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

WOODBRIDGE, 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 the Prince William County, 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 safety tips released by Prince William County Police for trick-or-treaters:

• Make sure kids, and the adults accompanying them, wear light colors, carry a flashlight or put reflective tape on their costumes. October is Pedestrian Safety Month, and this helps drivers see everyone.
• Trick-or-treaters should always be in groups, so they are not a tempting target for real-life goblins. Parents or a trusted adult should accompany young children.
• Make sure kids know not to enter strange houses or strangers' cars. Children should stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.
• Kids need to know not to eat their treats until they get home. One way to keep trick-or-treaters from digging in while they are still out is to feed them a meal or a snack beforehand.
• Check all treats at home in a well-lighted place.

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. Residents should be aware that Lyft's Washington, DC coverage area for the program only includes part of Prince William County.