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Community Corner

Trick or Treating Hours, Tips and More for a Fun and Safe Halloween

Information on trick or treating in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park.

Who doesn't remember Halloweens past when you romped from house to house in a great costume and collected so much stuff that a trip to the dentist would be on the card days afterward?

Well youngsters still can and local towns have set hours to do just that. Trick or treating hours on Halloween Wednesday, Oct. 31 are from

  • 3 to 7 p.m. in Oak Park and River Forest
  • 3 to 7:30 p.m. in Forest Park. 

In addition to making sure that trick-or-treating and all things Halloween remain fun, communities have also sent out reminders about what to wear and how to make certain goodies are safe.

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Click here to read our interview with an ER doctor about working on Halloween.

Here are a few of those reminders:

Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Make sure the costume is visible to vehicles and others.
  • Use make-up instead of masks.
  • Choose flame-retardant costumes.
  • Wear light-colored clothing at night or add reflective tape to dark colored costumes.
  • Do not trick or treat alone.
  • Only approach homes that are well lit and and only approach the front door.
  • Stay within your neighborhood and visit only homes you know.
  • Stay on sidewalks and obey traffic signs and signals.
  • Carry a flashlight.

Now what about those treats? With more attention being focused on childhood obesity and healthier eating, parents are looking toward more nutritious options to put in kids' trick-or-treat bags.

Food manufacturers are offering more organic and sugar-free options, such as Organic Jelly Gummy Bears, Tiny Trapeze Caramels, and CoCoaVia Blueberry and Almond Chocolate Bars, according to Yahoo.com. Cookie, cracker and snack products like Oreo and Chips Ahoy are offering a 90 or 100-calorie version of the original.

If you haven't bought your treats yet and are considering picking up some individually-wrapped snacks, avoid trail mix with peanuts, as peanut allergies can be fatal.

Adults should give out and kids should accept only wrapped and packaged candy. And parents should check their child's candy before they eat it.

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