Is Your Home Halloween Ready? Safety Prep Tips for Calgary Homeowners

How to Prepare Your Home with Safety in mind for Trick-or-Treaters This Halloween

Halloween in Calgary is one of my favourite times of the year. The costumes, the energy, and the community vibes make it a special night. But as a homeowner, it's also your responsibility to make sure your property is safe and welcoming for all the little ghosts, superheroes, and princesses knocking on your door. Here's how to prep your home so everyone has a safe (and spooky) good time.

Use our quick navigation guide below to jump to any point of our blog on Halloween Safety Prep Tips for Calgary Homeowners:    

• Light the Way
• Clear the Path
• Choose Safe Decorations
• Fire Safety Tips
• Pet-Proof Your Night
• Check Your Candy
• Set the Mood, Not the Mayhem
• If You’re Leaving Your Home on Halloween Night
• Halloween Tips for Trick-or-Treaters and Parents
• Halloween Tips for Drivers
• Beyond the Spooky Night

Light the Way

We all love a haunted house, but there's a big difference between spooky and dangerous. Proper lighting not only adds to your Halloween decor but also ensures kids and parents can safely walk up to your door.

• Replace any burnt-out lightbulbs in your exterior fixtures.
• Add solar or battery-powered path lights along your driveway and walkway to highlight the safest route.
• Use motion sensor lights to catch movement and prevent kids from wandering off the path.
• For an extra Halloween touch, consider using coloured bulbs—orange, purple, or green—to create a festive feel without sacrificing visibility.

Don't underestimate how many kids will be running from house to house—proper lighting is key to avoiding slips and stumbles.

Clear the Path

Before the big night, do a full walkthrough of your yard, driveway, and front entrance as if you were a trick-or-treater.

• Remove tripping hazards like hoses, tools, garden stakes, or uneven mats.
• Fill in any holes or low spots in your yard that could cause someone to trip or twist an ankle.
• Sweep away leaves, ice, or snow (it’s Calgary—we know the weather can turn).
• Secure or remove any Halloween decorations that stick out into the walking path or could be hard to see in the dark.
• Make sure any stairs have secure railings and are well lit.

Even small items can become a hazard, especially for kids in long costumes or bulky masks with limited visibility. Think ahead and keep it clear.

Choose Safe Decorations 

It’s tempting to go all out with Halloween decorations, but be smart about safety.

• Use battery-operated candles instead of real flames to avoid fire risks—especially inside pumpkins or near flammable materials. These are inexpensive and available at Dollarama and other dollar stores.
• Keep extension cords secured with tape and tucked away from common walking routes.
• Anchor blow-up figures or large lawn decorations with proper weights or ties. A windy Calgary evening can easily send them tumbling.
• Avoid hanging decor at head height where it might snag costumes or scare younger kids too much.

Kids' costumes can be made from all sorts of materials—cardboard, fabric, even papier-mâché—so if you're placing carved pumpkins on your steps, skip real candles and use flameless options to avoid fire hazards or potential burns to children's skin should a pumpkin fall over.

Fire Safety Tips

Candles, carved pumpkins, lighters, and matches are all fire hazards. Place lighted candles and carved pumpkins away from curtains and other flammable objects, and never leave them unattended.

• Instead of candles, use a small flashlight or battery-powered LED light to illuminate your carved pumpkin. Again, inexpensive and less worries about incidents.
• Store candles, matches, lighters, and similar items in places that are completely out of reach of children.
• Avoid Halloween candles with multiple wicks, which can create a larger flame and higher heat levels that might ignite curtains, costumes, or other nearby materials.
• Check all decorative lighting—indoors and outdoors—for broken or cracked sockets, frayed wires, or loose connections. Replace anything that looks damaged.
• Never overload extension cords and only use lights certified by trusted safety organizations like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or the Underwriters' Laboratory of Canada (ULC).

Taking a few extra minutes to fire-proof your setup goes a long way in keeping your home—and your Halloween guests—safe from accidents that can easily be avoided.

Pet-Proof  Your Night 

Halloween can be chaos for your pets. Between the constant ringing of the doorbell and unfamiliar faces in masks, even calm animals can become anxious or defensive. The last thing you want is for your pet to bolt out the front door or react negatively to a child.

• Choose a room in your home where your pet feels safe and comfortable. Set them up with their bed, water, a few toys, and maybe a TV or calming music to drown out the noise.
• Close the door or use a baby gate to keep them secure and out of the main entry area.
• Let guests know not to interact with your pet during the evening, even if they seem friendly.

Don't assume your pet will “be fine”—the excitement and unpredictability of Halloween night can bring out unexpected behaviour. Keep them cozy and safe away from the front door.

Check Your Candy

When stocking up on treats, it’s not just about quantity—it’s about quality and safety too.

• Always buy candy that’s sealed, factory-packaged, and from a trusted retailer.
• Avoid treats with common allergens like nuts unless you also provide an alternative (look for allergy-friendly goodies).
• Skip homemade treats unless you’re personally handing them to close friends or neighbours.
• Before handing anything out, double-check that packaging isn’t torn or expired.

Safety doesn’t stop once the kids leave your doorstep—what you give out reflects your care and attention to detail. Some people bag their goodies and add a label with their name and address to give confidence to the parents that the treats were packaged and given with the safety of the child in mind.

Set the Mood, Not the Mayhem

Yes, Halloween is meant to be spooky, but it shouldn’t be terrifying for the little ones. If you love the haunted house look, think about the age range of your visitors and what might be too much.

• Avoid sudden loud sounds, animatronics, or jump scares near the entrance.
• Consider creating two decor zones—one tame and cute for younger kids, and one more thrilling for the older crowd.
• Keep fog machines or strobe lights to a minimum where visibility is needed.

The goal is to have kids (and parents) smiling—not turning back to skip your house. "Too scary" is a word I hear a lot when I am out trick or treating with the kids.

If  You’re Leaving Your Home on Halloween Night

If you're backing out of your garage or driveway on Halloween night, go extra slow and be aware of your surroundings. Kids will be running up sidewalks, cutting across driveways, and focused more on candy than cars. Take a few extra seconds to check for children behind or beside your vehicle before moving.

Even just running a quick errand could put someone at risk if you're not hyper-alert—so back out cautiously and watch your mirrors and blind spots like a hawk.

Halloween Tips for Trick-or-Treaters and Parents

While homeowners play a huge role in keeping Halloween safe, it’s just as important for kids and their parents to do their part too. Share these tips with your neighbours or post them near your door to help everyone have a fun and safe night.

• Choose bright costumes and add reflector tape so kids are easily seen by drivers.
• Avoid long, bulky costumes or those made of highly flammable material. Make sure kids can walk comfortably.
• Use face paint instead of masks to ensure kids can see clearly. If using a mask, double-check that it doesn't block vision.
• Go out trick-or-treating while it's still light out, especially with younger children.
• Little ones should always be accompanied by a parent or trusted adult. Older kids should stick together in a group and stay on a planned route.
• Set a curfew and have a check-in system if kids are going out on their own.
• Teach kids to never enter a stranger’s home or go beyond the doorstep.
• Stay on sidewalks and only cross streets at designated crosswalks.
• Avoid dark alleys or empty lots—stick to busy, well-lit areas.
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick, and if possible, bring a cell phone for emergencies.
• Always have an adult inspect the candy before anyone eats it—better safe than sorry.
• Remind children to stay alert around traffic and try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing to ensure they have been seen.

Halloween should be about candy and fun—not close calls. A little prep goes a long way in keeping your kids safe while they soak up all the spooky excitement.

Halloween Tips for Drivers 

If you're behind the wheel on Halloween night, you're sharing the streets with excited kids who may not always be watching where they're going. Here's how to keep everyone safe.

• Slow down and be extra cautious in residential areas. Expect more foot traffic than usual.
• Drive defensively and anticipate that children may dart out from between parked cars or unexpectedly cross the street.
• Pay special attention at pedestrian crossings and intersections, where families are likely to be crossing.
• Eliminate distractions—keep your phone out of reach and eyes on the road.
• Turn on your headlights early, even before it gets dark, to increase visibility.
• Your vigilance as a driver plays a huge role in keeping Halloween night safe for everyone.

Beyond the Spooky Night

Owning a home is a responsibility that goes far beyond Halloween night—it requires constant attention, care, and a commitment to keeping your space safe and welcoming year-round. Small actions, like prepping your walkway or checking your decorations, can make a big impact. While you are here, if you haven’t yet seen our blog on fire safety or explored tips from October's Fire Prevention Week, check it out here:

Home Safety Is the Real Treat

Halloween is about community, creativity, and connection—but it’s also a reminder that owning a home means staying proactive year-round. From fall fire checks to walkway prep before winter, small efforts protect your biggest investment. I love seeing Calgary’s neighborhoods come alive on nights like this—it’s proof that safe homes make for stronger communities.

If you’re thinking of selling, buying, or simply improving your property safety this season, I’m always here to offer real, practical advice that helps your home work smarter—and safer—for you.

Dusko Sremac – Calgary & Area REALTOR® | Team Lead, REPYYC

Cell: 403-988-0033   |   Email: dusko@repyyc.com

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