The highways, byways, and town streets all across the Roanoke-Chowan area will be scattered with little ghosts, goblins and witches trick-or-treating later today (Thursday).

Local youngsters, ages 12-and-under, in search of treats in the rural areas of Bertie, Gates, Hertford and Northampton counties can practice that annual quest between the hours of 6-8 p.m.

A random sampling of local towns revealed the following hours for treat-or-treat (all for ages 12-and-under):

Ahoskie: 6-8 p.m.

Colerain: 6-8 p.m.

Conway: 6-8 p.m.

Gatesville: 6-8 p.m.

Jackson: 6-8 p.m.

Murfreesboro: Dusk – 9 p.m.

Rich Square: 6-9 p.m.

Windsor: 5-8 p.m.

Woodland: 6-8:30 p.m.

Additionally, local youngsters can enjoy other Halloween activities on Oct. 31, to include:

Ahoskie’s Haunted House: 6-9 p.m. at 301 West Main Street (the old Ahoskie Police Department/Fire Department building. Admission is $3 per person;

Ahoskie Halloween Carnival: 6-9 p.m. at the Town Gym on Main Street;

Conway United Methodist “Trunk-or-Treat” from 6-8 p.m.;

All Hallow’s Eve Spootacular Kids Nite Out from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center, located at 9536 NC HWY 305 in Jackson.

Carpenter’s Shop Church of Ahoskie Fall Festival from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The free event features games, food and more;

Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church Fall Harvest Festival from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Ashley’s Grove Club House, 995 Burnt Bridges Road, Conway.  All ages are invited to this free event for a great time of food, games, prizes, cake walk, a non-scary costume contest, and bingo;

Millennium Pentecostal Church Fall Festival from 6:30-8:30 p.m. featuring hay rides, trunk-or-treat, cake walks, Hobo Stew and much more;

“Trunk or Treat” from 6-8 p.m. in the parking lot of New Ahoskie Baptist Church; and

Gates County local government will host a “Spooktacular Time” from 6-8 p.m. on the front lawn of the Gates County Courthouse. Refreshments and treats will be available for “goblins and monsters” – young and old.

Safety First!

With these wide-eyed youngsters out and about this evening, local law enforcement officials are encouraging everyone to be mindful to their presence.

Motorists are urged to watch for children darting out from between parked cars; as well as those walking on roadways, medians and curbs. At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children dressed in dark Halloween costumes.

Parents need to make sure that an adult or an older responsible youth will be supervising the outing for children under age 12. Check the sex offender registry at www.ncdoj.gov when planning your child’s trick-or-treat route.  You can view maps that pinpoint registered offenders’ addresses in your neighborhood, and sign up to get email alerts when an offender moves nearby. Plan and discuss the route trick-or-treaters intend to follow and consider letting the trick-or-treaters make their rounds in pairs, especially inside town limits.

Parents also need to instruct their children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route, stopping only at houses or apartment buildings that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.

It’s also a good practice for parents to tell their children not to consume any treats until they can be inspected upon their return home.