Revelry, safety top the agenda for Halloween

Lawrence’s traditional Beggars’ Night trick-or-treating is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, but other events geared more to adult revelers will go into the night.

Here’s a look at some of the activities planned Friday:

  • Downtown Lawrence Inc. is sponsoring a trick-or-treat night from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Merchants will be handing out candy. For more information, call 842-3883.
  • Independence Inc. will sponsor a Halloween party for all ages with a haunted room, games, music and dancing. The party will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 2001 Haskell Ave.
  • The Lawrence Arts Center will have a haunted house, carnival games, crafts and a scary tale theater for preschoolers to sixth-graders, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 940 N.H. Street. Wear your costume.
  • For those ages 21 and older, bars and clubs around Lawrence are offering special events, including the Eldridge Hotel, where a costume ball will feature Chubby Smith and Descarga KC. More than $500 in prizes for costumes will be awarded. The ball will be from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Crystal Room of the Eldridge Hotel at 701 Mass.
  • For more information on haunted houses and other events, visit www.lawrence. com.

John Drees, the Douglas county coordinator for SAFE KIDS, cautioned parents to not let their children trick or treat unaccompanied by an adult.

“Parents need to be out there with them. It is all part of the safety net. It used to not be that way, but now that is just how it is done,” Drees said.

SAFE KIDS is a nonprofit group dedicated to preventing injuries to Kansas children.

Among the SAFE KIDS safety tips:,

  • Take care crossing streets.
  • Wear light costumes that reflect light.
  • Don’t allow costumes that cover a child’s face.
  • Don’t allow candy to be eaten until it has been brought home and inspected.

“Many of the risks kids face on Halloween can be avoided if parents discuss important safety precautions with their kids,” said Jan Stegelman, coordinator of Kansas SAFE KIDS.