What Time Does Trick or Treating Start and End in 2023?
Trick or treating is the best-loved Halloween tradition for most kids, allowing them to parade their spookiest and silliest costumes in exchange for sweet treats. But what's an acceptable time for trick or treating to start and end? Find out the answer to this and more burning Halloween 2023 questions.
What time does trick or treating start in 2023?
Trick-or-treat start times will vary depending on where you live and how old kids are. Typically, the earlier it is, the younger the trick-or-treaters will be. In most communities, trick-or-treating begins around sunset, which may vary by your time zone (but typically, on Halloween, it's around 5:30 and 6 p.m.). A 2015 poll indicates that most respondents believe trick or treating should start at 6 p.m., with many also advocating for a 5 p.m. kickoff to the festivities.
Trick-or-treat start times can also vary on what day of the week Halloween falls on each year. If Halloween falls on a weeknight (like how it falls on a Tuesday in 2023), you may see costumed kids out and about when their parents are done with work.
Related: Sweet Tooth? These 50 Best Halloween Candies Are Ghoul-, Ghost- and Kid-Approved
What time does trick or treating end?
Trick or treating, according to popular polling, typically ends around 9 p.m. each Halloween for older kids, with younger kids tiring out at around 8 p.m. Kids may tuck in earlier if it's a school night (and many of their parents may have work in the morning). You can also look for simple cues, like neighbors turning their lights out, to figure out when it's time to wrap up and take your loot home for the night.
Related: 30 Cute DIY Halloween Prop Ideas to Make Your Spooky Decor Extra Boo-tiful This Year
How can we practice safe trick-or-treating?
Ensure that kids (especially those under 12) are supervised and that at least one child in every group is equipped with a flashlight. Make sure kids don't go inside any strangers' homes or vehicles for candy, and give your child a cell phone to use for emergencies. Set a curfew in advance, and for younger children, you may want to pin a note with their name and your contact information inside their costume in case of an emergency.
To prepare your own home for trick-or-treaters, be sure your front porch or steps are well-lit and free of anything kids may trip over, and secure your pets to make sure they don't run outside when you open the front door. You may also want to have a teal pumpkin on display to let kids with food allergies know they can get safe allergy-free Halloween treats at your house.
Next, here are 50 non-candy Halloween goodies that trick-or-treaters will love!
