An early Halloween? Why Columbus mayor wants alternative date for trick-or-treating this year
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson is suggesting door-to-door Halloween trick-or-treating take place in the city Oct. 30 instead of Oct. 31 because the holiday is on a Sunday this year.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still causing hospitalizations and deaths in Muscogee County, Henderson encourages residents to “show their Halloween spirit this year by emphasizing dress-up, decoration and other aspects of the holiday that do not involve close social contact,” the mayor’s office said in a news release.
But if residents choose to go door-to-door for trick-or-treating, Henderson suggests they do it from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 30 instead of Oct. 31 to avoid doing it on a Sunday.
“Of course, this does not mean that groups cannot also celebrate on Sunday night,” the news release says, “but the City asks that any door-to-door tick-or-treating be limited to Saturday night so that residents can plan accordingly.”
The news release doesn’t explain why trick-or-treating on a Sunday is a conflict. The Ledger-Enquirer asked the mayor’s office for an explanation.
“Our office got quite a few calls from parents asking if we would move the trick-or-treating date to Saturday, Oct. 30th,” spokeswoman Becca Covington told the L-E in an email. “In the past, Mayors have moved trick-or-treating to the weekend if Halloween happened to fall on a weekday.
“We understand that some parents strongly believe that Halloween cannot be celebrated on any day other than the 31st of October. However, for all other residents, the mayor has suggested that trick-or-treating take place on Saturday to avoid keeping children up late on a school night. We have also suggested that parents limit their trick-or-treating hours to before sunset. This is to ensure the safety of children, parents, and citizens.”
The news release also reminds residents, “If a house does not have their porch/outside lights on, please do not ring their doorbell. They have chosen not to participate in trick-or-treating, and it is important to respect their decision. Likewise, if you choose not to hand out candy this year, please turn your porch/outside lights off so that trick-or-treaters will know not to knock on your door.”
The Phenix City Police Department announced in a news release that it recommends the public celebrate Halloween on Oct.31 and trick-or-treat from 6-8 p.m. Extra patrol officers will be on duty “to assist in a safe Halloween experience,” the department said.
This story was originally published September 28, 2021 at 10:52 AM.
