Trick-or-treating hours for Halloween 2016

Here is a list of trick-or-treating hours for communities in Linn and Johnson counties. All hours are for Monday, Oct. 31, unless otherwise noted.

Linn County

Alburnett - 5 to 7 p.m.

Bertram - No set hours. Residents should turn on their porch lights when they are ready to greet trick-or-treaters and turn them off when finished.

Cedar Rapids - No set hours. Czech Village participating businesses host trick-or-treating from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Center Point - 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Central City - 5 to 7 p.m.

Coggon - 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Ely - 5:30 to 8 p.m. The Ely Fire Department is handing out glow sticks to trick-or-treaters from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Ely Fire Station, 1300 Main St.

Fairfax - No set hours.

Hiawatha - No set hours.

Lisbon - 5 to 7 p.m. The city also hosts its Halloweentown on Main Street downtown event at this time.

Marion - No set hours. Residents should turn on their porch lights when they are ready to greet trick-or-treaters and turn them off when finished. The city of Marion hosts a trick-or-treating event from 3 to 5 p.m. at City Hall, 1225 Sixth Ave. and the Marion Public Library, 1095 Sixth Ave. welcomes trick-or-treaters from 6 to 8:45 p.m. for family fun.

Mount Vernon - 5 to 8 p.m.

Palo - 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Prairieburg - No set hours. Residents should turn on their porch lights when they are ready to greet trick-or-treaters and turn them off when finished.

Robins - Dusk to 8 p.m. Monday. The Robins Civic Club hosts a Trunk or Treat event from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot at Community Savings Bank, 101 Robins Square Court. Costumes are required for kids to participate.

Springville - No set hours. Residents should turn on their porch lights when they are ready to greet trick-or-treaters and turn them off when finished.

Walford - No set hours.

Walker - 5:30 to 8 p.m. Residents should turn on their porch lights when they are ready to greet trick-or-treaters and turn them off when finished. Firefighters plan to hand out fire hats to kids.

Johnson County

Coralville - 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Hills - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Those handing out treats are asked to turn on their porch lights.

Iowa City - Dusk to 8 p.m.

Lone Tree - 6 to 8 p.m.

North Liberty - 5 to 8 p.m.

Oxford - 5 to 7 p.m.

Shueyville - No set hours.

Solon - 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Swisher - 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Tiffin - 5 to 7 p.m.

University Heights - 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, with Halloween just around the corner, local law enforcement officials are reminding area residents - especially trick-or-treaters - to be vigilant regarding safety.

On average, twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween than on any other day of the year, according to a release from the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Police urge parents and guardians to prepare children to act safely and drivers to be particularly alert.

Police recommend talking to your kids about safety before allowing them to go out trick-or-treating. Children are encouraged to trick-or-treat before it gets dark. Children younger than age 10 should not be alone crossing streets on Halloween without an adult, police said. If older kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without adult supervision, parents should make sure they go in a group and stick to a predetermined route with good lighting, police said.

Drivers need to be extra alert as there will be more children on the streets and sidewalks - and those kids may be focused on gathering candy and caught up in the excitement of the holiday rather than being careful while crossing streets, police said, adding drivers should avoid distractions and put down their mobile devices and slow down on neighborhood roads.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department, in cooperation with Linn County Safe Kids, offers the following safety advice:

' Cross the street safely at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Walk - don't run - across the street.

' Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.

' Slow down and stay alert - watch out for cars that are turning or backing up and never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.

' Costumes can be both creative and safe. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Masks can obstruct a child's vision, so choose non-toxic face paint and makeup whenever possible instead. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights in order to see better, as well as be seen by drivers.

The following advice is offered to drivers:

' Slow down in residential neighborhoods. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are 5 to 9 p.m.

' Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.

' Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

For more tips on how to help kids become safer pedestrians on Halloween, as well as throughout the year, visit www.safekids.org and visit the Linn County Safe Kids Coalition Facebook page at www.facebook.com/linncountysafekids.