Williamsburg, Whitley County postpone trick-or-treat hours until Saturday; other areas choose Friday

At least one Williamsburg youngster isn’t real happy with Mayor Roddy Harrison’s decision to postpone trick or treating until Saturday and wrote a letter to city hall protesting it.

"There are some upset people over moving it. We typically never do. We try as best as we possibly can to keep trick or treat on Halloween, which I think is the most fun as well," Harrison said.

"This year is just a little bit different because there is a home football game. It is the last football game of the season. We have a football team that is undefeated and it is senior night. I’m assuming we are going to have a pretty decent crowd."

Harrison said the move isn’t strictly for football purposes though.

Many attending Williamsburg football games typically park in the parking lot at Main Street Baptist Church.

Harrison said that on Halloween, the church uses its parking lot for trunk or treat, a Halloween alternative, and parents sometimes park in the city school parking lot while their children attend that popular event.

"With parking considerations and all that weighing in together, I just felt like it was a year we should move it to a Saturday so we can keep all the children safe," he noted.

"They dart out in front of cars. As much as parents watch them, they still take off running. This was the biggest reason for making that decision. To me it was a safety issue this year. If this keeps one kid from getting hurt then it is all worth it."

He said that the overall response to the change has been mixed.

Harrison said that one local youngster wrote him an angry letter about the trick or treating change.

"He or she assured me that they like candy not football," Harrison said.

Harrison said that he responded back to the letter during his weekly radio address noting that he likes both candy and football.

"I was really proud of them when they wrote this letter," he said. "If your government does something and you disagree with it, then you need to write them and tell them. I tried to answer it as best I can."

So should Williamsburg youngsters view the trick or treating date change as a opportunity by having their parents take them to Corbin to trick or treat on Friday and then take them trick or treating on Saturday in Williamsburg?

"I guess you can. I’m going to stay out of that. I’m not going to have a dog in that fight. I’ll leave that up to the parents on that one," Harrison added.

Whitley County Projects Director Amber Owens said trick or treating in the county will take place during the same hours on the same day as Williamsburg, which is 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Trick or treating will take place in Corbin at downtown businesses from 3-5 p.m. Friday and at Corbin residences from 6 – 8 p.m.
Jellico trick or treating will take place from 6 – 8 p.m. Friday.

A truck or treat will be set up downtown in Veteran’s Park for anyone wanting to give out Halloween candy who doesn’t want to do it at home.