The Trunk-or-Treat event at Above and Beyond Church in Boca Raton, Fla. This is one of dozens of such events that take place leading up to and on Halloween in an effort to keep kids and families safe. (Credit: Alex Bates)
By: Alex Bates | MediaLab@FAU
Oct 30, 2025
Halloween is an exciting holiday for Palm Beach County’s children but, for parents, it brings serious concerns.
After dark, streets and sidewalks fill with trick-or-treaters while vehicles continue to move through neighborhoods and parking lots–a combination that makes Halloween among the top 5 most dangerous holidays.
On Halloween in 2022, “2,590 crashes on Florida roadways resulted in 137 serious bodily injuries and 21 fatalities. Most of these crashes occurred at or around 7 p.m. – when many families with children were out celebrating,” according to the Florida Highway and Safety Patrol.
Many of the fatalities are related to drunk driving. In 2023, nearly one-third of fatal car crashes that took place on Halloween involved impaired drivers, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cited by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Many families turn to organized trunk-or-treat events for safety. On Saturday, October 25, Above and Beyond Community Church in Boca Raton hosted a free trunk-or-treat for families from 4 to 7 p.m. The event had music, decorated trunks, food, train rides, bounce houses, games; decked out in costumes, kids went from one parked car to another, trunk-or-treating.
Organized trunk-or-treat events may reduce exposure to danger, by kids being in controlled environments, away from traffic and other threats.
Keith Livingston, 51, a father of two, said, “Halloween is nerve-racking as a parent, that’s why I like the trunk-or-treat. It feels safer because the area is blocked off, it’s a community event, and all the parents are watching out for each other.”
However, some of the parents in attendance said they also plan to take their kids trick-or-treating on Halloween. For families who are headed out on Friday evening, the Palm Beach County Fire Department recommends several safety measures to protect kids: plan a trick-or-treat route in well known neighborhoods, avoid homes without outside lights, and make children visible using bright clothing and flashlights.
Officials also recommend that families come up with a safety plan ahead of time and discuss this plan with their children before they go trick-or-treating.
Susy Granduskky, a south Florida resident, states, “To be safe we always have a game plan before trick-or-treating. I always tell my kids never to enter a house, stay on the sidewalk, and be visible to us.”
Leah Culley, Palm Beach resident, has two elementary-aged kids. She states “I still let my kids go trick-or-treating the old-fashioned way, but I’m extra careful about it. We stick to our neighborhood.”
According to the Shiner Law Firm, a personal injury and accident law firm, certain neighborhoods in Palm Beach County are particularly safe for trick-or-treating. “If you’re in Palm Beach County, Florida and are wondering which neighborhoods are the safest for your little goblins and ghouls to collect their candy, you’re in the right place. We’ve done the research and compiled a list of the safest neighborhoods based on city data and local insights,” the firm states on its website.
Some of these neighborhoods include: Palm Beach South, The Estate Section, The North End, The Acreage East & North, and Tangerine Blvd / Coconut Blvd.
During this upcoming Halloween weekend there are also many community events for local families, including Bedner’s Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival, located in Boynton Beach. During this event, families can pick out pumpkins together and participate in pumpkin decorating contests.It began in September, concludes on October 31st.
There are also many trunk-or-treats for children: Trunk or Treat with BMX Freestyle show ,located in West Palm Beach, FL, October 30th, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. As well as a FBC Lantana Church trunk or treat ,7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Mall-O-Ween Trick-or-Treating event at The Mall at Wellington Green, in Wellington, FL, October 31st, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with candy stations and family-friendly activities.