It’s nearly time for young ghosts, goblins, witches and other characters to roam local streets in search of candy. Saturday evening is when most events will be held. The exception is West Liberty and Christiansburg, which will hold events on Thursday evening.
The following dates/times were reported to the Urbana Daily Citizen for various local municipalities/communities’ Trick-Or-Treat events. Most Champaign County communities designated the evening of Saturday, Oct. 31, as Beggars Night, although the times for the event vary in each community:
Saturday, Oct. 31
Beggars Night: 5 to 7 p.m. in Urbana, Terre Haute, Woodstock and North Lewisburg; 6-8 p.m. in Mechanicsburg and St. Paris
Thursday, Oct. 29
Christiansburg Beggars Night: 6-8 p.m.
West Liberty Beggars Night: 6-7:30 p.m.
Safety advice from Champaign County Sheriff Matthew R. Melvin:
The variety of costumes and spooky home decorations makes for an exciting Halloween, but it’s not the ghosts and skeletons you should be worried about. Parents should prepare and review safety plans with their children. Go over simple information such as their phone number and home address in case of an emergency, plus what to do if a stranger approaches them.
Parents:
-Know the route your children will be taking if you aren’t going with them.
-Make sure you set a time for them to be home.
-Have your children eat a good dinner before going out.
-Make sure your children are properly supervised while out.
-Make sure they trick-or-treat in a group if you are not with them.
-Children 12 years and younger should be accompanied by an adult.
-Tell your children to never go into a stranger’s house.
-Tell your children to stay out of the street while walking.
-Choose a costume that is brightly colored and easy to see in the dark.
-Carefully inspect all food and candy before letting your child eat it (when in doubt, throw it out).
Children:
-Carry a flashlight and always keep a safe distance from moving cars.
-Cross at street corners, not diagonally across an intersection and never between parked cars!
-Look in all directions before crossing; obey all traffic signals; walk and never run.
-Wear a glow-stick necklace and wear glow-stick bracelets – these glow sticks have saved lives.
-Do not take shortcuts through back yards, alleys or parks. Only visit homes with porch lights on.
-Don’t go inside anyone’s home; instead, remain on the porch at all times.
-Don’t accept rides in cars with strangers.
-Don’t eat any treats until your parents have inspected them.
-Discard any homemade or unwrapped treats.
Motorists:
-Halloween is one of the nation’s most dangerous nights to drive a car. Use extreme caution.
-Consider driving at least five miles per hour under the speed limit in residential areas.
-Accept that you will be late to your destination; call them, excuse yourself and drive extra slow.
The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office will be out providing patrols for the communities, in an attempt to deter crime associated with Halloween.
