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GREAT FALLS- Halloween can be a scary time of year, but officials want to make sure the scary is simple fun.

This comes after many parents are still on edge after the random sexual and physical assault of an 11-year-old girl last week.

"Certainly a very large exclamation point going into Halloween," Great Falls Police Captain Bryan Lockerby said.

Lockerby said it's all about taking the right steps to ensuring a child's safety.

"I think that having some responsible parents out there keeping an eye on their kids when they're trick or treating, making sure where they are, they're in a safe area, it's all very important," Lockerby said.

One of those ways is participating in a safe environment trick or treat event.

The Great Falls Downtown Business Association is holding its annual safe trick or treat night, where little monsters and goblins can go from local business to local business collecting tasty treats.

"We're all local businesses so everyone knows us anyway, Pizazz employee Colter MCarty said. "It's safe for the kids to come up and down the streets, see what's there, and get to know us as well."

But if parents and their kids still want to trick-or-treat going door to door, police also say to be mindful of traffic safety and being visible at night.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety October 31st is the deadliest night for pedestrians. The foundation provided a few tips on how to be safe:

• Decorate costumes and treat bags with reflective tape or glow sticks to be more visible to motorists
• Use non-toxic face paint instead of masks to keep vision unobstructed
• Never cross the street mid-block or between parked cars
• Have parents accompany kids at least until the age of 12 and making sure older kids travel in groups

There are several places hosting trick or treating and costume events this week.