One of our local schools puts on a Haunted House fundraiser every year. It is a BIG tradition in our town, they hardly need to advertise anymore. They usually clear $30,000+. Halloween is on a Thursday this year. They are trying to decide if they do it the weekend before or the weekend after? Teens and college kids are the main target audience. What do you think, would they have less turn out 2 days after Halloween?
I think it's common to hold events and parties the weekend prior to Halloween, when the date falls on a weekday. That's the way it was done last year and the year prior, around here. They do the same for St. Paddy's festivities, rather than wait until the weekend after it has passed.
Weekend before.
Once the actual holiday is over, people (and stores) move right on with the next holiday.
Before for sure - lots of haunted houses run in my area from 10/1 through Halloween, but none are open after. I think it would be anti-climactic after. Our school one is always before Halloween.
Do it the weekend before. After the actual date people are done with Halloween.
Why not do it Thursday through Sunday? This way it will be on Halloween and then those that are coming home from college can still participate?
As long as the advertising is there? I think either will work. I know my preference would be thursday through Sunday
Around here there is a lot of Haunted events. They are all held before. Some take place throughout the week too.
Nothing happens after Halloween. It all shuts down.
Every parent I know, including myself, is done with Halloween after Halloween. We're all ready to move on.
So I say do before.
I think you would get more coming the weekend before than 2 days after. More people are in the Halloween spirit before and move on once it's over with. But my suggestion would be contact the high school if it's lots of teens and see if they will actually do a poll with the students and get their feedback. That is an excellent idea for a fund raiser.
Good luck!
No I think that people who are into Haunted Houses will go after Halloween if its there. Since this is a huge fundraiser they need to advertise that its going to be the weekend after so people will know they didn't miss it if it doesn't happen before Halloween
In NYC, young adults often do Halloween events (like, costume events at bars) on the “closest” weekend. So in this case, the weekend after.
But also - Thursday is sort of like a “weekend night”, you know? Many adults have social events on Thursdays, many colleges don’t have Friday classes, etc.
I like Wild’s idea below, what about having the fundraiser “Thursday through Sunday”?
Once the holiday is over, I move on. Definitely before IMHO.
I would hold your Haunted House fundraiser the weekend before Halloween. If you hold it the weekend after, it is already November. I don't think Halloween activities really hold the same interest after the actual holiday.
I say before. After to me it doesn’t make sense, people are over it.
Do it on both weekends. Gives more options for higher attendance. I know in Salem, Massachusetts Halloween events were going on the weekend after due to Halloween being in the middle of the week.
I think you’ve gotten a lot of great input so I wanted to let you know I was checking on dates for Micky’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (20 year old daughter is a huge fan as our family did this a few times together) and they shut it off Friday 11/1. I think Disney is a marketing genius for the most part.
I think WW Thursday-Saturday is great or the weekend before.
the weekend before might be a little better, as it will catch the energy as it's still swelling before the Real Deal.
but i wouldn't worry too much if it's the weekend after. that age group will turn up no matter what.
sounds like fun!
ETA LOVE WW's suggestion!
:) khairete
S.
yeah, everyone is usually halloweened out by then.Candy is so bad for you.
