Today is October 31st, a time when all the little ghosts and goblins go door to door hoping to scare away some sweet treats. The Halloween holiday falls on a Friday this year, which means most kids have to go to school the next day, so you can expect an earlier start and earlier end to tonight’s festivities.

Trick-or-treating usually starts around sunset. According to TimeandDate.com, sunset times in major cities range from 5:52 PM in Huntsville and 5:55 PM in Birmingham and Montgomery to 6:04 PM in Mobile.

Those times coincide with studies showing what most people think is the best time to go door to door. A 2015 survey found that 40 percent of people said they left for trick-or-treating at 6 p.m., with 27% finishing their rounds at 8 p.m. and 37% at 9 p.m.

The general rule of thumb is that it’s fine to stay out until about 9 p.m., but if a house turns off the lights that means it’s done for the night.

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Safety Tips for Halloween

Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the best way to have a safe Halloween:

• Wear suits that say “flame resistant” on the label. When making your costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.
• Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape to make you more visible; make sure the costumes aren’t so long that you trip.
• Wear makeup and hats instead of costume masks that can obscure your vision.
• Vibrantly colored makeup is popular during Halloween. Check the FDA color additive list to see if the colors are FDA approved. If they are not approved for your intended use, do not use them. This is especially important for colored makeup around the eyes.
• Do not wear decorative (colored) contact lenses that appear to change the appearance of your eyes due to the risk of eye damage unless you have seen an optician for proper fitting and have been instructed on how to use the lenses. See Eye Safety below for more information.

Safe treats

• Do not eat candy until it has been inspected at home.
• If you have a food allergy, check the label to make sure the allergen is not present. Tell children not to accept (or eat) anything that is not commercially packaged.
• Parents of very young children should remove all choking hazards such as chewing gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys from Halloween bags.
• Inspect commercially packaged treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, small holes or tears in the package. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

Tips for drivers

• Be alert for trick-or-treaters and other pedestrians.
• Slow down and scan the road. Remember: Slower speeds save lives.
• Look for young trick-or-treaters in unexpected places. Children may be unaware of traffic and unexpectedly dart into the street.
• If you see a drunk driver, contact the police.

Pedestrian safety

• Before the festivities begin, create a “buddy system” to get each other home safely and avoid walking alone.
• Follow the traffic rules and follow the signs and signals.
• If possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, even if they are turning left or right.