Wicker and Wilde want to offer up some Halloween Trick-or-treating safety and etiquette information so that you may have an even more fun Creepy, Kooky Night!
First we want to remind everyone who will be driving around town, whether or not you are driving your kids to various neighborhoods for extra candy, to keep an extra eye out for little Ghouls, Witches, and little Goblins and Vampires.
Trick or Treating starts at sunset in the city of Richmond which is around 6pm and ends around 8:30 p.m. Plus there are specific areas around the area that are NOT-to-Miss Trick-or-Treating including Hanover Avenue and the Harry Potter House!
Chesterfield County has offered some safety tips with an easy-to-watch video:
Make sure that you watch your feet if your costume isn't tight-fitting...careful not to trip. Parents, make sure your kids are either wearing bright costumes or carry a flashlight, cross at crosswalks, use the buddy system, and watch for oncoming traffic.
Halloween Etiquette for Trick-or-Treaters:
Respect the lights on/off rule. If the lights are off at the front of the house, skip that house. The people are not home, have no candy left, or are not participating in the event.
If you want to receive treats, wear a costume or be prepared to perform a silly dance or song for your treat.
Use sidewalks and pathways. Do not take shortcuts across lawns or through gardens.
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Ring the doorbell or knock on the door only once and wait patiently for a response. If no one answers the door after a few minutes, move on to the next house.
Accept whatever is offered as a treat. Do not complain about the type of candy or non-candy treat. However, if you are allergic to nuts, you may ask if a nut -free alternative is available.
Don’t be greedy. When offered to choose candy, take one piece so there will be plenty left for others.
Say “Thank you”.
Respect the ending time set by the neighborhood. If an end time is not specified, stop going to houses by 8:00 or 9:00 pm and remember the lights on/off rule.
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Etiquette when distributing treats:
Respect the lights on/off rule. If you are participating, turn on a light at the front of your house and put out Halloween decorations to indicate that you are open for business. If you aren’t participating or run out of treats, turn off the lights to alert trick-or-treaters to move on to the next house.
Give out store-bought, individually-wrapped and sealed treats. Save homemade goodies for kids you know well.
If you want to let out your inner ghoul for some friendly spooking of your own, be sure to keep it age appropriate. Many young children don’t enjoy that type of fright, so save it for those old enough to appreciate a good scare.
Be respectful of the children who come to the door. Do not make assumptions about age. Some children appear older than they are. Even if some children are older than you think is appropriate, indulge them for one night. Leaving behind cherished childhood traditions can be difficult. If they are wearing a costume, they deserve a treat. However, if someone shows up at your door without a costume, you have the right to deny them a treat or make them work for it – a song perhaps.
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