The plastic masks sorta-suffocated children, pillowcases doubled as candy sacks, and Wheeling’s kids once were granted three hours of trick-or-treat time on Halloween.
Since those Gen-X youngsters dressed up as Batman, Dracula, and Wonder Woman back in the 1970s and 80s, though, several time changes have taken place throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, including the City of Wheeling. For the last several years, the City sanctioned one hour for trick-or-treat in the Friendly City, but City Manager Bob Herron announced a couple of weeks ago that an extra 30 minutes was added this year.
So, trick-or-treating in Wheeling will take place this Friday evening from 6:30-8 p.m.
Children in Barnesville will be out this evening from 5:30-7 p.m., 22 additional communities will celebrate Halloween on Thursday, 17 more on Friday, and one – the village of West Liberty – on Saturday, Nov. 1. Of the communities listed below, 23 of them will sanction 90 minutes, 14 have approved two hours, and five areas allow for just one hour.
Herron has heard complaints about the Friendly City’s expansion, but only a few.
“They’ve said the extra half-hour is going to be expensive for some people who live in our neighborhoods that get hundreds of kids.” he said. “But I’ve also heard several times that an hour is too short. So, since it’s on a Friday this year, we thought it would be a good idea.
“There are a lot of people who want two hours, but we think that’s too long, so we compromised and made it 90 minutes,” he said. “So, it’s 6:30 until 8 p.m. (this Friday), and we’ll see how it goes. For those neighborhoods that get the most trick-or-treaters, it will add to the total of kids at the door.”
It is common practice on Halloween for residents to keep their porches dark when not participating, and to turn off their porch light once their candy supply is exhausted.
“Nobody wants to just turn off their porch lights because it is a trick or a treat. No one wants to the trick part,” the city manager joked. “I think most people are OK with it because I’ve only heard about it from a few people. Most of our residents have a lot of fun with Halloween.
“Hopefully the weather cooperates this Friday because there’s no high school football in the city,” he said. “Hopefully, everyone will have a good time with it, and the kids get a lot of candy.”
Most Wheeling neighborhoods will be patrolled heavily by members of both the police and fire departments.
“When we were considering the expansion, we checked with the police department and with the fire department because we have patrols out there during trick-or-treat,” the city manager explained. “Everyone was OK with it.
“So, they’ll be out there keeping every safe, and I hope everyone driving in Wheeling on Halloween night will take it slow when they’re driving in our neighborhoods.”
Trick Or Treat – Ohio Valley:
This Evening:
Barnesville 5:30-7 p.m.
Thursday, October 30
Beech Bottom 6-8 p.m.
Bethany 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Bridgeport 6-7:30 p.m.
Cambridge 5:30-7 p.m.
Cameron 5-7 p.m.
Clarington 6-7:30 p.m.
East Liverpool 5:30-7 p.m.
Follansbee 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Glen Dale 6-7:30 p.m.
McMechen 6-7:30 p.m.
Morristown 5:30-7 p.m.
Moundsville 6-7:30 p.m.
New Cumberland 5:30-7:30 p.m.
New Martinsville 6-7:30 p.m.
Powhatan Point 5-7:30 p.m.
Shadyside 6-7:30 p.m.
St. Clairsville 6-7:30 p.m.
Steubenville 5-7 p.m.
Toronto 5-7 p.m.
Weirton 5-7 p.m.
Wellsburg 6-8 p.m.
Wintersville 5-7 p.m.
Friday, October 31
Adena 6-7:30 p.m.
Bellaire 6-7:30 p.m.
Belmont 6-7 p.m.
Benwood 5-6 p.m.
Bethesda 6-7:30 p.m.
Bethlehem 6:30-8 p.m.
Brilliant 6-8 p.m.
Brookside 6-7 p.m.
Byesville 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Chester 5:30-7 p.m.
Holloway 5:30-7 p.m.
Lafferty 6-7:30 p.m.
Martins Ferry 6-8 p.m.
Valley Grove 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Wells Township 6-8 p.m.
Wheeling 6:30-8 p.m.
Windsor Heights 6-8 p.m.
Yorkville 6-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 1
West Liberty 5-7:30 p.m.
