Since moving to Central Minnesota, I've played a game on Halloween with the kids who come to our door. Instead of just handing out candy, I ask pop or potato. The responses are what make the game so fun, but we just wrapped up our second year playing here in Central Minnesota, and the results are in.

How does Pop or Potato work?

It's easy, head to the grocery store grab a bag of potatoes, and a 24-pack of pop. I also grab a few bags of candy as the game only lasts as long as you have one of each to offer. When the kids come to your door, simply have a can of pop in one hand, and a potato in the other, then ask pop or potato.

It's the responses that make this fun

After starting this yearly tradition once we moved up to Central Minnesota it's been the kids' reaction to the question back to them that always has me smiling at the end of the evening. Many times the kids turn their heads around and look to mom or dad for help in answering the unexpected question from a stranger, other kids just point, but my favorite is when the kids pick the potato, and then meet other kids walking up the driveway sharing their potato proudly.

2024's results

This year's results showed a dip in trick-or-treaters this year on the back half of our neighborhood. Neighbors towards the front of the neighborhood reported 90+ trick-or-treaters, we only saw about 55 last night. Officially, our house handed out 12 potatoes and 18 cans of pop. (we kept 6 for future use), with the remaining visitors walking away with about a handful of candy each.

To everyone who came by, thanks for making it another fun evening, and if your kid came home with a potato and you aren't sure why, they were probably in St. Augusta.