Classic carvings from The Pumpkin Master, Ray Villafane.

The pumpkins are carved and ready to be lit.  The Halloween costumes are purchased and ready to wear!  Halloween, one of the most fun and exciting holidays of the year, is finally here! Halloween mishaps can ruin or put a serious damper on your holiday fun, however; so don’t let them happen to you!  Here’s our list of last minute tips to make sure your Halloween comes off without a hitch or any unexpected disasters!

Trick or Treating Tips:

• Make sure your costume is hemmed up to an appropriate and easy to manage length.  Kids get so excited to go trick or treating that sometimes all that running around can be made downright dangerous by a too-long costume.  Make sure your child’s is short enough, even if it means a last minute pin-up with safety pins or in a pinch, you can tape it up with masking tape.
• Costumes can be made more visible as well as safe in the dark by using reflective tape in various places, such as along the sleeves or the hemline.
• Make sure your child can see well!  This is especially true if your child is wearing a mask, hat or headpiece.  Avoiding running while trick or treating in the dark is always a good idea.
• Use caution with all props as well as play weapons.  Even plastic swords can hurt when someone gets inadvertently poked.
• Many people will be lighting Jack-o-Lanterns with candles.  It’s a good idea to remind children how to “stop, drop, and roll” if their costume were to accidentally catch on fire.
• Make sure each child has their own flashlight so they can see where they are going while out and about at night.
• Trick or treat only in groups of children or with an adult supervisor.
• Only trick or treat at well-lit homes in neighborhoods that you are familiar with.
• Discuss treat management with your kids and tell them not to eat any of their candy until you’ve had a chance to take a look at it.
• Have your kids fill up on a hearty meal before they go out trick or treating so they will not be as tempted to dive into their candy bags while they are out.
• Never run across the street from in-between parked cars.  Always cross the street at a corner where you are more visible to drivers; don’t assume that the driver can see you either.  It can be very difficult to see trick or treaters at sunset or in the dark.
• If you are not going trick or treating with your older children, know the route your kids intend to use.  Make sure you have a specific curfew stated for when they are expected back at home.  Carrying a cell phone to use for emergencies or just to check in is always a good idea.
• Remind your kids to never go inside anyone’s home, even if invited or encouraged to do so.

If You’re Staying at Home: 

• Make sure your home and walkway are very well lit so trick or treaters can see the way clearly to your doorway.
• Put your decorations in safe places so they don’t get tripped over and so they don’t obscure your Halloween visitor’s vision in any way.
• Illuminate your Jack-o-Lanterns with battery-operated lights if possible, or use smaller candles.
• Make sure you only pass out wrapped candy/treats.

Dealing with Pets: 

• Even if your pet is the most adorable and friendly creature on the planet, it may be safest for him to be contained or put far away from the front door on Halloween.  Pets can get scared with all the strange costumes, incessant doorbell ringing and scary sounds and thus may behave somewhat unpredictably at times, possibly even unexpectedly darting out the front door!
• Put the candy bowl out of reach!  Chocolate and many other Halloween treats can be toxic to pets and can also have serious health ramifications for them.  Avoid this situation altogether and keep your candy way up high, far away from your furry friends.
• It’s probably not the greatest idea to let little kids pet Rover or Fido.  Halloween is very stressful for most animals and you can’t be sure how yours is really feeling or going to react; it’s possible that even the most docile animals can be a little touchy during Halloween, so why risk it?

Halloween Tips For Big People:

• Be very aware when driving on Halloween night.  Excited kids will be running around in the dark everywhere and may be coming out of unexpected places, so drive slowly and more cautiously, especially in residential areas.
• Headed to a Halloween party?  Always have a designated driver.
• Make sure you have enough gas in your car to get where you are going and home once again.  You really don’t want to run out of gas on Halloween night while dressed up in your costume, so plan accordingly!
• Consider some limits when it comes to being overly sexy.  Decide if you are going for some serious cleavage, a super short look, or something midriff-baring–all of the above may just be too much of a good thing; usually it’s better to pick just one of the above.
• We love Halloween makeup (and we know you do too!) but please, no matter how tired you are post-party, do yourself (and your pillowcase) a big favor, and wash all of your makeup off before you hit the sack.
• If unfortunately you show up at your Halloween party with the same costume on as somebody else, trust us, yours is always better.  Relax and don’t worry about it.

From all of us here at Halloween Express, have a safe, sane and super fun Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!