The Boston Police Department wishes the Boston community a happy and safe Halloween! The department encourages safety and supervision during the annual Trick-or-Treat season. Halloween is fun for people of all ages, but it is most important for parents to closely adhere to a few guidelines to ensure your night runs smoothly!If you would like to celebrate Halloween with the Boston Police Department, see below for a police-sponsored event in your district.
- Parents should establish a route for children, stay within familiar areas and surroundings
- Remind kids not to enter strangers\’ homes or cars
- Remind children to avoid homes without an outside light on
- Attach your phone number and address to your children’s costume
- Take a flashlight
- Be sure clothing/costumes are bright, reflective and flame retardent
- Set rules about not eating treats until kids get home. Be sure to inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them.
- When in doubt, throw it out! Candy that has been opened should be thrown away. Any homemade treats or fruit should be inspected closely.
- Never cross the street from between parked cars.
- Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they can catch costumes and long wigs on fire.
- Make sure that fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or worse, have them mistaken for the real thing!
It is also important to ensure that your home is safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters. As adults there are some very simple things we can do to make the evening safe everyone:
- Turn on your porch light.
- Move lit jack-o-lanterns off the porch where kids get bunched up if they are trick-or-treating in groups.
- Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard.
- Drive slowly all evening-you never know what creature may suddenly cross your path.
- Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police.
The Boston Police Department, Boston Centers for Youth and Families and the Mayor’s Commission on Elderly Affairs each have Halloween events.
Below is a list of events at Boston Community Centers that are free for the public to enjoy.
- Archdale 10/31, 4:30-6 p.m. ages – 6-12. Various party activities.
- Boston Chinatown 10/31, 4-6 p.m. ages – 5-13. Games, crafts, face painting etc.
- The Kent CC 10/27, 4-6 & 6-8 p.m. ages – 5-12. Bobbing for apples, piñata, etc.
- Charlestown 10/27, 6-10 p.m. “Boston At Night” see below.
- Cleveland 10/27, 6-10 p.m. “Boston At Night” see below.
- Condon 10/31, 3:30-6 p.m. ages – 5-12. Costume parade, games etc.
- English High CC 10/31, 5-7 p.m. ages – 10-19. Teens perform “Thriller” (an extended version of Michael Jackson’s song.)
- Harborside 10/30, 4 p.m. ages – 7-13. Various party activities.
- Harborside 10/27, 6-10 p.m. “Boston At Night” see below.
- Jackson-Mann 10/27, 4 p.m. pre-school. Costume party for the pre-school enrollees.
- Jackson-Mann 10/31, 3-5 p.m. after-school. Children in the after-school program will “trick or treat” as a group.
- Mattahunt 10/31, 3:30-6 p.m. ages – 6-12. Various games and activities.
- Mildred Ave. 10/30, 4-6 p.m. after-school. Curry College is hosting the after-school program at the school.
- Mildred Avenue 10/27, 6-10 p.m. “Boston At Night” see below.
- Murphy 10/30&31, 9-11 a.m. & 12-2 p.m. Kindergarten and nursery school parties.
- 10/31, 5-7 p.m. all ages. Games, prizes, refreshments and more.
- Nazzaro 10/31, 2:30 p.m. ages – 6-7. Games, food, costumes etc.
- 10/31, 3:30 p.m. ages – 8-10. Games, food, costumes etc.
- Ohrenberger 10/31, 10-11 a.m., 1:30-2:30 p.m. Party for pre-school program. Also hosting parties for childcare program.
- Paris Street 10/27, 3-7 p.m. all ages. Annual block party with games, rides, refreshments and more.
- Shelburne 10/31, 5-7 p.m. ages – 6-13. Music, costumes, games, food, etc.
- Tobin 10/27, 6-10 p.m. “Boston At Night” see below.
- Tynan 10/30, 3:30-5 p.m. ages – 10 and under. Music, costume parade, food etc.
- Mildred Ave School 10/31 3-5 p.m. ages 11 and under. Candy, hot dogs, music and giveaways. 1st Annual Sponsored by District B-3
“Boston At Night”: BCYF will host five Halloween-themed safety nights, now called “Boston At Night” on Friday, October 27 from 6-10 p.m. at the following centers: Tobin, Cleveland, Kent, Harborside and Mildred Avenue.
The Boston Police Department and Mayor Menino will also host parties.
- Friday October 27, 2006
3rd annual Boston Police Area E-5 Halloween Party 5:00-8:00 p.m. 1701 Centre Street, West Roxbury (Area E-5) Event will take place outside the station (Centre Street will be closed off from Greaton Rd to WR Parkway)—rain location is the E-5 Community Room. Activities include moonwalk, balloons, and face painting. Entertainment includes a spooky DJ, clown, juggler and demonstrations from the BPD K-9 and Bomb Squad units. - Monday October 30, 2006
2nd Annual Boston Police Halloween Party, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Saint Anne’s School, 20 Como Road, Readville. Event is in the parking lot off of West Milton (rain location; school gym). There will be candy, costumes, food, a DJ as well as children’s activities. - Tuesday, October 31st The Mayor’s Halloween Party for Seniors will take place this year at the Cedars of Lebanon in Jamaica Plain.