Halloween in Lititz has always been a neighborhood affair. Porch lights come on, sidewalks fill with superheroes and princesses, and some households go to remarkable lengths to decorate. In 2015, trick-or-treat night was set for Friday, October 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Lititz Borough and Warwick Township, matching the schedule used by many other municipalities across Lancaster County.
When and where
The two-hour window applied throughout the borough and the township. Holding trick-or-treat on the Friday before Halloween, rather than on October 31 itself, gave families a school-night-free evening and let children make the rounds without rushing home for an early bedtime.
Lititz’s walkable streets, older homes with deep front porches, and tight-knit blocks make it a favorite destination for trick-or-treaters, including families from surrounding areas. A few houses in town have earned reputations for elaborate displays, and the evening is as much a community stroll for adults as a candy run for children.
Sharing the night
LititzDailyNews.com invited readers to send in Halloween selfies and family photos for a community trick-or-treat gallery. Residents could email pictures to the newsroom, post them as comments on the site’s Halloween Facebook post, or tag the publication on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #LititzHalloween. The goal was a snapshot of how the whole town celebrated, from homemade costumes to decorated front yards.
Safety tips from Lititz Borough Police
Ahead of the evening, the Lititz Borough Police Department shared a list of trick-or-treat safety tips. They remain good advice for any Halloween night:
1. Walk with a friend. Children should never trick-or-treat alone, and younger children should be with a trusted adult.
2. Look both ways before crossing the street. Excitement and masks can make children forget basic street habits.
3. Skip houses without porch lights on. A dark porch is the usual signal that a household is not participating.
4. Use reflective material on costumes and bags so drivers can see you, especially as it gets dark.
5. Do not enter anyone’s home unless you are with a trusted adult.
6. Wear well-fitting costumes and masks to avoid trips, falls and blocked vision.
7. Eat only factory-wrapped treats, and let parents check candy before anything is opened.
8. Stay on well-lit streets and walk on the sidewalk.
9. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
10. Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries.
A few more tips for parents
Police departments across the county generally add a handful of points to that list. Agree on a route and a return time before heading out. Make sure older children carry a phone or know how to reach a parent. Consider face paint instead of masks for younger children, since it does not limit vision. And for drivers, the best advice on trick-or-treat night is simply to slow down in residential neighborhoods and watch for children darting between parked cars.
For households handing out candy
Residents who want to welcome trick-or-treaters can help keep the evening safe too. Clear steps and walkways of pumpkins, cords and decorations that could trip someone in the dark. Keep the porch light on so visitors know the house is participating, and consider battery-powered candles in jack-o’-lanterns instead of open flames, since costumes can catch fire.
A community tradition
For many Lititz families, trick-or-treat night is one of the year’s most social evenings, when neighbors who rarely cross paths stop to chat on the sidewalk. The newsroom planned a follow-up feature that day on one local couple known for going all out on Halloween, the kind of house that becomes a must-visit stop for children across town.
Trick-or-treat dates and hours are set by each municipality each year. Residents should check with Lititz Borough or Warwick Township for the current schedule.