Phillyist Tricks and Treats

Photo by Flickr user Matt McGee

The time of year when having a child pays off and you can use them to line your pockets with peanut butter cups. It's Halloween! Trick-or-treating and nougat for all! Phillyist wants to help you and your child earn their weight in chocolate and has tracked down all the glorious, sugar laden hot spots and organized them for your convince. We've broken down each destination into the where, the when, and, most importantly, the haul one can expect—because let's be honest, half the reason we had kids is so that we could eat their Halloween Snickers bars after they go to bed. Also maybe their Butterfingers.

Where: Franklin Square
When: 12 – 3 p.m.
Possible Haul: Good if you get there early, non-existent if you get there late. The candy (given out by colonials and their puppets along a trail throughout the square) is available only while supplies last. While it IS sponsored by Hershey, so you know the treats will be good, don't make Franklin Square your only option or your could have some very disappointed little people on your hands.

Where: Businesses of Rittenhouse Row, between Broad and 22nd Streets, from JFK Boulevard to Lombard St... if that's not clear enough, participating businesses will bear orange "trick-or-treat here" signs.
When: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Possible Haul: Shaky; its not clear how many businesses are participating and we're unsure as to what KIND of treats a place like Juicy Couture would hand out (rice cakes or maybe chapstick?). But it could very well swing the other way and this could be a veritable gold mine of delicious treats.

Where: The famous Pop Shop in Collingswood, and other business along Haddon Ave. are inviting all kids to come trick-or-treat on their blocks
When: 1 – 5 p.m.
Possible Haul: Great, considering the Pop Shop is also running a kids-in-costume-eat-free deal, so after filling up your plastic pumpkin with snack sized candy, grab some big kids treats for yourself and let your little one take a load off and immerse themselves in a burger.

Where: The Oxford Valley Mall (select stores and a goody bag available at Guest Services)
When: 1 – 4 p.m.
Possible Haul: Depends. This Phillyist worked in a mall that sponsored a trick-or-treating go round and while our store had rocking candy, the Aeropostle next door was handing out rolls of Smarties. Lame.

Where: Awbury Arboretum
When: 11 a.m. – 2p.m.
Possible Haul: Decent and, perhaps more important, guaranteed. While this isn't a strictly trick-or-treating event, there will be crafts, out-door activities, and all kinds of non-diabetes causing fun. This is probably your scene if you're looking to move away from the candy and sugar comas. Don't get me wrong, candy is promised and costumes are strongly encouraged, but the Arboretum is pushing activities other than opening wrappers and checking popcorn balls for razorblades.

So good luck trick-or-treaters, we've done our part, now you do yours. Make this city bleed chocolate!