Halloween Night on Your Block: A Safety Guide for Trick-or-Treaters and Hosts

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which often means a longer evening, more trick-or-treaters and more families out together. Across Boston and New England, sidewalks will be busy with princesses, superheroes and dinosaurs heading from porch to porch as darkness falls. With a few simple precautions, the night can be as safe as it is fun for everyone: kids, parents, people handing out treats and drivers passing through.

Before Heading Out: Costume Check

A quick look at costumes before leaving home prevents many problems.

• Fit: Make sure costumes do not drag on the ground or trip kids up. Hem or pin long hems.
• Visibility: Add reflective tape to dark costumes and treat bags.
• Vision: Choose face paint or makeup over masks when possible. If a mask is used, make sure eye holes are large enough to see clearly, including to the sides.
• Footwear: Comfortable, sturdy shoes are better than costume shoes, especially on uneven sidewalks and leaf-covered steps.
• Warmth: Late October evenings can be chilly. Plan for layers under costumes, or a costume that works over a coat.
• Props: Swords, wands and other accessories should be soft and flexible.
• Flame resistance: Look for costumes labeled flame-resistant.

For Trick-or-Treaters and Parents

• Bring light. Every group should carry flashlights or wear glow necklaces or bracelets.
• Go with an adult. Young children should always be accompanied. Older kids going without an adult should stay in a group, follow a planned route and check in at set times.
• Stick to sidewalks. Walk, do not run, and cross at corners and crosswalks.
• Look both ways and make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
• Visit lit houses only. A dark porch light usually means the household is not participating.
• Stay outside. Kids should not enter homes unless they are with a trusted adult.
• Check treats at home before eating. Throw away anything unwrapped, homemade by strangers or with damaged packaging.
• Agree on a meeting spot in case anyone gets separated.
• Write a phone number on young children’s arms or on a card in their pocket.

For Households Handing Out Treats

• Light the way. Turn on porch lights and walkway lights.
• Clear the path. Move hoses, bikes, flowerpots and decorations away from steps and walkways, and sweep wet leaves.
• Use LED lights in pumpkins instead of candles, especially near steps and doorways.
• Secure pets away from the front door.
• Offer non-food treats for kids with allergies, and keep them separate from candy.
• Hand out treats at the sidewalk or bottom of the steps if your home has stairs that wheelchair users or small children cannot easily climb.
• Be patient and kind. Some children may not speak, make eye contact or say thank you.
• Turn off the porch light when you run out or are done for the night.

For Drivers

Halloween evening is one of the busiest nights of the year for pedestrians, especially children who may dart out unexpectedly.

• Drive slowly through residential neighborhoods, well below the posted limit if needed.
• Watch for children crossing mid-block and between parked cars.
• Turn on headlights early.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
• Avoid distractions and put the phone away.
• If possible, avoid driving through residential areas during peak trick-or-treating hours.

Looking Out for Each Other

Halloween is a night when the whole neighborhood is out, which makes it a great chance to look out for one another.

• Check that older neighbors who live alone are comfortable, especially if they find the night stressful. Some may prefer to keep their lights off.
• Keep an eye out for lost children, and help them find their group or call for help.
• Report hazards like broken streetlights or damaged sidewalks to 311 in the days before Halloween.
• If you see something unsafe, such as a crowd spilling into a busy street, gently help redirect people.

Teens on Halloween

Teens often want more independence on Halloween. Talk ahead of time about:

• Where they will go and with whom
• When they will check in and be home
• Staying in groups and in well-lit areas
• Respecting property and neighbors’ decorations
• Not getting into cars with people they do not know well

After the Night Is Over

• Sort candy at home, setting aside anything unwrapped or suspicious.
• Store candy away from pets.
• Pick up wrappers and debris on your sidewalk the next morning.
• Plan to compost unpainted pumpkins instead of throwing them away.

Halloween Night Checklist

• Costumes fit, are visible and allow clear vision
• Flashlights or glow items for every trick-or-treater
• Route, check-in times and meeting spot agreed
• Porch and walkway lit and clear
• LED lights in pumpkins
• Pets secured away from the door
• Non-food treats available
• Drivers slowing down and watching closely

When Plans Change

New England weather does not always cooperate on Halloween. If rain or wind is in the forecast, consider waterproof layers, shorter routes and indoor alternatives like a library or community center event. Some families plan a backup activity at home, such as a costume parade in the living room or a spooky movie night, so kids still feel the excitement if the weather turns. Whatever the plan, keeping safety habits in place, from flashlights to slow driving, matters just as much on a stormy night.