To Sunday or not to Sunday?

[Unorthodox]

So...

Halloween falls on Monday this year. 

That means our traditional carving party usually falls the night before Halloween would line up with SUNDAY.

This being Utah, and at least 50% of our traditional attendees being LDS, this would create a moral question for some of them.  Some would view such a thing as breaking the Sabbath.  Others would be more open to it.  However, this being Utah, there's always the potential that those that attend be shunned by those that don't due to this moral dilemma and vice versa.


"Just do Saturday" would seem simple on the surface, but it presents it's own series of challenges to me personally.

One less day of preparation.  A weekend day, no less, when kids could help. 
One MORE day of having a giant pumpkin smashing target painted on the yard.
One MORE day of carved and rotting pumpkins that might get ruined for Halloween. 
Very likely conflict with LDS church Halloween activity. 

Iffn I had to guess 50-70% of our attendees are active LDS (depends on the year).  Of them, I'd suspect a fairly even split on whether it was a moral problem. 

[ColdWizard]

Do both days. Splits your workforce but minimizes conflicts that might reduce their numbers.

[Unorthodox]

Not an option.   That would put crowds at the house 3 days in a row.

[ColdWizard]

Then I vote ask some neighbors. Get more information about the magnitude of the moral dilemma and reassess.

[Rusty Edge]

My first thought when you started this was along the "heck if I know" line.

But we've already established that last year was a sort of peak of the concept, This year would be both a theme change and restricted on account of the home remodel process.

My next thought was to be respectful of the Mormons and change the day, but the Saturday potential conflict  with LDS Halloween activities means that it solves nothing. Changing the date will only confuse and disappoint some people.

Discussing it with the neighbors means that they'll probably be annoyed if you don't take their advice.

We host Christmas parties. There were problems created with travel once, and another time with my wife's knee replacement and her relocating from the second floor bedroom to a rented hospital bed on the first floor. Those resulted in limited decoration, but not the end of the world.

Tonight I figure you keep the schedule, and write it off to transition. Much like a soft opening, the reduced attendance this year will help you adjust to the new lot arrangement/ lighting, judge crowd response to the new theme, etc. Count it as good fortune.

Or are you thinking a witch theme and Unobies are pushing the limits without the Sabbath?

[Unorthodox]

Realistically, we're not going to get the witch done, but I want one of the Unobies in the scarecrow contest.  I wrote off the theme change the second we decided to pursue the remodel. 

I don't think anyone will have issues with the witch theme, it's very "Halloween". 

We DO still want to do the pumpkin party this year.  By that point, we should be completed with the outside, but might still be dealing with some internal chaos. 

There's very strong points to be made that we're going to have a good deal of adjusting to do to the new yard arrangement. Stuff I can't even think about on paper at the moment.  I think it actually will work to my advantage from a design perspective, but can't visualize distances and stuff till I can see exactly where the house lines up with the trees. 

[Rusty Edge]

I figure you'll just have to see, it's not just the change of the space with the remodel, but the shadow/reflection factors.
Well, just be sure to include too many outdoor outlets/ spotlight fixtures. The need for those tends to grow over time when you're decorating and lighting.

Anyway, I'd just consider a potentially lower turnout at the annual carving party as an opportunity to visit/instruct/photograph more than usual.


Uh, I guess it is harder to get more Halloween than witches and jack-o-lanterns.

[Unorthodox]

Well, just be sure to include too many outdoor outlets/ spotlight fixtures. The need for those tends to grow over time when you're decorating and lighting.

Going from one outdoor outlet (that's very difficult to use since it's bafflingly on the circuit with every bathroom in the house and the garage) to 4. 

Not having to run cords from inside, out through windows every year is going to be nice. 

Design wise, 10 more feet of corn tunnel is probably overkill...going to have to figure something new for THAT space at the very least. 

On the other hand, it should provide an even better separation between front and back yards.