Halloween to be observed on Halloween this year in Vicksburg and Warren County

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The City of Vicksburg and Warren County have set the date for observing Halloween this year on Halloween: Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

“Trick-or-treating should be one of the great adventures of Halloween for kids,” the city said in a release, and offered the following tips to keep your child safe:

1. Children should always go out trick-or-treating accompanied by a responsible adult. If you have a group of kids going, the parents should choose two or three of them to go along and keep an eye on things.
2. Some towns set a curfew for trick-or-treating that makes it easier for townsfolk to know who’s coming to their door. Make sure to stick to the curfew times, and stick to subdivisions and areas with a lot of homes so your kids can get in as much trick-or-treating as possible in a few hours.
3. Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will always be. Set a time for their return home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves. Make sure they have a cell phone.
4. Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields if they are out alone. Make sure they know to stay in populated areas and not to go off the beaten track. Let them know to stay in well-lit areas with lots of people around. Explain to them why it can be dangerous for kids not to do this. If they are going out alone, they are old enough to know what can happen to them in a bad situation and how to stop it from happening.
5. Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you. This way you can check for any problem candy and get the pick of the best stuff!
6. Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car. Explain why this is not a good idea and what to do if someone approaches them and tries to talk to them.
7. Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.
8. Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to trick-or-treat without an adult.