How to Light Up Your Walkway for Trick-Or-Treaters

Anxious trick-or-treaters only have one thing on their minds when they ramble through the neighborhood in search of Halloween goodies--and safety just isn't it. While all those ghosts and goblins are too preoccupied with sugary treats to worry about safety, you shouldn't be. A great way to start making your home a safe place for little visitors is by lighting up that dark walkway. Excited tykes will delight when they're greeted by these cute, inexpensive Halloween luminaries that light the way safely to your door. When you light up your walkway for trick-or-treaters, you're making trick-or-treating a little bit safer for your neighborhood.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• White paper lunch bags
• Black marker
• Sand
• Tea light candles
• Candle lighter

Lighting Up Your Walkway for Trick-Or-Treaters

1. Gather enough white paper lunch bags to place one about every 18-inches to 24-inches along both sides of your walkway. You'll want enough to ensure that your walkway is well lit from the sidewalk to your front porch.

2. Get creative with your marker. Draw a spooky face or a spider on each bag. If you're not artistically inclined that's alright--just write "Happy Halloween" or "Boo!" on the front of each one or leave the bags blank.

3. Line the bottom of each bag with two to three inches of sand. Any kind of sand works well and helps to keep the bags from tipping over or blowing away.

4. Place your bags along both sides of your walkway with the decorated side facing away from the house.

5. Place a tea light candle firmly into the center of each sand pile, making a bed for the tea light to rest in. Make certain not to cover the top of the candle. The tea light should rest firmly in the sand, not be covered by it.

6. Light each candle using a long candle lighter. Make certain that the flame doesn't touch the paper bag and that the top of the bag stays upright.

Tips & Warnings

• When decorating your Halloween luminaries, keep the decorations small so they won't hinder the purpose of the candle inside.
• Don't light your luminaries until it's almost time for the trick-or-treaters.
• If you're nervous about using a live flame, you can opt to use battery-powered light strands instead. Though a bit more expensive, battery-powered light strands lessen the risk of injury and provide the same illuminating effect.
• Check the bags often to make certain they're holding up well and that they haven't been accidentally knocked over by little ones.
• Small children are curious about the luminaries and may try to pick one up or push one over. Supervise small children around luminaries when candles are lit.

Resources

• Other Great Halloween Luminary Ideas