Bay area malls open doors for Halloween trick or treating
The other day, an email from Prime Outlets Ellenton popped into my inbox with this question: Scared of your wardrobe? Yes, sometimes. So the outlets, south of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties before you get to Sarasota, are trying to get you in to do a little shopping. They are offering up their usual deals but adding a little sweetener to the pot Saturday: Children 12 and younger can trick or treat throughout the mall from 5-7 p.m. on Halloween. Costumed kids will receive treats at participating stores that have Halloween pumpkin decals on their doors. And if kids visit Guest Services in the Food Court, they can get a complimentary trick or treat bag. Prime Outlets are at 5461 Factory Shops Blvd., Ellenton. Call toll-free 1-888-260-7608.
In fact, many bay area malls are opening their doors for a couple of hours or so on Halloween for trick or treating. But make sure you know if masks or toy weapons are allowed before you go. You might have to take those things back to the car. I compiled this list of malls that will be open for little ghosts and goblins to pick up treats.
So this mall trick or treating has something for everyone. The kids get a treat and you get to shop a bit. How sweet it is.
-- Sherry Robinson
[Times files of a busy Tyrone Square Mall on a rainy Halloween]
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
Amy Hollyfield is a workaholic mother of two young
daughters, blessed to have a work-at-home husband who makes their life possible. She was born in Detroit and moved around a lot as a kid (read: Air Force brat). She has lived in Florida since the month after she
graduated from Northwestern University. She lives for the yelps, hugs and kisses that greet her on nights that she makes it home before bedtime.
Sherry Robinson was born in the Sunshine State but she feels more comfortable inside a mall than outside at the beach -- thank goodness her husband is the outdoorsy type. He takes their two sons on night hikes, beach runs and bug hunts while Sherry does her best to take care of the homestead -- and find out what is new on the store shelves. A graduate of the University of South Florida in 19noneofyourbusiness, Sherry has been at the Times for nearly 20 years. And with nearly 10 years of parenting experience, Sherry is eager to offer up some great dish on raising kids and keeping your sanity.
Guest blogger Tracey Henry, a.k.a. Suburban Diva, is a frantic, slightly frazzled mother of four. She is a freelance humor writer and author which is the only thing that parenting four children ages 12-1 trains you for, except perhaps court jester and professional bull rider. She and her husband have lived all over the country, but settled in Florida eight years ago because the beachcombing is so much better here than on the banks of the Mississippi. Their family time includes a lot of sport -- both watching and playing -- and fun in the sun and surf. Catch her in Whoa, Momma! and on her site, 
Sherri Day and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world in early 2008. So far, she describes parenthood as exciting, exhausting and exhilarating. A self-described Southern belle with small-town values and big-city idealism, Sherri was born in rural Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the Brandon bureau chief for the Times. Sherri moved to Tampa from Brooklyn four years ago.
Gulf View Square has been doing this for years. It's gotten to be where this is the only place that I will trust my child to go trick or treating.
Posted by: A.H. | October 28, 2009 at 03:07 PM