Brewton trick-or-treat hours moved early in both cities as storm debris lingers

BREWTON, Ala. — Brewton trick-or-treat hours will start and end earlier than usual this Halloween, as leaders in Brewton and neighboring East Brewton try to keep children safe on streets where storm debris is still being cleared.

Both city councils voted Monday to set official trick-or-treat hours from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, according to the cities. The earlier window is meant to keep young trick-or-treaters on the sidewalks while there is still plenty of daylight.

Debris remains a concern

Storm debris is still scattered across parts of both communities, and city officials said that raised safety concerns about the annual tradition of children walking door to door after dark.

Brewton Mayor Frank Nalty said keeping participants safe was a top priority as the council chose the new time.

“We still have a lot of debris around the city that is still a concern,” Nalty said. “We will continue to work to remove as much as possible especially along Belleville Avenue, Sowell Road and Martin Luther King Avenue, as well as other areas, that are high-traffic areas on Halloween.”

Those streets are among the busiest in Brewton on Halloween night, the mayor said, which is why crews are focusing cleanup efforts there ahead of Saturday.

East Brewton making progress

In East Brewton, Mayor Joey Shell said much of the debris has been hauled away, though some parts of the city are still dealing with what the storm left behind.

“We are continuing our work in cleaning things up along our streets,” Shell said. “But, we are limited on what we can accomplish. We want to make sure the children in the community are safe during trick-or-treat time and doing it early with plenty of light is just a good idea from a safety standpoint.”

Brewton and East Brewton sit side by side in Escambia County, Alabama, and families often cross between the two during Halloween. Setting the same hours in both cities gives parents one schedule to follow no matter which neighborhood they visit.

What families need to know

Here is a quick summary of the plan for Halloween in the two cities:

• When: Saturday, Oct. 31, from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Where: Residential neighborhoods in Brewton and East Brewton
• Why the change: Storm debris remains along some streets, and city leaders want trick-or-treating to happen in daylight
• Other options: Area groups and churches are planning centralized events

Because Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, many children will be out of school and available for the afternoon start, which may make the earlier hours easier for families to manage.

Churches and groups plan central events

In addition to the usual trick-or-treating through residential areas, local groups and churches are organizing centralized events to add another safe option for the holiday, according to city leaders.

Events of this kind, often called “trunk-or-treat” or fall festivals, typically gather families in a parking lot, park or church grounds, where volunteers hand out candy in one well-lit, supervised location. They can be a good choice for families with very young children or for anyone who would rather avoid walking along streets where cleanup is still underway.

Families should check with individual churches and organizations for the times and locations of their events.

Safety tips for a debris-affected Halloween

Even with the earlier hours, parents may want to take extra care this year. General safety advice for Halloween, along with the conditions officials described, suggests a few simple steps:

• Stay on sidewalks and well-cleared paths, and avoid climbing over or walking through debris piles, which can hide nails, sharp limbs and other hazards.
• Keep an eye out for downed or low-hanging wires, and never touch them. Report any to the utility company or local authorities.
• Walk with young children, and agree on a route ahead of time.
• Choose costumes that let children see clearly and move easily, and add reflective tape or carry a flashlight in case the outing runs close to dark.
• Drivers should slow down in neighborhoods during the 3 to 6 p.m. window, especially on high-traffic streets such as those named by Nalty, where debris may narrow the road.

Cleanup continues

Officials in both cities said work to remove debris will keep going in the days ahead. Nalty said Brewton will continue to clear as much as it can before Halloween, with a focus on the busiest streets, while Shell noted that East Brewton has limits on how much it can accomplish in a short period.

Residents with questions about debris pickup in their area can contact their city hall.