The invasion will start today at 4 p.m. in downtown Natchez. Dozens of the little creatures are expected to arrive, each seeking to blackmail complete strangers with a threat — give us a treat or we’ll pull a trick on you.

No, this isn’t some sort of phony Nostradamus-like prediction that the world will end at 4 p.m. on the 29th day of the 10th month.

Today is the annual Little Feet Trick-or-Treat event in downtown Natchez.

Thanks to the good folks at the Natchez Downtown Development Association and some generous local business owners, area parents will have the chance to bring their little ones — ghouls, goblins, princesses and superheroes are all welcome — for a safe Halloween event.

Such community events — like many other fall festivals that area churches have sponsored — are great ways for children and parents to find a good, wholesome activity to do in town.

But with that fun comes a word of caution for the rest of us — watch out for little feet and the tiny bodies attached to them. Children are unpredictable anytime, but especially when hyped up by the idea of getting free candy or by the sugar rush from the free candy.

Please drive safely and cautiously on Friday and on Saturday — the City of Natchez’s official day of Halloween celebration.

We want all of those little feet to grow up and become big feet and to do that, we’ve got to work hard at keeping them safe.