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Why Cochran's celebrating Halloween on Saturday, not Thursday

The city's police chief chooses when the town will host their trunk-or-treat event, and that always goes hand-in-hand with when folks trick-or-treat

COCHRAN, Ga. — Halloween is one of those holidays that sometimes falls on a weekday, and because of that, the City of Cochran's decided to have this year's Halloween celebrations on Saturday. 

It was disappointing for Melissa Gilliland, who said Halloween is their family's favorite holiday. 

"I don't think there's anything that quite beats having your whole family together trying to make something that's better than the neighbors down the road," Gilliland said. 

In Cochran, the police chief decides when the town's trunk-or-treat event will happen each year. This year, Police Chief Jeffery Jeff Trawick decided to host it on Saturday, instead of Thursday. 

"We take into consideration you know, all our citizens and the kids. We talk to the schools, and the teachers and that's what I base my decision on," Trawick said. 

He said a lot of parents shared concerns with him about being rushed for the Halloween celebrations since it's on a school night. 

"I had a lot of parents come and tell me, 'Hey, my kids have cheer leading competitions or they have games,'" Trawick said. 

He said folks can still trick-or-treat on Thursday if they want to. But Gilliland said most folks always do it the night of the town's trunk-or-treat. And this year was going to be extra-special for her 17 and 18-year-old kids, because it's their last one before they leave home. 

"It was our last one, so this year it mattered and then all the plans were cancelled," she said. 

She also made their Halloween plans months before the city decided to host trunk-or-treat on Saturday. She invited her children's friends from out of state to come trick-or-treat in Cochran - but their flights were supposed to leave before Saturday evening, so she cancelled them. 

And while Police Chief Trawick says nothing's stopping folks from celebrating Thursday if they want to, Gilliland just doesn't think it's a good idea without the city's support.

"We have officers that help direct traffic because if not you'll get stuck. So without that plan in place cause that's how it's been every year, I would be afraid to even do anything because there would be like no order, and that's important especially if you have little ones," Gilliland said. 

The trunk-or-treat event runs from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, at the Cochran Police Department.

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