If you’re a sort-of country dweller like me, you don’t really have a good reliable neighborhood to trick-or-treat in this year.  So how do you make the most of Halloween when you can’t do the traditional door-to-door candy quest?  Here are some really great (and I’ve been to most of these) activities in the metro you can do with your kids this week to get in the spooky spirit:

 Haunt the Zoo:  We go every year.  You can’t beat the Oklahoma City Zoo for Halloween.  You won’t see animals, but you will see folks standing along a pumpkin-lined path handing out some yummy treats.  Neat displays are set up along the way, perfect for pictures.  Haunt the Zoo is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting tonight and ending Sunday. Tickets are only necessary for the kids, and they’re $7 each.  Click here for more information.

Storybook Forest:  Spring Creek Park at Edmond’s Arcadia Lake turns into a book of fairytales as kids can walk through a forest of stories.  Characters and scenes from children’s favorite books are brought to life, along with treats, hayrides, carnival games and a campfire for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.  Storybook Forest is open 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily through Sunday. Admission is $5 per child during the week, $7 on the weekend. Adults are free.  Click here for more information.

Halloween Train Ride at the Oklahoma Railway Museum is a real train ride for kids wearing their costumes.  Departure times Saturday are 10 and 11 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for age 15 and older, $5 for ages 3 to 14, and kids younger than 3 are free. Click here for more information.

Haunt the Harn at the Harn Homestead. Includes trick-or-treating, hayrides and more.  Event is Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for nonmembers, free for members.  Click here for more information.

The Metropolitan Library System also has a list of free events this week:

• Bethany Library: 10  to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday is ”Halloween Fun for Little Ones” for ages 3 to 6. From 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, it’s hosting “Spooky Spook Halloween” for grades 1 to 5.
• Capitol Hill Library: From 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday is “Halloween @ the Haunted Hill” for all ages.
• Downtown Library: From 1:30 to 5:40 p.m. Sunday is  the “Classic  Horror Film Marathon” for all ages.
• Ralph Ellison Library: “Pumpkin Carving for Teens” is 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.  The library’s fall festival is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday for all ages.
• Warr Acres Library: “Dress Up Party for Preschoolers” is tonight from 6:30 to 7:30.  Kids should be in costume.

Be sure to check wimgo.com for more Halloween event listings and have a great, safe week!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

But a few reminders could never hurt. 

Here’s some tips from Safe Kids USA (which includes Safe Kids Oklahoma):

• Encourage children not to trick-or-treat alone. They should go in groups or with a trusted adult.
• Place reflective tape on their costumes or on their treat bags so they are visible to drivers.
• Examine all candy thoroughly.  Check for any signs of tampering.
• All children should have their own flashlight so they can see and be seen.
• Emphasize to your children the importance of looking both ways when crossing a street. Tell them to use crosswalks, if possible.
• Be sure costumes fit well, to prevent trips and falls.
• Let children know they are NEVER to enter a person’s home unless they are with a trusted adult.
• Try to purchase flame-retardant costumes and keep away from open flames.

Have a very SAFE and HAPPY Halloween!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Should I panic?

My niece Heather has known at least since summer that her three little girls were going to be the Power Puff girls.

We were discussing the other day which holiday was our favorite – Christmas or Halloween. Of course, I’m always going to lean toward Christmas, but there’s something mysterious, though dark, that ignites giggly fun within me.

I only dressed up once when I was a child. My aunt Lois took my sister and me trick-or-treating in Wayne, OK, one night. I’d never been trick-or-treating, and I didn’t have a costume, so we created a hobo outfit from my dad’s clothes. All it was was an oversized shirt with rolled-up sleeves.  

Even then, I was cautious about accepting candy or homemade goodies from strangers. But my dad had no problem eating the popcorn balls we brought home. I’m sure he knew everyone in our small town, so he didn’t hesitate to sample some homemade sweets.

Now, though, I sift through every piece of candy that is brought into our house. If a wrapper looks even a little bit askew, I trash it.

Three kids and numerous Halloweens later, we have dressed our little goblins as a scarecrow, ”sweet pea,” Super girl, dalmatian puppy, leopard, witch, gypsy, Jessie the yodeling cowgirl, spiderman, zombie cheerleader, Cinderella and more.

I’m not sure what my 5-year-old son will be this year. Probably a superhero or baseball player.

But both my daughters have mentioned Lady Gaga.

 I told my youngest daughter, “Just don’t wear meat.”   

 –Linda Lynn

 LLYNN@OPUBCO.COM

The first five are for trick-or-treaters:

1. Cross the street safely at corners. Use traffic signals and crosswalks.  Walk, don’t run, and always look left, right then left again before crossing.

2. Stay on sidewalks or paths. No sidewalks? Then walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.

3. Slow down, stay alert. Keep an eye out for cars turning or backing up.  Don’t dart into the street or cross in between parked cars.

4. Young kids should always be with an adult. Especially those younger than 12. 

5. Costumes should be safe. Reflective tap is essential.  If possible, choose a light-colored costume. Choose nontoxic face paint over a mask that can obstruct a child’s vision. Have kids carry glow sticks and flashlights. Make sure they can be seen.

The last five are for drivers:

6.  SLOW DOWN.  Especially in residential neighborhoods and school zones. Most often, trick-or-treating is done between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.

7. Be especially alert. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Kids can be unpredictable so be on guard.

8. Enter and exit driveways slowly and carefully.

9. Reduce distractions when driving.  Don’t talk on your phone or text. It only takes a second to miss a child darting out in front of your car. Concentrate fully on the road and your surroundings.

10. Keep your headlights on so you can spot kids at a greater distance. Children may not be able to see your vehicle.

Let’s keep these 10 important tips in mind so everyone has a safe and happy Halloween.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Those of us celebrating this fun holiday with a toddler, may be thinking “My child is too young for trick-or-treating, but I can’t let the day go by without some festivities to create that picture perfect moment of my little one in full costume.”

Here are some ideas that might be a bit more toddler-friendly than trick-or-treating.

Have a get together at your house.  This works especially if you have other friends with toddlers.  They can have food and games just for them.

Go to the zoo.  The Oklahoma City Zoo sponsors “Haunt the Zoo” every year, and we go … every year.  You won’t see the exhibits, but you’ll meet alot of friendly zoo employees who will be giving out all kinds of goodies.  They also provide plenty of picture opportunities.  Go to www.okczoo.com for more information.

Festivals.  There are plenty around the metro. It seems that every church, YMCA and other community center is hosting a fall festival or carnival.  Take advantage of these, as many are free and they’re a fun, safe alternative to trick-or-treating.

Hand out candy. Dress your toddler up in their costume and let them pass out candy to visiting trick-or-treaters.  Chances are, they’ll just love the opportunity to show off their costume to neighbors.  And you’ll get to watch Halloween specials on TV.

And if you do decide to brave the neighborhood for goodies, just be sure to follow the basic rules of trick-or-treating:

-Wear light-colored clothing and/or reflective tape on costumes.  Don’t cross streets between parked cars.

-Go in a group, and while it is still light out.  Use flashlights if it’s dark. Don’t go to any house that has the lights turned off.

-Inspect all candy carefully and discard anything that has a torn or missing wrapper or could have been tampered with in any way. 

If you have any more good safety tips or suggestions for Halloween, post them here or email esmith@opubco.com and I’ll post them for you.

~Erica Smith