Who remembers the days of trick or treating until 11 p.m. in the stillness of the eerie Halloween night? For most Americans, trick or treating until that late of an hour is a thing of the past.

Today, many towns have implemented their own trick or treat times, so before heading out the door, or taking the chance of trick or treating past the curfew, be sure to check with your local community! This information can be found online on the local news website.

Many towns with “trick or treat times” have decided somewhere between 6-9 p.m. and others between 5-8 p.m.

If you live in a town without trick or treat times, then certainly you have the freedom to decide when to start. The most socially acceptable times are after 4 p.m., with 4-6 p.m. for the younger children, and 6-8 p.m. or 6-9 p.m. for school-age children and teens.

Think safety, practicality and consideration before deciding when to go out trick or treating. For safety reasons, you don’t want children or teenagers out too late, and your neighbors may have to get up early in the morning, so they will likely be appreciative of a good night’s rest.

Trick or Treat Times 2009