Trick-or-Treating in Reading to Take Place on Oct. 31

Reading recognizes Saturday, Oct. 31 as Halloween. The town does not have an official start time for trick or treating. Individual neighborhoods and blocks typically establish their own start time.

The Reading Recreation Division would like to remind parents and kids of a few safety tips to make this Halloween a safe one. These tips are courtesy of the National Safety Council and the Reading Police Department.

Before children start out on their “trick or treat” rounds, parents should:

• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
• Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow. Know the names of older children’s companions.
• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.
• Establish a return time.
• Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they return home.
• Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.
• Pin a slip of paper with the child’s name, address and phone number inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group.
• Wear bright clothing, so drivers can see you.
• Have a flashlight or glow stick, so drivers can see you.
• Only eat candy and treats sealed in its and original packaging. Zip lock bags filled with popcorn, fruit, etc. should be discarded.

Also, this year the Recreation Division is introducing the “Teal Pumpkin” program. Displaying a Teal Pumpkin identifies homes that are giving out treat options that are food-allergy friendly.

Dispensing non-food items such as pencils, stickers or small trinket toys ensure that children get to keep the treats that they get. Residents can still have a candy bowl, but they are asked to consider a non-candy option, too. In supporting the Teal Pumpkin, Reading hopes to continue to create awareness of food allergies in children.