Halloween Sunday or Saturday? Who cares?

Where will your children be in two weeks on Saturday evening, Oct. 30?

People will have to make choices when it comes to celebrating Halloween this year — and they aren't the tough choices of who to dress up as, or what to hand out at the door — the problem is another "holiday vs. holy day" controversy.

As it has done seven times in the past 39 years — most recently in 2004 and 1999 — Oct. 31 falls on Sunday.

In Utah's religious environment, this usually means the unofficial, generally observed Halloween trick-or-treat night will be a night earlier — Saturday, Oct. 30.

Sure, there may be a few ghosts or goblins still knocking on doors on Oct. 31, seeking treats, but the vast majority will likely be out on the streets Saturday night instead.

Utah certainly isn't alone in this switch to Saturday, though it appears less controversial here than in most other places in the nation.

Other areas, particularly the Bible Belt, also observe a Saturday trick-or-treat night.

For example, the Destinlog.com newspaper in Destin, Fla. had an article on this year's Halloween observance controversy clear back in September.

By then Destin City Hall had already received three citizen inquiries about which day was going to be observed as Halloween this year.

"The city doesn't regulate Halloween" was the answer given.

Some military bases apparently celebrate Halloween both nights, to appease both sides of the Saturday-Sunday argument.

Lara Jones, spokeswoman for the Salt City Police Department, agreed that Saturday would likely see the bulk of the trick-or-treating this year in Utah. However, either way, she believes the police will be ready for anything that comes along.

She also stressed that the Salt Lake Police will be holding their own, safer alternative to door-to-door visits , with its annual free, public open house with the fire department on Friday, Oct. 29. 1-4 p.m., 315 E. 200 South. There will be candy, a picture booth with the police chief, K9 dogs and more.

Jones said it's a myth that Halloween in Salt Lake is the biggest night of the year for alcohol violations. The Fourth of July tops that list.