SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — October 28, 2026. With Halloween arriving Saturday, October 31, families are getting costumes ready and drivers are preparing for unusually busy neighborhood streets. Whether you’re taking children door to door in Pottsville, Shenandoah, Tamaqua, Mahanoy City or a small township, the safest celebration begins with a few decisions before leaving home.

First, verify the local trick-or-treat schedule

Do not assume every borough and township uses the same hours. Individual municipalities and local organizers set their schedules, and parade times are not necessarily trick-or-treat hours. Check your borough or township’s official announcements on the day of the event, especially if rain or a last-minute public safety advisory changes the plan. Parents should know the route, the meeting point, and when children must return.

Visibility is more important than the perfect costume

A costume may look fantastic indoors and disappear after sunset. Add reflective elements, use a flashlight or glow stick, and choose shoes children can actually walk in. Long capes and oversized hems can catch on steps and curbs. Check that costume masks do not block peripheral vision; face paint may be a practical alternative.

Travel in groups with an attentive adult or agreed-upon buddy system. Cross at intersections and designated crosswalks, look both ways, and resist the temptation to run across midblock to reach the next decorated home. Before younger children leave, agree that candy will be checked at home.

Drivers: every parked car hides a possibility

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that trick-or-treating brings pedestrians into unexpected locations. Reduce speed through residential blocks, especially near parked vehicles. Keep your attention on the road rather than a phone or dashboard screen. Expect children to change direction suddenly and make a full visual scan before backing out of a driveway.

Anyone attending an adults’ Halloween party should arrange a sober ride home. Being a safe driver is part of protecting the neighbors who will be out walking after dark.

Make the front porch welcoming and safe

The National Fire Protection Association urges people to favor battery-operated candles or glow sticks instead of open flames in jack-o’-lanterns. Dried cornstalks, fabric and paper decorations can burn easily; keep them away from hot bulbs, heaters and candles. Leave enough clear walkway space for visitors and make sure exits remain unobstructed.

Look at the route to the door from a child’s eye level: loose extension cords, uneven steps and dark patches become harder to see when a family arrives in costume. Keep pets secured so a surprised animal cannot dart out when the door opens.

A quick neighborhood checklist

Before 5 p.m. on Halloween, charge flashlights, check local event hours, test porch lighting, bring a weather-appropriate layer and set a return time. If an emergency arises, call 911. Halloween should be remembered for costumes and community rather than a preventable collision or fire.

Safety sources: NHTSA Halloween Safety Tips and the National Fire Protection Association. This article is general safety guidance, not an official municipal event schedule.