LIST UPDATED AT 5:44 pm to reflect notification from NLCRPD. See list below.
LITITZ, PA- (LititzDailyNews.com) – With a frightening forecast of a heavy rain and high winds, a growing number of municipalities in Lancaster County concerned for the safety of their citizens have postponed Halloween trick-or-treating, originally scheduled for tonight, Friday October 29, to Sunday, October 31.
But not Lititz Borough. Or Warwick Township. And that’s caused some local residents to voice their displeasure, especially parents of young children who took to local community Facebook groups to express concerns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO
Multiple residents stated online that they contacted Lititz Borough to change the event date, but their requests seem so far to go unheeded. Others appear displeased with what appears as official disregard for the safety of Lititz residents.
Ephrata Police Department posted that two boroughs and two townships they serve have postponed as well, citing safety due as the reason.
“Good News! Due to rain and wind, and for the safety of everyone, Trick-or-Treat Night has been moved to Sunday, October 31st from 6-8pm. Please spread the word!” a post pinned to the top of the Ephrata PD Facebook page reads. STORY CONTINUES BELOW COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Earlier in the day, the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department sent a bulletin headlined “Trick or Treating is Tonight, Per County Ordinance,” listing the window of 6-8 p.m. for the official trick-or-treat time frame.
The notice stated that “Lancaster County Trick-or-Treat is scheduled for this evening, October 29th from 6pm to 8pm – rain or shine. Some municipalities have or may allow a rain-date, however the NLCRPD jurisdictions of East Petersburg Borough, Clay Township, Penn Township and Warwick Township will be following the County Ordinance and not changing the event day or time.”
NLCRPD amended their announcement after Clay Township postponed trick-or-treating to Sunday.
When a prior year’s post from Penn Live listing trick-or-treat in Lititz as Nov. 1 circulated on social media, it only added to the confusion and frustration. The post was reportedly from 2019.
Some have expressed displeasure over the time and date of the event being set by local authorities rather than being held on the traditional date of Halloween celebrations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE
One Lititz community Facebook user expressed dismay at the practice, commenting that he was “not co-parenting with the government.”
Facebook user Kayla Cook posted “[The] Borough doesn’t need to decide this for us,” along with her poster reading “Lititz Borough Peeps: Trick or Treat Sunday 6-8.” One man thought her post would sow confusion.
After an afternoon of varied opinions being posted online, one woman on a Lititz Facebook group ultimately made a bold declaration: “Dear Lititzians….I, Lisa Marie of Facebookland, hearby declare Trick or Treat to be held on Sunday, October 31st from 6-8 for the town of Lititz, PA residents.”
She suggested that those who intended to hand out candy could do so tonight and on Sunday night. Others concurred that they would do so, to make the event as much fun as possible for the children of Lititz. REVISED LOCAL TRICK-OR-TREAT DATES BELOW STORY
REVISED LOCAL TRICK-OR-TREAT DATES
Here is a list of the local Trick-or-Treat schedule as it currently stands. Since this is a fluid situation, check back for updates. And if you choose to trick-or-treat in Lititz or elsewhere tonight, use caution, wear reflective or blinking gear, carry flashlights and attach lights to costumes, and always assume that drivers cannot see you.
Adamstown Borough: Postponed to Sunday Oct. 31
Clay Township: Postponed to Sunday Oct. 31
East Petersburg Borough: Tonight Oct 29 6-8 p.m. POSTPONED TO SUNDAY 6-8 PM. AS OF 5:44PM announcement
Ephrata Borough: Postponed to Sunday Oct. 31
Ephrata Township: Postponed to Sunday Oct. 31
Lititz Borough: Tonight, Oct. 29 6-8 p.m.
Manheim Borough: Postponed to Sunday Oct. 31
Manheim Township: Postponed to Sunday Oct. 31
Penn Township: Tonight Oct 29 6-8 p.m.
Warwick Township: Tonight Oct 29 6-8 p.m.
West Cocalico Township: Postponed to Sunday Oct. 31
The Lititz Borough Police Department will be at various locations tonight to hand out treats from 6-8 p.m.. Here is the schedule they posted online:
Editor Lynn Rebuck
Lynn Rebuck is the editor of award-winning LititzDailyNews.com, the only independent news site in Lititz. Subscribe FREE to LititzDailyNews on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram via the icons at top of the page. PM us on Facebook or IG with news tips and story ideas.
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