OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Tonight’s the night kids across north-central Florida look forward to… putting on their costumes and getting buckets of candy that will overload their systems with sugar.
The sugar rush aside, we want your family to have a safe and fun Halloween, so we’ve compiled some of the most important information for you in one place at your fingertips.
Weather Forecast
The north-central Florida weather will be dry for your trick or treating. The National Weather Service (NWS) indicates there’s no rain in the forecast.
If you’re going out in the late afternoon/early evening, it could be a little toasty for some costumes. The NWS says the high temperature today will climb to about 84 degrees. As the sun goes down, it will cool down nicely. Sunset tonight is 6:45 p.m. The moon will be slightly less than full.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. North wind 8 to 10 mph.
Get more weather information here.
Community Events
If your neighborhood isn’t ideal for door-to-door trick or treating, we’re compiling a list of some of the community-organized events.
The list below is by no means exhaustive. If you know of an event we’ve missed, send us an email to news@352today.com and we’ll get it added.
Events are free unless otherwise noted.
Boo at the Zoo – 3-7 p.m. – Santa Fe Teaching College, 3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville (Admission: one canned good per person)
Boo Bash – 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Mary Sue Rich Community Center, 1821 NW 21st Ave., Ocala
Candy Crawl – 5:30-7 p.m. – Paddock Mall, 3100 SW College Rd., Ocala
Marion County Sheriff’s Office Safe & Spooktacular Halloween Party – 5-8 p.m. – Circle Square Commons, 8405 SW 80th St., Ocala
Ocala Woodfields & Historic District – Trick or treat at 25 historic homes starting at 1329 SE 14th Ave., Ocala
Halloween Safety
Drivers are urged to be extra careful on the roadways this evening. Watch out for all the little superheroes and princess parading through the streets and darting in between parked cars.
If your kids are trick or treating in your neighborhood, here are some safety reminders that area law enforcement agencies recommend:
Costume Safety
Parents are reminded that costumes can present many dangers, to be safe make sure:
- Costumes fit well
- Masks don’t obstruct vision
- Costumes aren’t trip/fall hazards or cause entanglements
Trick or Treating
- Stay on well-lit streets
- Make sure your children can be seen (wear right costumes, reflective tape, glow sticks, flashlights)
- Don’t enter a stranger’s home
- Travel in groups with adult supervision
- Make sure your children know your cell phone number in case they get lost
- Use flameless candles in your jack-o-lanterns to prevent fire hazards
Poison Prevention
Instruct your children not to dig into their goodies until you’ve had a chance to inspect it:
- Ensure all candy is in wrappers, toss candy with open or damaged wrappers
- Pay close attention to choking hazards for small children, such as small candies or toys
- Don’t eat treats that are homemade. While it may not be an intentional threat, they can contain allergens
- Use caution with things that contain toxic chemicals, such as glowsticks, paint, and makeup
In the unlikely scenario you come across candy tampering, report it to Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222
While reporting, try and take note of the brand names, barcode information, where the product came from, and effects the candy had.