2020 Halloween Guide for Venango County and Surrounding Areas

| October 23, 2020

A look at this year’s Halloween festivities and trick-or-treat schedules for Venango County and surrounding areas.

Dating back 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain, Halloween is an ancient tradition associated with images of witches, ghosts, and vampires. Today, Halloween has evolved into a celebration characterized by child-friendly activities like trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, and dressing in costumes.

However, along with fun holiday activities, the scare season also brings some dangers that can create harmful situations for families and their property.

Please consider these Halloween Safety Tips courtesy of Nationwide Insurance.

    1. Provide adult supervision

Trick or treat is safer – not to mention more fun – in groups, and adult supervision is essential. So get together with other adults and make an evening of it. Bring cell phones for quick pictures and emergencies, but leave them in your pockets to avoid getting distracted.

    1. Stay on the sidewalks

The thrill of the holiday often factors into accidents as excited kids rush from door to door. Keep children on the sidewalks, and shepherd them carefully when they need to cross the road. In areas without sidewalks, walk on the far edge of the road, facing traffic.

    1. Carefully check candy

Check candy for choking hazards like gum and hard candies. Throw away any candy that is not sealed with a wrapper and avoid homemade treats received from strangers.

Costume safety tips

    1. Choose bright, visible costumes

When selecting a costume, opt for the bright-colored outfits and add a touch of reflective tape to the material. Stick some reflective tape on their trick-or-treat bags as well so they can be easily spotted by motorists. Lastly, don’t forget to make sure they’re equipped with a flashlight or glow stick – must-have accessories for any costume.

    1. Make sure costumes are well-fitted and safe

Being visible isn’t the only safety consideration for a costume. The right fit is just as important. Here’s some advice on keeping your child’s ensemble safe and secure:

• Prevent accidental tripping or entanglement by making sure costumes aren’t too big or long

• Avoid masks that block vision, but if your child wears one – it should have large eye, nose and mouth openings. You can also op for makeup or face paint as an alternative

• Costumes, wigs, and accessories should contain a label indicating they are flame resistant

• Make sure accessories such as swords, canes, or sticks are not sharp or too long

    1. Makeup safety

If makeup is a part of your child’s Halloween costume plans, make sure it is non-toxic and test it on a small area first. Before your child goes to bed, make sure to remove all makeup.

Home Safety Tips

    1. Jack-o-lantern safety

Young children can paint or color their pumpkins instead of carving. Or have them draw a face with markers and an adult can do the carving. Use colorful glow sticks inside your Jack-o-lanterns instead of candles to prevent burns.

    1. Home decoration safety

If you’re turning your home into a haunted house, keep safety in mind: make sure steps, sidewalks, porches, and paths are well-lit and free of decorations and holiday props. Keep decorations away from fireplaces and candles.

    1. Take precaution against pranks and vandalism

Unfortunately, vandalism often increases during Halloween. That’s why taking these precautions is a good idea:

• If you’re going away during Halloween, make it seem like you’re still home by turning down the volume of your answering machine and phone, covering your garage windows, and leaving your curtains in normal positions with valuables out of sight.

• Install outdoor lighting (activated by a photocell or movement) to illuminate the area around your home during Halloween.

• Consider purchasing a security system that directly alerts police to intruders.

• Trim shrubs and large trees before Halloween so trespassers have fewer hiding spots.

• Make sure your homeowners’ insurance policy is up-to-date.

Car and driving safety tips

    1. Use extra caution while driving

Drivers need to take particular care on this chaotic night. Keep your car parked if you can, but if you have to drive through a neighborhood, take it much slower than normal. Watch for kids who may dart between cars and into the road without looking. Read our Halloween Driving Safety Guide for more useful tips.

    1. Protect your car

Cars are another common target of vandalism on Halloween. Here are some ways you can help secure your car:

• Park inside if you can on Halloween. Your garage is your best bet. If you do not have a garage you may want to consider investing in some outdoor lighting for your driveway and yard.

• Make sure your car is locked on Halloween. Oftentimes, vandals complete their missions with ease when doors are unlocked and windows are down/cracked.

• Consider a car alarm.

• Hide your valuables on Halloween. Don’t give thieves any extra incentive to break into your car.


TRICK-OR-TREAT SCHEDULES


Additional events and information will be provided as soon as they become available. To submit an event, email news@exploreVenango.com.


VENANGO COUNTY



Clintonville Borough
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.

Cooperstown Borough
When: TBA

Cornplanter Township
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.


Cranberry Township
When:  October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.


Emlenton Borough
When:  October 31, 2020 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Additional Information: Masks and social distancing guidelines should be followed.


Franklin
When:  October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.


Irwin Township
When:  TBA


Oakland Township
When:  TBA


Oil City
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.


Pinegrove Township
When: TBA

Pleasantville Borough
When: October 29, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Additional Information: Participants should turn their porch light on.

Polk Borough
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.


President Township
When: TBA


Richland Township
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Rouseville Borough
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.


Sandycreek Township
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.


Sugarcreek Borough
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.

Utica Borough
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.


CLARION COUNTY



Clarion Borough
When:  October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on. There will be no Halloween Parade this year.


East Brady Borough
When:  October 31, 2020 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on. There will be no party after Trick or Treat this year.


Farmington Township
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Foxburg Borough
When:  October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Knox Borough
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.


Knox Township
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: Participants should leave a porch light on.


New Bethlehem and South New Bethlehem Borough
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on. There is no parade this year.


Paint Township
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.


Rimersburg Borough
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: The Lions Club Parade will be held at 5:30 p.m. There will be no judging of costumes this year.


Salem Township
When: October 31, 2020 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.


Shippenville Borough
When:  October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: Participants should leave their porch light on.


Sligo Borough
When: October 31, 2020 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Additional Information: Participants should leave their porch light on.


St. Petersburg Borough
When: TBA


Strattanville
When:  TBA


Washington Township
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.

 


FOREST COUNTY




Marienville/Jenks Township
When: October 31, 2020 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.


Tionesta Borough
When:  October 31, 2020 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.


JEFFERSON COUNTY



Brockway Borough
When: October 31, 2020 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.


Brookville Borough
When:  October 31, 2020 Time TBA


Corsica Borough
When:  October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.


Punxsutawney Borough
When: October 31, 2020, following parade. Parade time TBA.
Additional Information: To participate, turn your porch light on.

Sigel
When: October 31, 2020 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Falls Creek Borough
When: October 31, 2020 Halloween parade at 5:30 p.m., followed by trick-or-treating until 8:00 p.m.
Additional Information: Parade starts at the Memorial Park on Main Street.


HALLOWEEN EVENTS


 



VENANGO COUNTY


OCTOBER 31

Skarekrow 2nd Annual Spooky Gig
Where: National Transit Building, 206 Seneca Street, Oil City, PA
When: October 31, 2020 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Additional Info: All ages music event with various bands.

Clintonville Lion’s Club Event
Where: Union Presbyterian Church, 409 Emlenton St, Clintonville, PA
When: October 31, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Oil City YMCA Trunk or Treat
Where: Hasson Heights Dek Hockey Rink parking lot
When: October 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

OCTOBER 25

Trunk or Treat
Where: Second Presbyterian Church Oil City, Rear parking lot on the corner of West First and Reed Street, Oil City.
When: October 25, 2020 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Additional Info: Due to the Coronavirus, treat bags will be available to all children age 2 to 5th grade. Door prizes will be randomly distributed. No registration needed for this event. Social distancing and face-masking is expected.

OCTOBER 23

Black and White Ball
Where: Graffiti Gallery Oil City, 210 Seneca Street, Oil City
When: October 23, 2020 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Additional Info: All guests are required to wear black & white attire – whether costumes, or not. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

OCTOBER 17 & 16

Fertigs Haunted Hayride
Where: Fertigs Community Center, 4887 Camp Coffman Road, Venus, PA, 16364
When: October 16 & 17 2020 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Additional Info: Non-scary rides from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and face painting, a pumpkin patch, food, and live music will be provided.

CLARION COUNTY


OCTOBER, 31



Tri-County Animal Rescue Fall/Halloween Pet Picture Contest
Where: Online
When: Submit picture(s) of pets until 24th. Voting begins October 25 and ends October 31. The categories are “cat,” “dog,” and “other.”
Additional Info: You must submit the picture via email with minimum $5 donation (more is encouraged to support their cats and dogs); payment can be via PayPal or paid in person at the rescue. Only pictures with a donation of $5 or more will be eligible for the contest. You must include your first and last name and the name of your pet(s) with each entry and with your donation, so they can be matched up.

Halloween Parade and Trunk or Treat
Where: Clarion Mall
When: October 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.


Pumpkin Chunkin’
Where: Redbank Valley Municipal Park
When: October 31 at the Horse Rink

Rimersburg Lion’s Halloween Parade
Where: Heeter Lumber
When: October 31, 2020 Participants should line up at 5:15 p.m. There will be no costume contest.

Halloween Trunk or Treat
Where: Huston Street, Knox, Pennsylvania 16232
When: October 31, 2020 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Halloween Dance and Costume Party
Where: Sligo Rec Center
When: October 31, 8:00 p.m. to midnight


Cathedral by Candlelight
Where: Forest Cathedral in Cook Forest, 113 River Road, Cooksburg, PA 16217-0120
When: October 31, 2020 7:00 p.m.
Additional Info: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all park programs are limited to 25 participants (unless otherwise stated), mask must be on person, social distancing in effect. All participants must register at the Park Office at (814)744-8407 or cookforestsp@pa.gov. Program starting location given upon successful registration.

OCTOBER 25

Family Halloween Festival
Where: Sligo Ball Field on Madison Street
When: October 25, 2020 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Kids Halloween Parade starts at 1:00 p.m.)


JEFFERSON COUNTY


OCTOBER 31

Trunk or Treat Harvest Festival
Where: Brookville Church of God, 201 Freedom Lane, Brookville
When: October 31, 2020 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Phil’s Trick or Trot
Where: Gobbler’s Knob, 1548 Woodland Ave, Punxsutawney
When: October 31, 2020 9:00 a.m.
Additional Info: All Participants must start with a face covering. Any time the participant is within 6 feet of another racer, a face covering must be worn.

OCTOBER 25

Trunk or Treat
Where: Sykesville Borough
When: October 25, 2020 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Additional Info: At Stahl Park. South Park and West Liberty to South London will be closed. COVID safety measures are encouraged. Anyone interested in hosting a trunk should message the park Facebook page or text 591-3958.

OCTOBER 24

Kids’ Halloween Party
Where: Loyal Order of Moose-Punxsutawney #954, 656 S Main Street Ext, Punxsutawney
When: October 24, 2020 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Disclaimer: exploreVenango.com is providing this guide as a community service and is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate information.

It is suggested that discretion is used when choosing which events are suitable for children.

Additional events and information will be provided as soon as they become available. To submit an event, email news@exploreVenango.com.


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