For Sally Smith, Halloween is better than Christmas.
The Halloween buff has been decorating her house every October for the past 15 years, and five years ago, she came up with an idea to make Halloween safer for children.
Sally started a Facebook group in the local Mandurah area to reach out to other like-minded people who are happy to welcome trick-or-treaters to knock on their doors.
"I started the Facebook page five years ago, and we now have just over 3000 members," Sally said. "I started [it] because I would see people post on social media asking where they could take their kids out trick or treating.
"Halloween has definitely gotten bigger over the past few years, but I was still seeing a lot of people saying we are just trying to copy the US.
"There were so many hateful comments from people attacking parents for just wanting to take part in Halloween. My thought process is, 'Why should Americans have all the fun?', and then I remind people that Halloween didn't actually start in the US; it started in Ireland.
Read also: TIMELINE: The search for Cleo Smith
"I started the Facebook page so people can enjoy Halloween without those hateful comments."
Sally recommended looking for a similar Facebook group in your area if you want to go trick or treating this year. "It's much safer because people can just follow a list of addresses that people have posted into the private Facebook group. These people are saying, 'Yes, we welcome trick or treating here'."
She recommended sticking to decorated houses or those with a balloon or sign out the front saying they welcome trick-or-treaters.
She also shared some other tips. "Always trick or treat in groups," Sally said. "Never eat unwrapped confectionery. Always have an adult look at your sweets before you eat them and never go into a house or go off with someone you don't know.
"I'm enjoying that more and more people are getting into Halloween; it's a great day to spend with the whole family, the adults can dress up, the kids can dress up and even the family pets.
"We hand out treats to everyone, whether they are in costumes or not. There are so many people out there that won't hand out to teens or people not dressed up. You don't know why they aren't in costumes, so we try to include everyone.
"We are hoping to be a little bit more organised this year and have little toys and bubbles for kids that can't have lollies due to food allergies too. We want it to be fun for everyone."
For people who can't go out trick or treating this year, Sally suggested a dress-up day with your family at home. "The world has gone mad over the past few years, and we all need a bit of fun and happiness in our lives. Halloween can help with that."
