2011 Halloween Facts

Today is Halloween, which, next to Christmas, is the most popular holiday in the United States. Here are a few facts you may not know about this costume-wearing, candy gobbling day:

• The most popular Halloween candy is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
• 7 of every 10 Americans will celebrate Halloween this year.
• 43 percent of Americans will dress up for the holiday (up 3% from 2010.)
• Over 2.6 children and adults will dress as zombies.
• The most popular adult costume is the witch.
• The pumpkin is the costume of choice for pets.
• Halloween expenditures are up over $1 billion from last year.
• The average person will spend $72.31 on decorations, candy, costumes.
• Halloween has been celebrated for over 2,000 years.

And here's one of our favorite facts, decades ago people made their Halloween costumes instead of buying them at Party City, Target or Walmart.

Information for these facts found in National Geographic article on Halloween 2011.

Thousands of Trick or Treaters Expected

Imagine buying enough candy to handout to thousands of mini ghosts, goblins, pirates and princesses. That's the feat facing the merchants in Dahlonega, Ga., when the city hosts its annual Trick or Treat on the Square event, on Halloween from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

In 2010, according to reports, approximately 4,000 children (and parents) filled the town's square, lining up to go store-to-store, block-by-block for lollipops, chocolate bars, candy corn and other sugary sweets. This year should be no different.

Along with merchants, other Dahlonega civic organizations will be on the Square to dispense candy too. In fact, D&B is scheduled to be one of the hander-outers with the Business Leads Group for the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce. Can't wait to see all the costumes!
P.S. Roads through the square will be closed and traffic re-routed for the event.