Wayland Trick-Or-Treat Hours: Police Offer Halloween Tips

WAYLAND, MA — When's the best time to trick-or-treat in Wayland on Halloween? Wayland police are offering a bit of advice to candy-seekers.

Halloween can often be a dangerous holiday for children due to early sunsets and costumes that can make walking or seeing a little more challenging. Wayland Chief Sean Gibbons is recommending kids limit trick-or-treating to between 5 and 8 p.m. on Sunday.

"There is no set time period for trick-or-treating, but Chief Gibbons urges residents to be mindful of the time of night and asks that children only trick-or-treat at homes with their porch lights on," Wayland police said in a news release Wednesday.

The sun will set in Wayland around 5:41 p.m. on Sunday. Early forecasts are calling for some showers in Halloween as well.

Here are some more safety tips from Wayland police:

Motorist Safety

• Motorists are being asked to drive with extreme caution and to drive extra slow in neighborhoods and residential areas because children may inadvertently dart across the street into the path of moving vehicles.
• Practice extra caution at intersections and corners.
• Pull in and out of driveways carefully.
• Children will be walking house to house and depending on the availability of sidewalks, maybe near or actually on the roadway.
• Put the phone down. You'll need to concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

Trick or Treating Safety

• Children should never go “trick or treating” alone, they should always have a parent or a group of friends with them at all times and always carry a flashlight.
• Children should never go into a stranger’s home, car, or take shortcuts through backyards.
• When possible, stay off the roadways and use sidewalks.
• For added visibility, consider using “glow sticks” and/or reflective tape attached to the costumes or bags.
• Before crossing the street, always look in both directions twice to make sure there is no moving traffic.
• Costumes should always fit properly and avoid using props that may cause alarm to the community, such as guns.
• Consider avoiding masks that can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Children should never eat fruit or candy until examined by their parents or guardian. Never trust candy that has loose wrapping, unwrapped or holes in the package. WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!

For those homes participating in handing out treats

• Pre-plan and eliminate any hazards surrounding your porch or walkway. Check around your property for low tree limbs, support wire or garden hoses that may be hazardous to young children.
• Keep on your outside lights.
• Keep your pets restrained in the house away from "Trick or Treaters"