Salem Police Host 8th Annual Halloween Dress Rehearsal

Free Hot Chocolate and some Halloween Safety lessons for kids that come to rehearsal!

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Salem Police Department is in full preparation for its annual Halloween Dress Rehearsal, Saturday, October 26, 2013, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., 555 Liberty St. SE, 1st floor.

Parents are invited to bring their children in costume for an afternoon of fun and rehearsing to be safe for Halloween night. In its eighth year, the event draws families from all over Salem to have an afternoon of fun with police officers and other local partners in promoting Halloween safety.

The event features a dark house where the children's ghoulish gear is checked for safety and visibility by officers.

The dark house allows for parents and children to experience the challenges of seeing a pedestrian on a dark street.

"This is a great way to show parents and children alike just how difficult it can be to see children in the dark, and to show them how to improve visibility of costumes and clothing," said Angie Hedrick, Community Relations Analyst with the Salem Police Department. To complete the lesson, pedestrian rules are also reviewed.

While supplies last, children attending will receive a reflective trick-or-treat bag and flashing reflector light to add to their costumes and increase their visibility on Halloween night.

The event is enhanced with activities sponsored by the department's local partners in crime prevention, such as The Home Depot, Target Stores, Craft Warehouse, Salem Library, Salem Parks & Recreation, Willamette Valley Dispatch Center and the Salem Police Cadet Unit.

Hot chocolate and coffee will be provided by Starbucks and Salem Police Volunteers will also be on hand to fingerprint children.

For more information about these tips and the Halloween Dress Rehearsal, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at (503) 588-6175, visit www.cityofsalem.net/HDR or follow them on Twitter: @salem_police.