One week from Monday, Vicksburg children will discover the great outdoors and take to our streets in droves in search of sweet treats.

Halloween in Vicksburg is Monday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Halloween is a fun time, particularly for children, and they deserve to be able to go from house to house in their costumes with their friends without worry.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace and Vicksburg Chief of Police Walter Armstrong said they are going to do all they can to make certain that’s the case.

Pace has called all hands on deck for Halloween, saying his entire department will work that day. “…There will be no day off Halloween,” he said. “Everybody will be out and we’ll have extra units out after trick or treat ends.”

Armstrong will have extra officers on duty, too. He said his officers will be looking out for not only the children, but also those “who use Halloween as an excuse to commit crimes.”

Pace offered this advice for Vicksburg area parents and their children:

“We advise parent to go out with their children and not let them go out alone, and to trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods,” he said. “Children should wear light, not dark-colored clothing, and not wear masks that cover the face because it can obscure their vision.”

He said parents and children should carry flashlights and avoid running back and forth across streets.

Pace also warned motorists to be on the lookout for children walking and crossing the street.

We’re a little more than a week away from Halloween, so now is the perfect time to prepare yourself and your children for a fun and safe Halloween outing.

Add these tips to those offered by Pace:

• Plan your child’s trick or treat route in advance.

• Wear comfortable shoes.

• Check your child’s Halloween candy.

• Buy reflective tape and put it on the back of your child’s costume on an their trick or treat back to make certain they are visible to drivers.

Some of the most fun a child has is on Halloween. Take these simple steps to make sure it’s a safe time for your children, too.