With 60 MPH Winds Approaching, Here Are the Towns Postponing Trick or Treating

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This isn’t a trick, but it is a treat for any parents who weren’t too keen on the idea of holding umbrellas over their little Elsas and Iron Men all night. The forecast for tonight is looking wet and windy, which has prodded some towns across Massachusetts to postpone trick-or-treating and other outdoor Halloween celebrations until the weekend, when fairer weather is expected (the full list of towns is below).

A series of tweets from the National Weather Service Boston this morning offer a peek at what’s in store this evening. The wind will appropriately be howling, and several areas are potentially at risk for power outages and damage. A high wind warning is now in effect from the Boston-Providence I-95 corridor south/eastward, and some areas might see winds as high as 40-60 mph starting tonight at midnight and lasting until 6 a.m. As far as rain goes, constant downpours aren’t expected, but it is due to shower sporadically all day. More showers will return later in the night, and continue into Friday morning.

Overall, it’ll be the perfect evening to tuck in with a glass of wine and a Stephen King novel and not have to worry about how scary your kid’s Joker makeup is going to look after hours in the drizzle, or whether or not your toddler will be able to navigate high winds dressed as a taco.

[Wind/Rain Storm Tonight – Fri: Rain Amounts] Graphic shown is rainfall expected today (additional to those light rain amounts < 0.25″ which occurred overnight). Greatest totals in interior MA into northern CT.

Rain will increase in intensity before midnight & into overnight. pic.twitter.com/5FWu4vB4k4

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) October 31, 2019

[Wind/Rain Storm Tonight – Fri: Headlines] HIGH WIND WARNINGS now in effect from the Boston-Providence I-95 corridor south/eastward.

Greatest potential for wind damage and power disruptions in the area shaded in dark brown, though possible anywhere. pic.twitter.com/LbJUcBbTFo

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) October 31, 2019

According to Dave Epstein’s WBUR forecast, skies should clear by midday Friday, and the mugginess should back off around then too. Saturday and Sunday should be mild and sunny, with highs in the low 50s—perfect for some tardy Halloween merriment.

Are you going to get to hunker down during the ominous weather? Or will you be spending the night encasing your kids’ cardboard costumes in plastic wrap? Find out below.

Massachusetts Trick or Treating Delays

Amesbury: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Athol: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Barre: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Boxford: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Chester: postponed to Friday, Nov. 1 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the Rag Shag Parade from Town Hall to Main Street.

Dalton: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Deerfield: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2.

Essex: postponed to Friday, Nov. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Fitchburg: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Great Barrington: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Greenfield: Trick-or-treating and the Rag Shag parade are both postponed to Friday, Nov. 1.

Groveland: postponed to  Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Hardwick: postponed to Friday, Nov. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Hatfield: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Hinsdale: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Parade will begin at 5.

Lanesborough: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Lee: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Lenox: Annual Halloween parade canceled.

Leominster: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Lowell: postponed to  Friday, Nov. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Merrimac: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Methuen: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Monson: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 3 to 5 p.m.

North Adams: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Oak Bluffs: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2, starting at 5:30

Orange: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Paxton: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Petersham: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Pittsfield: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Princeton: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Richmond: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Rowley: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Shirley: postponed to Friday, Nov. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Southbridge: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., immediately following the Horribles Parade.

Sturbridge: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Swampscott: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Topsfield: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Wales: postponed to Friday, Nov. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m.

West Brookfield: postponed to Friday, Nov. 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Westminster: postponed to Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.