Today is Oct. 31, a time when all the little ghosts and goblins go door to door hoping to scare up some sweet treats. This year’s Halloween holiday falls on a Friday 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 typically starts around sunset. According to TimeandDate.com, sunset times in major cities will range from 5:52 p.m. in Huntsville and 5:55 p.m. in Birmingham and Montgomery to 6:04 p.m. in Mobile.

Those times coincide with surveys that show what most people think is the best time to go door-to-door. A 2015 survey found 40 percent of people said they leave for trick-or-treating at 6 p.m. with 27% done making their rounds by 8 p.m. and 37% done by 9 p.m.

The general rule of thumb is it’s OK to stay out until 9 p.m. or so but when a house turns out the lights, that means they are done for the night.

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Halloween safety tips

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

• Wear costumes that say “flame resistant” on the label. If you make your costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.
• Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape so you’ll be more visible; make sure the costumes aren’t so long that you’re in danger of tripping.
• Wear makeup and hats rather than costume masks that can obscure your vision.
• Vibrantly colored makeup is popular at Halloween. Check the FDA’s list of color additives to see if the colors are FDA approved. If they aren’t approved for their intended use, don’t use them. This is especially important for colored makeup around the eyes.
• Don’t wear decorative (colored) contact lenses that appear to change how your eyes look due to the risk of eye injury, unless you have seen an eye care professional for a proper fitting and been given instructions for how to use the lenses. See Eye Safety below for more information.

Safe treats

• Don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home.
• In case of a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Tell children not to accept — or eat — anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
• Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys from the Halloween bags.
• Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. 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.
• Watch for young trick-or-treaters in unexpected places. Children may be unaware of traffic and dart into the street unexpectedly.
• If you see a drunk driver, contact law enforcement.

Safety for pedestrians

• Before festivities begin, create a “buddy system” to get each other home safely and prevent walking alone.
• Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
• If possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.