Halloween is on Friday this year, which is great for everyone who wants to have a fun Hallow’s Eve and then not have to get up early to go to work or school the next morning. Most folk here in Indiana and Illinois are already in full preparation, with candy purchased and costumes planned if not yet purchased or made.
For safety reasons, many communities in our neck of the woods have established “Trick or Treat” hours set up, too. Families need to check for their neighborhood’s specific trick-or-treating schedule, and for those traveling to other places during the night, then recognize that each community’s hours are not exactly the same.
2014 Halloween Trick or Treat Hours for Northwest Indiana
This year, for Northwest Indiana, the Halloween Tricker Treater hours are set as follows:
Gary – 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Burns Harbor – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Cedar Lake – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Crown Point – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Dyer – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Griffith – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Hammond – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Hebron – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Hobart – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Highland – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Lake Station – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Lakes of the Four Seasons – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Long Beach – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Lowell – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Kouts – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Michigan City – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Merrillville – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Munster – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Porter – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Schererville – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
St. John – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Trail Creek – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Wanatah – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Whiting – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Winfield – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Chesterton – 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Ogden Dunes – 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Portage – 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Valparaiso – 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
La Porte – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Westville – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Safety Tips from Indiana State Police for a Happy Holloween
The Indiana State Police have issued the following safety tips for this year’s Holloween, as well. These include:
Costume Tips
•Keep costumes short to prevent trips and falls.
•Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks often obstruct a child’s vision, which makes tasks like crossing the street and going up and down stairs dangerous.
•Make sure children wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.
Trick or Treating
•Make sure older children trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so parents know where they will be.
•Instruct children to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
•Encourage children to trick-or-treat while it’s still light out. If children are out after dark, make sure they have flashlights and travel on well lighted streets.
•Remind children not to enter the homes or cars of strangers.
•Follow your communities trick-or-treating hours.
Treats
•Remind children not to eat any of their treats until they get home.
•Check out all treats at home in a well-lighted place.
•Only eat unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Remember to inspect fruits for anything suspicious.
Options to Walking the Streets
Additionally, many communities, schools and churches offer children safe alternatives to trick-or-treating designed to keep children safely within parents’ view. Some hospitals and schools allow children to trick-or-treat by going from room to room virtually eliminating the dangers associated with being out walking on the street after dark.
Drivers Need to Be Cautious on Friday
Motorists are reminded that they should also do their part in making Halloween safe for children. Make sure to drive cautiously including driving below the posted speed limit while in town during trick or treat hours.
Avoid talking on a cell phone or other distracting activities. Remember, excited children may dart out into traffic at any time without warning. Drive with your headlights on even during the daylight trick or treat hours so your vehicle is more visible to children.
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Everyone here at Kenneth J. Allen Law Group wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween this year, of course. However, if you are injured or hurt on Halloween, then please note to keep a record of what happened as well as a list of names of potential witnesses; call the police for a written police report so you have their help and documentation; and remember that getting medical care and attention is of paramount importance and it’s wise to err on the side of caution. Be careful out there!
