Worcester Considers Permanently Moving Halloween To A Saturday
WORCESTER (CBS/AP) — The second largest city in Massachusetts is considering permanently moving Halloween to the last Saturday of October instead of Oct. 31 to avoid problems with midweek trick-or-treating.
According to the Worcester City Council agenda, City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. hopes to discuss the move with local police and school leaders, as well as community, neighborhood and faith-based groups.
For some parents, moving Halloween festivities would be a treat.
"I think that's a great idea actually," one parent told WBZ. "I think that will be really great for the kids to stay up a little later Saturday night."
For others, it's more like a trick.
"Halloween is supposed to be the 31st. History, culture, traditions. It dates back all the way to the 31st," said Monica Korzep, who urged the City Council to leave Halloween alone Tuesday night. "I was a single mom for 14 years and I figured it out and I never had to worry about the date changing."
City Councilor Matthew Walley filed an order last month requesting a report on the feasibility of making the change.
He said designating trick-or-treating to take place on a Saturday would allow festivities to begin earlier end ease the stress on working parents.
"I think Worcester we want to be ahead of the curve and again it is based on public safety," Walley said Tuesday night.
City attorney David Moore says Halloween is a secular cultural event not governed by any laws. He says a declaration moving Halloween would not be legally binding.
"You know it's not an official holiday so we don't have to do anything legally," Walley said. "It would be more advocating or suggesting here is when the City of Worcester would advocate for trick or treating."
If the council makes any changes it won't take place for at least a couple of years because this year Halloween is just two weeks away and next year it's already on a Saturday.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)