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From dressing up in costumes to carving pumpkins, Halloween is a holiday steeped in traditions. While some of these come from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, others are blended with celebrations of All Saints Day and All Hallows Eve, as designated by Pope Gregory III in the eighth century, according to the Library of Congress website.
No matter its roots, residents of the Golden Triangle have already started celebrating the season with a variety of events, like trunk-or-treats and fall festivals. But there’s still more fun to be had as the holiday approaches, especially with trick-or-treating.
So when is trick-or-treating happening this year? What are the best ways to stay safe while doing it? And how can drivers keep themselves and others safe during the holiday?
When is trick-or-treating happening this year?
Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin and Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill both said they expect trick-or-treating to be happening on Thursday night, following the traditional holiday calendar. Neither city is encouraging celebrations to wait until the weekend, though families and neighborhoods may choose different days and times to celebrate, Gaskin said.
What are the best ways to stay safe while trick-or-treating?
While trick-or-treating can be fun, authorities suggest taking extra steps to ensure safety while participating in the traditional Halloween activity.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration encourages trick-or-treaters to wear bright, reflective costumes or to add reflective tape to make themselves more visible. Gaskin also encouraged participants to carry flashlights to make sure they can see and be seen.
“We just encourage them to use all safety precautions when they’re walking through the streets of the city at night,” Gaskin said.
The FDA also encourages trick-or-treaters to make sure their costumes are flame resistant and to avoid masks that obscure their vision, instead favoring makeup and hats.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also encourages pedestrians to create a “buddy system” before festivities begin to prevent walking alone, and to only cross streets at crosswalks and intersections.
The FDA also warns trick-or-treaters to not consume candy before it has been inspected for safety concerns, like tampering, allergens and choking hazards.
Gaskin said citizens should make sure they are familiar with the neighborhoods where they are planning to trick-or-treat. Likewise, Spruill encouraged citizens to make a plan before the holiday begins, and to stay alert to their surroundings during their celebrations.
“I encourage parents to make sure their children… that they know where they are,” Spruill said. “That they know where they’re doing their trick or treating, and certainly be careful in not having unwrapped candy.”
How can drivers keep themselves and others safe on Halloween?
NHTSA encourages drivers to slow down and scan the road if they are on the road on Halloween, since more pedestrians will be out and about. Drivers are also encouraged to watch for young trick-or-treaters who may be unaware of their surroundings and dart into the street unexpectedly.
In 2022, nearly half of all crash fatalities during Halloween night were alcohol-related, according to NHTSA. For those planning to drink while attending Halloween parties, NHTSA encourages choosing a designated driver or scheduling a rideshare service before attending. Those who drink should not drive for any reason.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
