1. Plan your night ahead of time.

Making a game plan for Halloween night is a safe choice because you can get an idea of where you, your friends, and family will be going throughout the evening: mapping out trick-or-treating routes and timelines for when you'd like to head out and return home are helpful strategies for this.

One of my favorite sayings is "control the controllable" - if you are someone who feels a bit nervous about walking around neighborhoods in the dark regardless of it being Halloween or have children that would rather not be outside in the typical chilly late-October weather, there are several alternative options that still let you have a great time without missing out on getting candy and other festivities! Be sure to check out any community events at nearby youth centers, churches, or schools like Trunk-or-Treating!

2. Travel together. 

Halloween, like other holidays, is best spent with others: when it comes to safety, it becomes all the more important.

If you have young children that you're taking trick-or-treating, walk with them to each house and watch them as they knock on doors - I know how excited I still get about candy at twenty, and I remember how eager I was as a kid to get as much as possible, and running from door to door was just part of the fun. As a guardian, it's critical that you keep an eye on them as the bustle around!

If you're a bit older and have permission to trick-or-treat "alone" with friends without supervision, do not leave each other - the type of scary that comes with losing someone is something you never want to feel.

If trick-or-treating hasn't been your Halloween routine for years and you celebrate by going to costume parties, go with a group and stay with your group!

3. Be mindful of weather.

In my gloomy state of Virginia, the weather is looking rather ghoulish with predicted rain and thunderstorms - I truly love Halloween as much as anyone else, but sometimes staying safe and out of danger is more important than celebrating outside. Check weather websites or apps throughout the day so you can get a feel for what to expect and so you can start brainstorming other possible plans!

4. Check your candy.

While poisoned candy and hidden razors tend to fall a little closer to the realm of urban legends, the golden rule of "better safe than sorry" stands to be absolutely true: if you come in contact with unwrapped candies or packages that seem to be tampered, it's best to discard them instead of risking potential harm. If you do happen to find something, report it to law enforcement immediately.

5. Report anything that seems a little *too* spooky - not in the good way.

Building off of the last tip, anything that seems extremely suspect past the normal Halloween spooks of shadows and fun frights should be reported to the proper authorities (the police, HOAs, etc.) to ensure all can enjoy the night without true threats of fear.