Every once in awhile I find something interesting going on in my hometown of Springfield, IL – whether it be a local event, local flavor or a local view. Each week I’ll bringing a piece of my life to the online world in a series called Let’s Get Local. I encourage anyone and everyone to join in and share a little bit of their own local flair to introduce us to people and places we may never visit.
Every year the Springfield Henson Robinson Zoo hosts a safe and fun trick-or-treating event for the kids. Over 20 candy stations are set up along the paths of the zoo where kids can stop and get a little treat while showing off their fun little costumes.
This is always one of my favorite events to attend because you get to see the creativity with homemade costumes. One we really loved in particular was the Dora family, dad was dressed in a big “Map” costume, daughter was Dora and their little boy was Boots. The poor little guy’s tail kept fall off everywhere he went.
But the real fun is in taking our own kids to the event and watching them have a great time. Even though Kaydee doesn’t look too thrilled here she really had a lot of fun.
The only problem with going to these extra events is the overload on candy we end up with. Twenty five stations plus 2-3 pieces of candy each and we ended up with nearly 100 pieces of candy between the two kids, most of which is now hiding in my sock drawer.
Do you let your kids keep all the candy they receive or distribute it in small batches?
About Cat Davis
Your kid’s costumes are great! Looks like a great event, and that’s so cool that your zoo does it. I’m pretty sure we will be rationing the boys candy tomorrow after trick or treating. I don’t want any sickies!
OH my googdness I didn’t know you are in Springfield! My mother was born in Mt. Pulaskie and I have alot of relatives in Springfield and Mt. Pulaski. I was born in Decatur and grew up there till I was about 15. I love the adorable costume on Sleeping Beauty and get pics!
This was my Halloween candy order of consumption:
Reese’s peanut butter cups, Skittles, SweetTarts = 1st eaten
Snickers, Twix, Smarties = 2nd eaten
All others = consumed post-Halloween sugar rush
Cat,
This is our first year in our hometown. Our church has an annual event which it seems the entire town and many people from all surrounding areas attend. I am still making my oldest son’s costume for the event. It will be a late night.
One year, my oldest ate candy on that day only and never asked for another piece. Today is a different story. I will be rationing candy for everyone especially since it will be the first time for my youngest child. It is because of the extra stash that I usually limit the attended events to one. My kids (I guess all do) live each minute on a natural sugar high.
Do you eat any of their loot? I used to feel really guilty and left it alone. The only time I did eat some was when there were no baked goods in the house and I had a sugar craving that desperately needed to be filled.
I love the costumes. Are you and your husband dressing up?
First off the kids are adorable!! Second, I wish we lived in a town that has all the neat things that your town has!! And third my daughter is a picky candy eater so on Valentines Day, we throw away a lot of Halloween candy and on Easter, we throw away a lot of Valentines candy and on Halloween we throw away a lot of Easter candy. See the pattern? lol
Aww…the kids look great! Their pics always make me smile. Sounds like a fun day! We always ‘examine’ the candy to make sure we get what we want….I mean to make sure there aren’t any poisoned ones! lol
Sounds like fun
love their costumes 
your children look adorable love the costumes
um I eat it all as soon as they go to bed. After all I don’t want their teeth to rot.
LOL
we let them have it for 1 week rashing the peices then we let hubby take it to work to get everyone’s husband nice and fat for the holidays LOL
Aw, your kids are so adorable!! That sounds like a lot of fun =]
There isn’t a lot of those types of events around here-It’s just T.R.T action in the local neighborhoods(which is nothing to scoff at-Lol-)
Happy Halloween!!
Besides taking my kids to our local church for the annual fall festival. I think having a haunt the zoo for the kids is a great and safe alternative. As for the candy, my daughters know that they have to share their goodies with mom and dad first
And what they get to keep they can’t eat it all in one night. Save it for later and make it last at least a week.