The streets of University City have already seen parades of sexy witches and scantily clad police officers, but tonight the youngest crowd of Halloweeners will get their turn.
But will Penn students hear knocks on their doors tonight from area kids seeking candy?
College junior Brooke Prashker, who lives off campus, will be prepared no matter what.
"I really don't know if I'll be getting trick-or-treaters, but I bought candy just in case," she said.
Though Prashker said no kids came to her door last year, she attributes this to the fact that she lived on the third floor of her building.
Now that she lives on the first floor, she figures she will see trick-or-treaters, especially because she lives across from the Penn-Alexander School a few blocks west of campus.
Seth Pross, a first-year Penn Medical student and College graduate, said he got some trick-or-treaters when he was living on Beige Block.
"My first year, I bought some candy, and a handful of kids stopped by," he said.
But his second year in the house, no one showed up.
Kids might not like to trick-or-treat at houses in the direct off-campus area because students do not always provide candy, said Jo-Ann Verrier, a vice dean of Penn's Law School and a longtime West Philadelphia resident.
"Kids are looking for treats," she said. "If too many people aren't participating, it is off-putting for kids."
But Matt Eyat, who manages the CVS at 34th and Walnut streets, said it is mostly students and Penn employees who have been buying candy in recent days.
Whether or not area children trick-or-treat at student houses, West Philadelphia is sure to be bustling tomorrow evening.
Verrier, who lives on the 4700 block of Windsor Avenue, said that she sees hundreds of trick-or-treaters every year and that her neighbors make an effort to attract kids to their area.
She added that nearby Clark Park, at 45th Street and Baltimore Avenue, hosts an annual Halloween parade for area children.
