Fredericksburg Trick-Or-Treat 2023: When To Get Candy, Safety Tips

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Trick-or-treating doesn't have a set time in many Virginia communities, which means you can expect little ghosts and ghouls to show up to your doorstep on the evening of Halloween.

That applies to Fredericksburg and surrounding Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, where families typically trick-or-treat on Halloween. This year, Halloween falls on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

If you live within a homeowners association or apartment complex, check with them on trick-or-treat times, as they may be different from Oct. 31. Fredericksburg's Treats on the Streets already happened at downtown businesses over the weekend, but the Scarecrow Fest continues through Oct. 31.

Here are some safety tips authorities recommend for trick-or-treating:

For Trick-or-Treaters

• Trick-or-treat with a parent or friend, and only visit familiar areas and neighborhoods.
• Walk on sidewalks, use crosswalks, and stay in well-lit areas.
• Carry glow sticks, use flashlights, and add reflective tape or stickers on your costumes and bags to increase your visibility.
• Use face paint instead of masks, when possible, to avoid limiting your vision.
• Avoid using colored contact lenses unless they have been prescribed by an eye care professional. Commercially sold colored contacts have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety.
• Do not eat any candy until it has been inspected at home and review labels to ensure allergens are not present.
• Stay on the porch or stoop when trick-or-treating; children should not go into homes.

For Drivers

• Be alert for trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Slow down and continue to scan the road in areas where they are likely to be or where sight distances are limited.
• Stay alert for pedestrians who may come out from between parked cars or behind shrubbery. Stop, wait for them to pass.
• Don’t look at your phone when you’re driving. Your attention needs to always be on the road.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact law enforcement.