time,” said California Patch reader “Giulia,” who lives in a place where “scary ghosts come out by 28th or 29th of September.”

In Giulia’s world, Halloween decorations should go up on or after Oct. 15, but “definitely not in the month of September.” And they should be removed no later than Nov. 3.

Also, the reader said, “those scary bloody decorations scare not just kids but dogs, too.”

Decorations are “going up too early, but you can’t have too many,” said Vienna (Virginia) Patch reader Karen.

‘The Lid Is Off The Casket’

For “Future Ghost,” the first week of September can’t roll around fast enough. The New Jersey Patch reader is a friendly, Casper-esque apparition who is “personally not into the violent or gory Halloween decorations.”

“Any time starting the day after Labor Day is fair game for Halloween decorating,” Future Ghost said. “It gives people something to look forward to when the end-of-summer blues creep in. When school opens, it can aid in transition, which is always depressing.”

“It’s never too early, the lid is off the casket, enjoy life’s gifts!” said a Woodbridge (Virginia) Patch reader “Aunt Bee,” who also lamented, “I wish it were safe for kids to walk the neighborhoods again.”

“People want to enjoy their Halloween decorations for a longer time, instead of feeling like they just put them up and Halloween is over,” said a New Port Richey (Florida) Patch reader. “I think that’s why decorations are going up earlier, and I love it.”

‘Out Of Respect For My Neighbors’

Crystal Lake-Cary (Illinois) Patch reader “You Know Who” is all for early decorating, too.

“I would love for every house on my block to decorate for Halloween as early as Labor Day weekend,” You Know Who said. “Out of respect for my neighbors who may not agree, I will hold off until the end of September.”

Interior decorations are another matter. They went up at the beginning of September.

“Mine are up all year!” said John, who reads Queens (New York) Patch and Glendale (California) Patch. John wishes more people would decorate.

“Anything goes in this day and age, and I have already seen some decorations, so I guess it is not too early,” said Wayne (New Jersey) Patch reader “Dana the Jewelry Nail Girl.”

‘Not A Beach Sport’

Some readers pointed out that an early push by retail stores shouldn’t necessarily translate to early decorating.

“Just because stores put up Halloween displays in August doesn’t mean the buyer should be displaying it before the first tree changes color,” said Milford (Connecticut) Patch reader Linda, who thinks decorating in her neighborhood occurs “waaaaaay too early” and is “way too ghoulish and scary for neighborhoods.”

“Halloween is a fall/harvest time of year — not a beach time sport!” Linda said.

“It’s bad enough retail stores push holidays early, but putting up overboard decorations is really bad,” said Wallingford (Connecticut) Patch reader “Toto.”

Fallston (Maryland) Patch reader Kimberly S. thinks it’s fine for people to start decorating for Halloween in mid-September.

“The year and these events pass too quickly seemingly nowadays,” Kimberly said. “Decorating earlier extends the event and makes purchasing efforts more cost-effective. As long as the decorations are appropriate (visual and sounds, if any), I feel ‘just mind yourself,’ and it soon will pass onto the next holiday. For some, Halloween is their favorite event, and for others it is Christmas.”

It Takes Time

“It’s hard work and takes a lot of time,” Pleasanton (California) Patch reader Beverly said, defending the early decorators.

“If you’re just putting out random props around the yard, yes, September is too early. If, however, if you are setting a home walk-through with elaborate scenes, you’ve got to start by mid-September at the latest,” said Grosse Pointe (Michigan) Patch reader Lisa.

“My current street is boring with a few scarecrows and pumpkins, and we don’t get many trick-or-treaters. A few streets over, they are mobbed with kids — totally jealous!” she added.

Caroline, a California Patch reader, said over-the-top decorations are the expectation in her neighborhood.

“We moved to an urban man-made lake in SoCal last year, and were told immediately that everyone will participate in over-the-top outside decorations for 4th of July, Halloween, and Christmas, including our boats,” Caroline said. “Decorations can go up early, with a contest and judging to be expected!”

A Frightening Price Tag

Americans expect to spend a record $13.1 billion on Halloween this year, with more than half of consumers planning to invest about $4.2 billion on decorations, according to a National Retail Federation survey.

“The amount of money that is spent on Halloween is insane,” said Patch reader Barry. “Why not do something more productive with your money? It is a total waste.”

Hillsborough (New Jersey) Patch reader Patsy agreed, saying, “Some of the decorations are so over the top, the money being spent on some of them is crazy!”

“Decorating for each holiday has creeped in earlier and earlier over the years. I'd rather see Halloween now (early September) than Christmas anytime in October,” said Jacqueline, who reads Northport Patch, Huntington Patch and Smithtown Patch, all in New York. “Everything is rushed. That said, I love driving around and seeing all of the different Halloween displays.”

A Fredericksburg (Virginia) Patch reader said it seems as if every holiday is rushed, and finds Halloween especially objectionable.

“The fact that Halloween, or ‘Devil’s Night,’ is nearly as popular as Christmas tells me where we are as a nation,” the reader said.

Halloween is the more popular of the two, according to a Vernon (Connecticut) Patch reader whose Halloween alter ego is “Renfield,” a character from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”

“It’s never too early, and it’s never enough. The spirit is lacking every year. Do better, people,” Renfield said.

“Cancel Christmas and celebrate Halloween to the end of the year,” the reader continued. “For those who don’t celebrate Halloween or don’t like Halloween, keep your mouths shut and kick rocks.”

The Ghost Of Halloween Past

“It’s the best time of the year!” said “Granny O’Ghoul,” an Across America Patch reader, who passes the family tradition of Halloween decorating down to her granddaughter.

“My granddaughter looks forward to putting out decorations every year with me. The phone gets put down, the tablet goes away and we laugh at some of the displays we put up,” Granny O’Ghoul said.

Amid all of the turmoil in the world today, “it’s nice to forget for a few days and just be kids again,” Granny O’Ghoul said.

“Our neighbors either put a wreath on the door, or go full boat with decor (like me)! I get more people stopping and saying they love the decor. No complaints yet, and my pumpkins and cornstalks are out, awaiting their companions!” the reader said

Ossining-Croton-On-Hudson (New York) Patch reader whose Halloween alter-ego is “David” from “The Lost Boys,” referenced the long-held fashion rule that white shouldn’t be worn after Labor Day.

“Labor Day is the perfect weekend to start setting up. Out with white and in with orange. Those that go over-the-top are most likely trying to recapture some nostalgia of Halloweens past, when neighborhoods meant community, and our children were the biggest part,” David said.

“The traditional Crotonville house-to-house trick-or-treating — always with a stop at the legendary ‘Halloween House’ — was the highlight of every Hallow’s Eve,” David recalled. “Crotonville, a hamlet within the Town of Ossining, has always had a special kind of charm, and I like to think our over-the-top decorations helped inspire the neighborhood to join in the fun. It became a creative outlet for everyone, whether they had kids or not, and brought a little extra magic to our streets.”

The best Halloween in recent memory was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After our incredible 2019 display, people knew who we were — and in 2020, they showed up in full force. Even with safety precautions, the neighborhood came alive with decorations and spirit. Halloween spirit? We had it in spades.”

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

Catch up on Block Talk

• The Sheets Hit The Fan When We Asked About Scented Laundry Products
• Fire Pit Season Heats Up; Here Are Some Dos And Don’ts
• It’s ‘One Big Goose Latrine’ In Some Neighborhoods
• There Are Strong Opinions About Kids In Breweries
• If You Don’t Return A Shopping Cart, Are You A Total Jerk?
• What You Can Do To Stop Speeding Drivers In The Neighborhood
• ‘Poop Cleanup In Aisle 9’: Do Dogs Belong In Stores?