Worcester 2019 Halloween Trick-or-Treat Hours

WORCESTER, MA — Although there was talk in Worcester this year of holding Halloween on the last Saturday of the month (which would be Oct. 26), trick-or-treating will take place on the traditional Oct. 31 date in 2019.

On Monday, the Worcester police and fire departments released guidelines for trick-or-treating this year to help keep kids safe. The city recommends kids be out only between about 5 and 8:30 p.m., and should:

• Wear bright colors to stay visible
• Carry flashlights to help them see on dark sidewalks
• Only visit homes that have porch lights on
• Look both ways before crossing any street
• Trick-or-treat in groups
• And for drivers: go slower than usual, especially in residential neighborhoods

And it will be dark during the bulk of trick-or-treating time. The sun will set at 5:42 p.m. on Oct. 31, which is about 10 minutes earlier than Oct. 22. The moon will also set in Worcester around 8:30 p.m. The long-range forecast says there's a 40 percent chance of showers.

Last week, the Worcester City Council discussed the merits of moving Halloween trick-or-treating to the last Saturday in October, but ultimately decided not to carry out the idea this year.