Bedford Sticks With Halloween Night Trick-Or-Treat Tradition

BEDFORD – Bedford is not going to let the weather frighten off its Halloween night fun. Bedford police affirmed on Wednesday that trick-or-treating will be held Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. despite forecasts of potential wind and rain that caused neighboring communities to postpone the festivities.

Bedford Police Chief John J. Bryfonski encourages parents, children and motorists to exercise extra care and caution during trick or treating.

“We’re urging drivers to pay attention to the road and their surroundings tomorrow night, as visibility will be impacted by the weather,” Bryfonski said. “Those trick-or-treating are encouraged to wear high visibility clothing and reflective tape, and to use sidewalks and take caution while crossing the road.”

On Tuesday, Nashua postponed its trick-or-treating to Saturday. After initially saying that intended to keep Halloween on as scheduled, Merrimack police on Wednesday pushed back its Trick or Treat as well. Amherst is keeping the tradition Thursday with road closures in Amherst Village to accommodate trick-or-treaters.

The Bedford Police Department also wishes to offer the following tips to the community outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Dressing Up:

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. Consider adding reflective tape to kids’ costumes and bags to help drivers see them.

If temperatures are cold during trick-or-treating time, be sure to have your kids wear long sleeves and warm clothing under their costume.

If a child is wearing a mask instead of make-up, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see through clearly. Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as a safer alternative to masks. Always test make-up in a small area of skin first and always remove make-up before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

When shopping for costume pieces, look for and purchase ones that are labeled as flame retardant.

Swords, knives and other costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.

Trick-or-Treating

Children under 12 should always be accompanied by an adult. Avoid trick-or-treating alone.

If older children are going out without parental supervision, go over ground rules first and set a curfew. Have them travel in a group, with a cell phone and flashlight. Make sure children know how to call 911 if they have an emergency.

Pedestrian injuries are very common on Halloween. Remind kids to stay in a group. They should walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic. Crosswalks should be used whenever possible and children should always look both ways before crossing the street.

Only go to homes with a porch light on. Never go into a home or car for a treat.

Examine all of your kids’ treats for choking hazards and tampering. Do not eat treats that have been opened, even partially. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

As always, any suspicious person or vehicle should immediately be reported to Bedford Police by dialing 911.

Related Stories: Amherst Police Announce Halloween Road Closures

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Merrimack Pulls A Switch: Postpones Halloween Trick Or Treat