Halloween 2025: When To Trick-Or-Treat In McLean Safety Tips

MCLEAN, VA — Trick-or-treating doesn't have a set time in many Northern Virginia communities, which means you can expect little ghosts and ghouls to show up to your doorstep during the evening hours of Halloween.

That applies to McLean, where families typically trick-or-treat on Halloween. This year, Halloween falls on Friday, Oct. 31.

If you live within a homeowners association or apartment complex, check with them on trick-or-treat times, as they may be different from Oct. 31.

Here are some Halloween safety tips shared by the Fairfax County Police Department.

For Drivers:

• Stay alert: Excited kids may be walking unpredictably or distracted.
• Avoid all distractions while driving and put your phone away.
• Back out of driveways and parking spots slowly.
• Drive extra slowly through neighborhoods and residential areas.
• Never pass a stopped vehicle they may be letting children cross.
• Be extra cautious when turning into or out of driveways, alleys, and roads.

For Parents:

• If you will not be joining your child, plan and talk through their route ahead of time.
• Remind them never to enter a stranger’s house or car.
• Visit only homes with porch lights on.
• Teach children to cross streets at corners and crosswalks, not between parked cars.
• Trick-or-treat in groups. It’s safer and more fun!
• Send kids out with a flashlight or glow sticks and consider costumes with reflective materials.
• Check your child’s candy before they eat it.

Insuranceopedia has provided other safety tips for drivers as part of its Halloween guide:

• Slow your speed down in residential areas. Expect unpredictable movement from kids.
• Take extra looks at intersections, medians, and curbs. The NHTSA recommends that drivers use headlights earlier in the day, to improve visibility and to spot children at greater distances.
• Put your phone away when driving, so you can concentrate on your surroundings.
• Enter/exit driveways with extreme caution (driveway back-overs are a known risk).
• The most popular time for trick-or-treaters is between 5:30-9:30pm. Drivers should be hyper-vigilant during this time window.
• Plan a sober ride if celebrating. Alcohol impairment spikes crash risk on Halloween.

For residents celebrating Halloween with alcohol, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program will offer its Halloween SoberRide program from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. on the evenings of Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The program seeks to keep DC area roads safe from would-be impaired drivers during high-risk holidays. Residents 21 and older can receive a free Lyft ride up to $15 using the Lyft app. The promo code will be posted at 3 p.m. on Oct. 31 at www.SoberRide.com.