Pumpkin map app hopes to rekindle some enthusiasm for trick-or-treat
A WOMAN is aiming to rekindle the island’s enthusiasm for trick-or-treat on Halloween via an interactive online community map.
Michelle Pearce-Burke has created the map, which allows users to place a virtual pumpkin on their property or business, signifying their willingness to welcome trick-or-treaters as well as allowing them to state what time they will be available on the night.
More than 240 Bailiwick properties and businesses have already placed pumpkins on the map, while more than 50 have done the same in Jersey.
Mrs Pearce-Burke said she made the map because she wanted to help bring back trick-or-treat as she remembered it for her three young daughters.
‘I’ve got such fond memories of doing it when I was younger, to me it sort of feels like the tradition has died out a bit over here over the last few years. I want to help restore some of the magic that was there.’
With a professional background in technology, Mrs Pearce-Burke said creating the map and its website initially started out as a bit of fun and an opportunity to learn a few new skills.
‘I was just playing around over a couple of evenings with the tech and managed to make it pretty quickly. Initially I thought if I could get friends and family involved then that would be good.’
With the map garnering more and more users, she began to realise that the idea could be an opportunity to make the occasion of Halloween easier for people.
‘It might mean there is less awkward door knocking and not as much worry about annoying or scaring those who don’t want visitors,’ she said.
She added that her daughters were really excited by the idea.
‘They’re wanting me to check the map every day to see how many pumpkins there are.’
She was also keen to thank the Smile For Georgie Foundation, which she said had helped get a number of businesses involved in the charity’s annual trick-or-treat event in St Peter Port to place a pumpkin on the map.
n The map can be viewed at www.trickortreatmap.com.
