Merrimack Pulls A Switch: Postpones Halloween Trick Or Treat

MERRIMACK, NH — The only thing that may be wilder than the wet weather forecast for Halloween in Merrimack might be the debate on whether to postpone the town's traditional Trick or Treat. After announcing on Tuesday that the town intended to go on with trick-or-treating on Halloween night, pending severe weather, Merrimack Police on Wednesday morning decided to postpone it to Saturday night from 6 to 8 p.m. after all.

"Although this was a very difficult decision we decided to change the day," Merrimack Police posted on their Facebook page. "We understand this does not make everyone happy, we had to make the call to change it."

Merrimack Police also posted a joke about the postponement being due to a report of the movie character Pennywise and other ghouls and goblins being in the area on Thursday — with the hope being the rain would wash them away by Saturday so "kids can Trick or Treat in tranquility!"

The Halloween back-and-forth did not sit well with all residents — some of whom called for reconsidering the postponement for safety and comfort sake when the town said on Tuesday it was going ahead with trick-or-treating on Halloween night, and those who complained that rescheduling showed the town is "soft" or "snowflakes" or that the change would not allow some residents and children with previous plans to participate.

Nashua was one of the communities to decide on Tuesday to postpone trick-or-treating to Saturday.

The Facebook postponement post generated 77 comments in the first hour after it was posted with commenters about split between those expressing thanks for the ultimate decision, those criticizing it and those advising that everyone should relax and go with the Halloween flow regardless of which day it is celebrated this year.

Related Stories: A Little Rain Will Not Scare Away Halloween In Merrimack

Rainy Forecast Spooks Nashua Into Postponing Halloween