On Saturday night, the county’s streets will be full of ghosts and goblins, pirates, princesses and parents — and we want them all to come back safe.

When kids have candy on their minds, they often forget about staying safe — so it’s up to all of us to make sure that they enjoy a spooky but safe night of trick or treating.

As we’re driving around Saturday, we all need to be mindful that children may dart out in front of us — so keep well under the speed limit in neighborhoods and keep your lights on

Parents, have your children carry a flashlight, and you may want to put reflective tape on their costumes to ensure extra visibility.

Parents may want to take their kids to a large community Halloween event, such as Cannon Memorial Hospital’s Trick or Treat Trail, open from 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. for kids 12 and under, or one of the Trunk or Treat events hosted by local churches this week.

For a list of some of these events, see our Faith Happenings calendar on page 7A.

Your children should trick or treat with a group, never alone, and tell them not to go into strangers’ homes.

Tell your kids to stick to the sidewalk, and if there isn’t one, tell them to stick to the far edge of the roadway, facing oncoming traffic.