Halloween is Oct. 31, and falls on a Friday this year. Children are preparing their costumes and looking forward to all the treats they will collect while they Trick-or-Treat. 

West Columbia’s streets will be filled with kids. Trick-or-Treating is an American tradition that brings thrills to the young.

Jimmy and Wendy Watford live in West Columbia’s Saluda Chase Subdivision. Halloween is a big night in their neighborhood.

“We go down to Todd and Holly Sharpe’s house, two doors down from our house,” Jimmy said. “We have a large number of kids coming through. It’s a big night on this street. I love seeing the costumes and the glow-lights and all of the revelry of the night. It’s a tradition that we love every year.”

Artist Jeff Matthews, at 1705 Redbird Drive in West Columbia, first put the Wooden Dead exhibit in his yard, 10 years ago. He said the scary wooden images that he sketches and cuts out to put in his yard with colored lights, attracts the Trick-or-Treaters. “We get a lot of Halloween traffic,” Jeff said. “And with Halloween being on Friday, I expect it to be very busy.” .

Also, make sure Halloween safety is a priority for children and adults, said West Columbia Police Chief Marion Boyce. 

“The West Columbia Police Department encourages drivers to take safety precautions,” Boyce said. “As a pedestrian, you want to be able to see and be seen. As a driver, use extra caution to look out for pedestrians.”

“We will have extra units on patrol for Halloween,” said Boyce.

Boyce also offered some safety tips to Trick-or-Treaters: 

• “1. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.
• 2. Stick to familiar well-lit areas. 
• 3. Accept treats from only porch-lit homes and wait until getting home and inspecting the candy, before eating it. Make sure none of it has been re-wrapped. If anything looks suspicious or like it’s been tampered with; if it looks out of place, don’t eat it.”

Trunk-R-Treats

Cayce-West Columbia Dixie Youth Baseball Trunk or Treat
The Annual Cayce-West Columbia Dixie Youth Baseball Trunk or Treat is from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Oct. 30 at Howard Park behind Northside Middle School and Riverbank Elementary School, off of Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia. It’s a FREE event. There will be food, fun and lots of candy.

Peter Boulware Toyota of Columbia
Bring the family and join us for a spook-tacular evening at Peter Boulware Toyota of Columbia at 2136 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia.
Our annual Trunk-or-Treat is happening Friday, October 31st from 5–7PM. Come enjoy candy, costumes, and community fun! 

Safety Tips

Chief Boyce recommended Safe Kids Worldwide (click here for a link) as an online resource that outlines precautions for kids on Halloween. Below are some safety tips from that site:

Tips for drivers:
Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways. Slow down in residential neighborhoods. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

Tips for Trick-R-Treaters
Carry glow sticks or flashlights, use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags, and wear light colors to help kids see and be seen by drivers. Slow down and be alert! Kids are excited on Halloween and may dart into the street. Turn on headlights early in the day to spot kids from further away. Remind kids to cross the street at corners or crosswalks. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls. Choose face paint over masks when possible. Masks can limit children’s vision.