The best haunts to trick or treat in Ipswich this Halloween

Ipswich First has compiled a list of houses welcoming trick or treaters with the help of Facebook groups Halloween in Ipswich and surrounds and Brisbane Halloween Lovers.  We caught up with Bernadette Stronner – administrator of the Facebook group Halloween in Ipswich and Surrounds – to find out why she enjoys celebrating Halloween.

Bernadette Stronner loves Halloween so much she started a Facebook Group so Ipswich residents would not have to fumble around in the dark trying to find houses that would take trick or treaters.

“My kids’ birthdays are in October so we would double with Halloween to celebrate,” she said.

“We enjoy decorating the house and having trick or treaters come by, it’s just one way to give back to the community.

“It’s fun, it really is. It costs a lot of money but it’s so worth it when you see the look on the kids’ faces.

“They all dress up, there are very few who don’t.”

Bernadette’s children are grown up now but they still help out on Halloween night handing out lollies.

“They dress up and help with the decorations,” she said.

“Last year my son pretended to be a prop and when people came near he would move and they would scream and run.”

Bernadette said more and more people were following the Halloween in Ipswich and Surrounds Facebook page each year.

“People go out of their way to decorate their homes and they don’t ask anything for it,” she said.

“Some people are starting to use the opportunity to ask for donations for locals or farmers.”

After Halloween, Bernadette packs all her decorations away and gets out her Christmas lights.

“I am hoping to enter the Christmas lights competition this year,” she said.

Supporting the local community is a theme for Bernadette who also runs a Christmas in Ipswich Facebook group, Brassall and Ipswich Buy, Sell & Community Group and the Animalistic Ipswich Region Facebook group.

POLICE TIPS FOR TRICK OR TREATERS

• If you are heading out trick or treating this Halloween, Queensland Police have some tips to keep kids safe.
• Be accompanied by a mother or father monster at all times (or another responsible witch, ghost or vampire); Black cats love to slink around, but you should walk, not run, between houses and stick to the footpath rather than the road.
• Black cats don’t want to be seen, and for good reason, but if you wear black, it will reduce your visibility to passing motorists;
• Never enter a stranger’s house, even if they have invited you in after knocking on their door; and
• Consider joining your friends on your neighbourhood adventure – there is safety in numbers.
• Trick or treating late into the night is very scary. Go home and dig into your cavity starter pack – especially on a school night.

Not everyone wants to celebrate Halloween. Queensland Police and Neighbourhood Watch have created downloadable posters you can display on your door to thwart the witches and wizards or to welcome them.

Don’t forget: Say thank you and consider taking some lollies to replenish supplies.