Trying to figure out where to go for the best goodies Halloween night? According to one recent ranking, you should head to Shelby County. Leada Gore | lgore@al.com.
Elizabeth Foster
Alabama's top trick or treating spot
24/7 WallStreet looked at several factors in determining the best places for trick-or-treating in each state. The factors included: house occupancy rates; disposable income; weather; demographics for each town; population; and crime rate. Here's what they found:
Photo: Wikipedia
Alabama's best town for Trick or Treating?
Helena in Shelby County.
Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com
Why Helena?
There are a couple of reasons to pick Helena as your top haunt. First of all, almost 97 percent of the housing units in the town are occupied, meaning your little ghost or goblin won’t waste time knocking on doors at vacant homes.
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And then there's weather
The average temperature for Halloween night in Helena is 62 degrees, meaning you likely won’t have to wear a coat over your Wonder Woman costume.
Photo: Wikipedia
Compare that to...
Soldotna, the best place to go Trick or Treating in Alaska. The average Oct. 31 temperature there is frightening 30 degrees.
Photo: File
Plenty of young people, too
Twenty-six percent of Helena’s population is younger than age 14, so people there should be ready for plenty of Trick-or-Treaters.
Safety tips for towns everywhere
No matter if you’re going door-to-door in Helena or another town, there are some safety tips you need to know to keep your night fun and not scary.
State Farm via Flickr
Drivers should take it slow
If you’re driving through a neighborhood, slow down. Kids excited about Halloween may keep them from paying attention to the rules of the road.
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Go as a group
Children should always go in groups and typically with an adult.
Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com
Candy check
All candy should be checked prior to eating. Discard any open or unwrapped candy.
Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com
Turn on the lights
Homeowners should turn their lights on for Trick or Treaters. No light means skip the house.
Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com
It's a school night
Halloween 2017 is on a school night, so be prepared for earlier-than normal visitors. Parents should wrap up Trick-or-Treating around 8 p.m.
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Visible costumes, please
Make sure costumes have reflective elements so they can be seen at night, won’t cause a child to trip and that any masks don’t cover the child’s eyes.
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Look left and right
Remind kids about looking right and left before crossing the road.
Halloween 2017: Best freebies, discounts and deals from Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, Red Robin and more
Looking for some fun things to do this Halloween? Check out these deals and discounts.