Halloween 2017: Massachusetts trick or treating times

Wondering what the best time to take your kids out to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood?

Sometimes the porch lights aren’t the best indicators on when to head out into the neighborhood to get your free candy fix.

Boston 25 has you covered with this years list of designated trick or treat times in various city and towns across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

However, the heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds that hit Southern New England on Sunday night caused damages that left over 320,000 people without power and several trees collapsed on the roads.

The damage was so devastating that some towns are postponing trick-or-treating due to safety precautions.

Cities and towns that have postponed trick-or-treating and their rescheduled times: 

• Andover: Sunday, Nov 5 from 4 - 7 p.m.
• Billerica: Friday, Nov 3 from 5 - 8 p.m.
• Boxford: Cancelled for Tuesday, no alternative date or time yet
• Chelmsford: Friday, Nov 3 from 6 - 8 p.m.
• Dracut: Friday, Nov 3 from 6 - 8 p.m.
• Lowell: Friday, Nov 3 from 6 - 8 p.m.
• Merrimack, N.H: Wednesday, Nov 1 from 6 - 8 p.m.
• North Andover, Sautrday Nov. 4 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• New Castle, N.H: Tuesday, Oct 31 starts at 5 p.m.
• Pelham, N.H: Saturday, Nov 4 from 5 - 8 p.m.
• Salisbury: Possibly Thursday, Nov 2
• Tewksbury: Friday, Nov 3 from 6 - 8 p.m.
• Tyngsborough: Sunday, Nov 5 from 6 - 8 p.m.
• Westford: Friday, Nov 3 from 6 - 8 p.m.

An Andover official said this storm is one of the worst ones they've seen, and because there are branches everywhere, tress that have been toppled over, people can't get around them so the roads have been blocked.

They say exposed and damaged power lines are the biggest reason as to why trick-or-treating times have been postponed. There appear to be around 33 high-tension lines damaged throughout the Merrimack Valley, and National Grid estimates it can take up to 72 hours to prepare and restore the lines, according to city officials.

Towns where trick-or-treating is still scheduled for Oct 31:

• Amherst, NH: 6 - 8 p.m.
• Athol: 5 - 8 p.m.
• Auburn: 5 - 8 p.m.
• Amesbury: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Barre: 5:30 - 8 p.m.
• Beverly: 5 - 8 p.m.
• Braintree: 4 - 8 p.m.
• Danvers - 5:30 - 8 p.m.
• Essex 5 - 8 p.m.
• Fitchburg: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Gardner: 5 - 7 p.m
• Goffstown, NH: 6 - 8 p.m.
• Haverhill: Saturday Oct. 28 5 - 7 p.m.
• Hubbardston: 5 - 7 p.m.
• Lawrence 5 - 7 p.m.
• Leominster-  6 - 8 p.m.
• Manchester, NH: 6 - 8 p.m.
• Methuen: 5 - 7 p.m.
• Newton 5 - 7 p.m.
• Orange: 5 - 8 p.m.
• Oxford: 6 - 8 p.m.
• Pepperell 6 - 8 p.m.
• Rowley 5 - 7 p.m.
• Rutland: 5 - 8 p.m.
• Templeton: 5 - 7 p.m.
• Topsfield 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Townsend: 6 - 8 p.m.
• West Newbury: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Westminster: 5 - 7 p.m.
• Winchendon: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Weymouth 4 - 8 p.m.

NOTE: Some towns do not have designated trick or treating times or have not responded to our request about specific trick-or-treating times. We will update the list as we receive more information.

No designated times for the following cities and towns:
*Discretion on appropriate times is up to parents if no designated time is determined*

• Ashland
• Bedford
• Bellingham
• Boston
• Brewster
• Bridgewater
• Brookline
• Cohasset
• East Bridgewater
• Everett
• Framingham
• Gloucester
• Hanson
• Lynn
• Malden
• Millbury
• Peabody
• Plymouth
• Quincy
• Revere
• Royalston
• Saugus
• Uxbridge
• Wareham
• Westfield
• Whitman
• Worcester

To make sure your little ghouls and goblins are safe this holiday, the American Academy of Pediatrics has put together a safety tip sheet for parents and trick or treaters.

Some highlights include:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• Parents should consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility to drivers.
• Crews should bring flashlights with fresh batteries for all trick or treaters and their escorts.
• Only approach homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

Pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, the AAP reminds Trick-or-Treater to:

• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
• Carry a cellphone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
• Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

If your city or town is not on the list, you can contact your local police department business number or town selectman for more information.

Cox Media Group