LISBON — Trick-or-treat in the Village of Lisbon will be switched from Friday Oct. 31 to Thursday, Oct. 30 – a day earlier than originally planned – in anticipation of the David Anderson Blue Devils’ 11th game of the season, village council decided during Tuesday’s meeting. The time of 5 to 7 p.m. will remain the same.

“It seems the Lisbon Blue Devils are going to the playoffs and that game is on Friday, Oct. 31,” Lisbon Mayor Peter Wilson said. “I know we do trick-or-treat on the 31st but I would suggest moving it for just this year.”

Lisbon joined other communities across the state that have already moved Halloween activities due to the first-round of the OHSAA playoffs falling on Halloween night to prevent traffic problems, citing safety concerns regarding increased traffic and not making families choose between supporting their respective football teams and the time-honored tradition of trick-or-treating.

“I was already thinking about that [conflict] and I know that other towns in Eastern Ohio have already changed [treat-or-treat],” said Tom Darcy who made the motion that was passed unanimously.

If the Blue Devils beat Leetonia and Columbiana, Lisbon will likely host a playoff game. If David Anderson beats one of those teams, the Blue Devils will travel for the first round.

In past seasons, the final game of the regular season has always fallen on Halloween weekend, but the regular season started a week earlier this year.

Wilson said both the school district and the village were on the same page when moving trick-or-treat up a day.

“It was a mutual suggestion between both parties,” Wilson said.

The Lisbon Ministerial Association’s Trunk-or-Treat will also move to Thursday to correspond with trick-or-treat night. That event will be held in the Lisbon Church of the Nazarene parking lot also from 5 to 7 p.m.