Why Worcester Sought To Move Halloween To Saturday

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester officials recently looked into the idea of moving Halloween trick-or-treating to the last Saturday in October as a way to improve safety. But the idea to exorcise traditional Oct. 31 festivities originated in a coven, of sorts.

The Halloween and Costume Industry Association, whose members include Rockstar Wigs and the sexy-costume manufacturer Dreamgirl International, in 2018 proposed moving Halloween to the last Saturday in October instead of Oct. 31. Saturday is safer for young trick-or-treaters, the HCIA says, and would give Halloween-loving millennials the chance to party longer.

The HCIA created a Chang.org petition to ask President Donald Trump to make the change, and it got thousands of signatures. Then in 2019, the HCIA had a new idea: disembody trick-or-treating from Halloween by making the last Saturday in October "National Trick or Treat Day." The Oct. 31 Halloween holiday would remain in place.

"National Trick or Treat Day will take place annually on the last Saturday of October so families across the country can participate in community parades, throw neighborhood parties and opt for daytime trick-or-treating," the petition page reads.

The Mars Chocolate candy company offered to sweeten the deal by giving away 1 million Snickers bars if the U.S. government recognized National Trick or Treat Day.

In Worcester, it was Councilor Matt Wally who had the idea to move trick-or-treating to the last Saturday in October — although he has acknowledged it's too late to do it for 2019. City Attorney David Moore sunk his teeth into idea, finding some interesting legal arguments in favor of it.

In a memo, Moore acknowledged that weekday Halloween trick-or-treating can be a safety issue. Some police departments have asked that trick-or-treating stay between 5 and 8 p.m., a period when roads tend to be busiest.

Further, Moore says it's legally possible for the state Legislature to enact a law recognizing Halloween as the last Saturday of October — as the Legislature has done, for example, with Polish Constitution Day (May 3) or Candle Safety Day (Dec. 10). The mayor could also use a proclamation to create National Trick or Treat Day in Worcester.

"The mayor, if so inclined, could, by proclamation, declare Halloween as the last Saturday in October. A mayor’s proclamation, while not legally binding, would raise awareness of the issues arising out of weekday evening trick or treating and thereby assist in the movement to see this change occur for all," Moore wrote in his memo.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. says he plans to meet with police, Superintendent Maureen Binienda, and community groups to see if the Saturday trick-or-treat idea has any legs — or wings, or fangs.

No matter, Halloween in Worcester and across the world falls on a Thursday this year.