The spookiest holiday of the year is right around the corner, which means it’s time to dust off those decorations, put on those social-media-worthy costumes, and celebrate in San Luis Obispo.
To help keep kids safe this year, City staff distributed over 3,800 reflective trick-or-treat bags to all local elementary schools with the help of the Cal Poly Institute of Transportation Engineers Student Club. These shiny orange bags provide reflective protection and Halloween safety tips as part of the City’s Vision Zero Initiative to eliminate all traffic-related severe injuries and deaths.
Whether you plan on attending an event, participating in activities, or staying home and watching scary movies, below are the top ways to have a safe and fun Halloween in San Luis Obispo this year.
- Enjoy Halloween Festivities at Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market. Don your costume at the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market on Thursday, October 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. Go trick-or-treating on the downtown trick-or-treat trail. Pick up your treat bags and trail maps at 5 p.m. in the Union Bank parking lot at 995 Higuera, and while you’re there, sign up for a seriously impressive annual costume contest that takes place at 6:30 p.m. Finally, from 6 to 8 p.m., sing your heart out at “Scary-oke!”, a karaoke contest at the intersection of Chorro and Higuera.
- Attend the City’s Boo Bash. That’s right, folks. The Boo Bash is back! Organized by the City Parks and Recreation team, this free family-friendly event will take place at Meadow Park on Friday, October 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. Dress in your best costume and get ready for a truly fun and spooky haunted house experience. Planned frights are appropriate for ages 5 to 10, but everyone is welcome to get in costume and enjoy the spooky outdoor celebrations and local food trucks at the Boo Bash.
- Avoid party regret. San Luis Obispo becomes a Safety Enhancement Zone during the Halloween holiday, which means laws are strictly enforced and fines are doubled for violations like carrying open containers, unruly gatherings, noise violations and public urination. We’re increasing the number of officers patrolling the streets and portable toilets will be available downtown, so there is no excuse for that last one. Keep it clean, safe, and fun this Halloween. Report noisy parties in your neighborhood by calling non-emergency dispatch line at (805) 781-7312.
- Drive extra carefully and pay attention. Many people will be out in costume enjoying weekend festivities. Please do your part: Drive slowly, use caution when passing stopped vehicles (the driver may be dropping off children), put your phone away, watch for children darting across the street, and yield to pedestrians. (And please call 911 to report dangerous drivers.) Let’s all do our part to keep our streets safe this Halloween weekend.
- Brighten trick-or-treaters up and teach them to cross the street safely. Make your little goblins and ghoulies more visible by giving them a flashlight, headlamp, glow sticks, or reflective trick-or-treat bags. Encourage them to wear brighter costumes that reflect light. Discourage masks and costumes that limit their range of vision. Teach them to look both ways, cross only at corners and crosswalks, and always assume that drivers don’t see them when crossing the street.
- Keep all decorations away from open flames and heat sources. Dried flowers, cornstalks and paper catch fire easily, especially when they’re near heat sources like open flames, light bulbs and space heaters. Keep them away from open flames and heat sources to avoid igniting a fire.
- Use a battery-operated candle or glow-stick in jack-o-lanterns. Open-flame candles inside a jack-o-lantern increase fire risk, as the pumpkin can easily tip over and catch its surroundings on fire. Instead of an open flame, try an LED light, glow stick or battery-operated candle to light up your jack-o-lanterns this year, and remind children to stay away from open flames if you find others using candles.
- Check treats before eating. Closely inspect any candy or treats before eating them or before allowing your children to eat them. Anything not commercially wrapped should be discarded; homemade items or baked goods should be discarded unless you personally know who provided them.
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