Instead of going door-to-door, more than a thousand kids are expected to go from classroom to classroom Thursday night.

It’s the annual Safe Night and Fall Festival at Papillion-LaVista South High School, 108th & Hwy 370. The event runs from 6 to 8p.m with a bounce house, face painting, games and more. The event is designed to give children a safe alternative to trick-or-treating.

And safety is on the minds of parents throughout the metro heading into the weekend. While shopping for Halloween party supplies at Mangelsen’s, mother Jessica Siwa says, “I bought a hundred glow-in-the dark necklaces and bracelets for all of our friends, yes, so we will all be glowing."

Back at Papillion-LaVista South, glow sticks aren’t needed. Halloween is indoors, and it’s early. Students in the key club are the driving force behind the celebration. “They put so much time in it,” says teacher Megan Peetz. “They come in before and after school. We've had some in their study halls."

Community sponsors pool their resources to pay for the supplies, candy and games. "All of our staff members are very supportive. They bring their kids and their grandkids,” Peetz says. “The goal is really just to see how big we can get this event and how many people we can impact by doing this."

The impact, making for a safe and secure trick-or-treating experience, but the school's resource officer has advice for families who will be venturing out Saturday night. “Constant supervision of the kids, monitoring the houses they're going to,” says Papillion police officer Phil Tackett. “Making sure they're not running across streets into traffic, watching out for older kids who may be out to cause trouble."

Back at Mangelesen’s, Siwa says, “We've already had the talk about you stay with everyone and you don't wander off. And be prepared, if something happens, you find an adult."

Her family will not be attending Papillion’s safe night. “You know we used to do the ones at the mall, but we don't anymore.” That comment gets a frown from 6 year-old JoJo. She’ll have to settle for the real thing, trick-or-treating under the close watch of her mother.

For those who don’t make it out to Papillion Thursday night, Westroads Mall is hosting a safe trick-or-treating event Friday. It runs from 6-8 p.m. The first 500 kids receive a free goody bag.

An evening of "frights and delights" is also planned for 7 p.m. Friday at Fontenelle Forest & Nature Center in Bellevue. It’s for children aged 12 or older.

Children will be able to trick-or-treat through the halls of the livestock exchange building as well. Those festivities Friday are from 5 to 7 p.m. It’s part of the One World Community Health Center’s “Twas the Night Before Halloween.”