Popular Halloween Neighborhoods: Chevy Chase, Olivette, Missouri

Let’s be honest. When most people are going to shop for enough resources to satisfy their guests’ Halloween needs, they don’t always think twice about how much candy they are buying. Often, bulks of candy are picked up hastily and thrown into the shopping cart, so the sometimes irritating task at hand can be completed. However, for some people, that task is not always so easy. Just ask the members of the neighborhood of Chevy Chase, located in Olivette, Missouri. “I definitely have to think twice because you never know how much candy you need. It can be difficult because it is hard to figure out how many people there are going to be because so many people come from other subdivisions, that it can be hard to get the right amount of candy,” Bharat Varadachari, a member of the neighborhood for almost five years, stated. “Sometimes, it can be extremely overwhelming.” An unnamed neighbor also reported tallying over 450 trick-or-treaters on year, and that was before she put the bowl of candy outside and closed the blinds, showing that the night was over for her.

As for the vibe of the neighborhood, It is definitely alive between the hours of 5:30 pm and 10 pm. “It’s loud and there’s a lot of commotion. Sometimes, it can be stressful because there is not always enough candy. Also, it is hard to keep up with my friends because the are also in such a rush. The problem is everyone is always running. Usually, there is about a 5-8 kid line at each house. Sometimes, there are even up to 20 people in one line, but that is rare,” Maya Varadachari, a member of the neighborhood said. “There are always people of all ages out. It can often be a crazy atmosphere.” 

Being a homeowner during Halloween is generally a large task. Someone has to be stationed at their house, so they can distribute all of the candy to the visitors. Like any other neighborhood, this one fairly similar, except in Chevy Chase, it is absolutely crucial. “I can be very generous to kids a lot of times, so I would want to give out about 5-10 pieces per child. So, I did. After some time, I reduced it to 3-4 pieces per kid. However, about half way through the night, we had gone through bags and bags of candy, so we only had a few bags left. By the end of the night, I had to start giving away old Easter candy and pencils because we were out of candy,” Linda Varadachari, who is often a candy distributer, said when describing a rookie mistake that she made in her first year living in the neighborhood.

Although it is a lot of work for the host neighborhood, a typical Halloween in Chevy Chase is often a party atmosphere. While the preparation is tough, the results are something extraordinary, showing that Chevy Chase is the place to be this Halloween whether you are just trick-or-treating, or looking for some fun.