Halloween 2026 arrives Saturday, Oct. 31, bringing costumed kids and porch-light decisions to Lombard, Glen Ellyn and Villa Park.

For families planning an evening route,

Lombard and Glen Ellyn recommend trick-or-treating from 3 to 7 p.m.

Villa Park has a longer window, from 3 to 8 p.m., giving families an extra hour.

Those different trick-or-treating hours matter if your Halloween plans cross village lines or include friends in neighboring communities.

A little planning now can prevent confusion once the sidewalks fill up.

Houses with porch lights on are generally signaling that trick-or-treaters are welcome.

If you are not handing out candy, leave the light off or post a No Trick-or-Treating sign.

Parents and caregivers should accompany younger children, while older kids should know their route and when to return.

For trick-or-treating safety, check costumes for visibility, make sure shoes are comfortable and carry a flashlight for darker stretches.

Excitement can make it easy to miss a curb, driveway or approaching car.

Cross at intersections, look both ways and put phones away while walking between houses.

Motorists, meanwhile, should expect unpredictable foot traffic and drive slowly through residential streets.

Watch closely near parked cars, where small children may be hard to see until they step into the roadway.

Lombard Police Department is urging drivers to buckle up, follow traffic laws and avoid impairment throughout the holiday weekend.

Officers are stepping up enforcement against impaired driving through Nov. 2.

Anyone celebrating with alcohol or cannabis should arrange a sober ride before the festivities begin.

That decision is especially important when children are crossing streets after dark.

Halloween should be a night of treats, not preventable injuries or a frantic search for a safe way home.

In all three villages, the best approach is simple: follow local hours, look out for neighbors and keep the drive home sober.