By Karen Haave
Area villages have set the hours for the traditional Halloween trick-or-treating, and at least one requires adult supervision for minors.
In the Village of Crete, kids can gather candy on Thursday, October 31, from 3 to 7 p.m., with the 6 – 7 p.m. hour requiring adult supervision.
The Village of Monee does have an ordinance requiring adult supervision for certain events, but trick-or-treating is not one of them.
According to Village Administrator Ruben Bautista, “The village did create an ordinance on July 24 that prohibits any minor under the age of 18 to be present at or attend any event hosted by the Village of Monee without the minor’s parent(s) or legal guardian,” such as the annual Fall Fest.
“The village does reserve the right to waive these limitations for a village-hosted event and/or set allotted times these restrictions may be in place by the determination by the mayor, in conjunction with the police department. Public safety shall be the paramount basis for implementation of any restrictions on event participants.”
But trick-or-treating is still okay without parents, this year between 4 and 7 p.m.
In Beecher, Village Clerk/Office Manager Janett McCawley said there are no ordinances regarding adults accompanying children while trick-or-treating.
“We haven’t had any issues in recent years, so that has not been discussed at the board level,” she explained. “Our Halloween hours are 4 – 7 p.m., on October 31. Then our Lions Club has a weenie toast at 6 p.m. in Fireman’s Park, 673 Penfield Street. It’s open to the public, with no registration required. Food and drink are first-come, first-served. They sometimes run out, especially if the weather is good. They usually have a pumpkin smash for the kids, too, at no cost, but they do accept donations.”
Peotone residents often get into the spirit of the holiday in costumes and on their front porches, waiting for the kids. Newly appointed Village Administrator Nick Palmer said trick-or-treat hours this year, as generally has been the case, are from 4 to 7 p.m.
“As for an ordinance or requirements for being accompanied by an adult – we do not have a formal ordinance, nor do we require parents to accompany their kids, yet,” he added. “As a parent of four grown children, I always thought it was a good idea to be out on the street keeping tabs on the younger ones and what was going on, just in case. It seems like the weather might be pretty good this year, which is a blessing compared to the years it snowed or rained!”
In Manteno, Deputy Village Clerk Darla Hurley said, “There is no requirement to have the minors accompanied by an adult. Our hours are 5 – 7 p.m.”