Winnetka Postpones Halloween Trick-Or-Treating Due To Weather

WINNETKA, IL — Village staff announced Wednesday official trick-or-treating hours have been canceled for Halloween night and rescheduled to the weekend due to forecasts of bad weather and related safety concerns.

Instead of taking place on Halloween, official trick-or-treat hours will run from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, according to a statement from the village manager's office.

Some residents requested the change, and village staff consulted with Police Chief Marc Hornstein in making the decision, it said.

"Our primary concern is the safety of our young trick or treaters. Inclement weather, combined with young children crossing the street where visibility is reduced, increases the risk of pedestrian accidents," Hornstein said in a statement.

"While I can appreciate the tradition of trick or treating specifically on October 31st, I am more concerned about our children going out in unsafe conditions when we have a reasonable alternative and the ability to reduce the possibility of an accident," he added.

Communications Manager Josie Clark said village staff grew concerned about safety risks associated with trick-or-treating in bad weather after seeing weather forecasts.

"We received calls and emails this morning requesting that we consider a change and also noticed that other communities were considering changing their trick or treating hours," Clark said. "We realize that everyone may not observe the suggested change of hours, as they are guidelines, but wanted to provide a safe alternative."

Forecasts predict temperatures of about 35 degrees with rain and light snow until about 4 p.m. on Halloween. Anywhere from 2 to 6 inches of snowfall is possible, and slippery road conditions are expected in the morning. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday for Cook County.

In Glencoe, trick-or-treating is continuing as scheduled. The local chamber of commerce is hosting a Halloween Hello event downtown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and official trick-or-treat hours run from 4 to 8 p.m.

To reduce the number of pumpkins that wind up in landfills, Glencoe village staff and the Glencoe Community Garden, 380 Old Green Bay Road, are hosting a pumpkin composting event, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, when attendees will get a chance to smash them.

Winnetka's public works department is hosting its own pumpkin collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 6 at Village Yards, 1390 Willow Road.