City Announces 2017 Halloween Trick-or-Treat Hours

City of Bloomington trick-or-treat hours are scheduled for Tuesday, October 31, from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., rain or shine. 

Please consider these Halloween tips to help keep children and families safe:

• Trick-or-treat during designated hours and only go to those homes that have a porch light on to welcome trick-or-treaters.

• Carry a flashlight to light the way on streets and sidewalks. Flashlights or glow sticks will also help illuminate children for motor vehicles.

• Dress your children in, or bring along, some type of reflective material to wear when trick-or-treating at dusk or later. A reflective jacket works well, as do reflecting trick-or-treat bags. Please keep in mind that sunset will be around 6:45 p.m. on Halloween.

• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.

• Put electronic devices such as cell phones down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run.

• Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If children are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar, well-lit areas and trick-or-treat in groups.

• Make sure that costumes do not cause a safety hazard such as being too long or including masks that affect the ability to see clearly.  Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks.

• Homeowners should make sure that pets are secured so they do not become frightened by costumed children or activity that is out of the ordinary.

• Children should be instructed to NEVER enter the home of someone they do not know and to remain on the porch to receive their treats.

• Any observed suspicious activity or tainted candy should be reported to police immediately.

• Children should be instructed not to eat candy until it has been inspected by an adult.

• Drive slowly, anticipate pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential areas. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.

• Take extra time to look for children at intersections, on medians and on curbs, and behind landscaping.