Salem Trick-Or-Treat Hours For Halloween Night

SALEM, MA — While tens of thousands of Halloween revelers are expected to descend upon downtown Salem to celebrate the night in the holiday's unofficial hometown on Friday, traditional trick-or-treating will go on as usual in the Witch City's neighborhoods.

Trick-or-treating will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with families and caregivers asked to walk on sidewalks, use flashlights or glow sticks after dark and take other precautions to keep children safe. Trips and falls while walking at night in unusual costume attire can be the most common source of injuries on Halloween night.

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Drivers are asked to exercise extreme caution and watch out for children who may be wearing dark-colored costumes, while avoiding any type of distracted driving during these times.

Parents are also advised to inspect all "treats" in a child's bag to check for any unsealed items or items that may appear to be candy but, in fact, may be substances that include THC or other contaminants.

"When in doubt, throw it out," police said in a letter to the community.

"Halloween is a cherished tradition in Salem," police said, "with an abundance of fun and exciting events. Haunted Happenings is an event for the entire family. But it is important to remember to be careful."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)