For the fourth consecutive year, a study by finance website SmartAsset ranked Aurora one of the best cities in America for trick-or-treating.
Aurora ranked fourth out of the 258 largest cities in the Nation.
To identify the Best Places to Trick-or-Treat in 2018, SmartAsset ranked the cities using such metrics as the percentage of children under the age of 15 years old, the number of single-family homes per square mile, special events, home affordability, crime rates, and weather.
“Residents in Aurora seem to take Halloween pretty seriously. Families can attend all sorts of events,” said SmartAsset representatives.
Illinois is the only state with multiple cities in the top 10. Elgin and Joliet ranked seventh and ninth place, respectively.
In addition to regular trick-or treating Halloween hours from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., families can trick-or-treat on Halloween from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place, and at businesses in downtown Aurora from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27
Aurorans agree with the repeated top ranking.
“My kids and my niece and nephew always have a blast,” said Aurora resident Dalila Sanchez -Bravo. “We love Halloween in Aurora. We have no reason at all to go to another city.”
For more information about the study, visit smartasset.com/financial-advisor/best-places-to-trick-or-treat-in-2018.
Official Trick-or-Treating hours in Aurora are 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.
The Aurora government reminds residents to:
• Accompany children and try to go earlier when it still is light outside.
• Make sure costumes, wigs and accessories are flame resistant.
• Wear costumes that are bright or reflective so children can see and be seen. Putting reflective tape on costumes is another option.
• Wear costumes, masks and shoes that are well-fitting to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
• Stay on sidewalks, look both ways before crossing streets and use established crosswalks wherever possible.
• Carry a flashlight.
• Only visit homes with a front porch light on and children should only enter homes if they’re with a trusted adult. Otherwise, they should stay outside.
• Only eat factory-wrapped candy and treats.
—Aurora city government