Zanesville City Council members have sided on tradition in their decision on the 2018 trick-or-treat date and time.

Beggar’s Night in Zanesville will officially be the night of Halloween, Oct. 31, from 5:30-7 p.m.

The date was brought to question during the second council meeting of August when council member Joey Osborn spoke out of concern for constituents.

Osborn argued that the trick-or-treat date has been changed in the past for home football games, so requesting a different date this year wouldn’t be all that much different.

During the Aug. 27 meeting, council members carried a second reading suggesting Beggar’s Night be on Halloween as usual, even with the date falling on a Wednesday this year.

Osborn also voted in favor of the date, but not before voicing her hesitation to council.

According to Osborn, parents and community members have expressed concerns about trick-or-treat falling on a weekday and during a time which makes it difficult to make it home from work in time to be prepared.

“5:30 is really difficult for working families,” said Osborn. “If someone works until 5:00, they have to get home and get kids dressed and possibly fed for the evening before they go out and fill up with candy. That can be a challenge.”

Osborn said she’d like to see trick-or-treat moved to a weekend, perhaps even in the afternoon, so young children are home before dark and able to eat dinner and get ready for bed.

“Trick-or-treat is great for everyone, but it’s really magic for our younger kids,” said Osborn. “They’re the ones that get dressed up and really believe they are who they are in costume and really have a good time.”

Further, Osborn suggested an earlier end time so the youngest trick-or-treaters are home before dark.

Osborn created a public survey for Zanesville residents to voice their opinions online before the date is voted on for the third and final time during the September Council meeting.

The results of the survey were nearly split, with 53% of participants voting in favor of keeping the date and another 47% in favor of changing it.

During the Sept. 10 City Council meeting, Osborn shared the results with council members.

In the end, Osborn voted in favor of the Oct. 31 trick-or-treat date, but said she believes the results of her poll warrant discussion further in advance when deciding the date in 2019.