Worcester is considering permanently moving Halloween to the last Saturday of October instead of Oct. 31 to avoid problems with midweek trick-or-treating.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. hopes to discuss the move with local police and school leaders, as well as community, neighborhood and faith-based groups, The Telegram & Gazette reports.

City Councilor Matthew Walley filed an order last month requesting a report on the feasibility of making the change.

He said designating trick-or-treating to take place on a Saturday would allow festivities to begin earlier end ease the stress on working parents in the second largest city in Massachusetts.

City attorney David Moore says Halloween is a secular cultural event not governed by any laws, and that a declaration moving Halloween would not be legally binding.

The idea isn't enitrely unheard of — more than 150,000 people have signed a change.org petition made by the Halloween & Costume Association to try to convince the president to create a National Trick or Treat Day that Saturday to go with Halloween, "so families across the country can participate in community parades, throw neighborhood parties and opt for daytime Trick or Treating."

The group had initially pushed for having Halloween moved to the last Saturday of October.