Halloween comes with an added layer of apprehension this year that has nothing to do with ghosts and goblins. In the midst of a global pandemic, figuring out fun and safe ways to celebrate Halloween is yet another challenge many families are facing. Popular yearly Halloween activities like haunted houses and corn mazes are operating at limited capacity, providing opportunities for social distancing and installing sanitizer stations to slow the spread of COVID-19.
If you find yourself asking if Halloween is safe to celebrate during a global pandemic, the following safety tips for trick or treaters and those looking for alternative ways to celebrate should help you make an informed decision for your family.
Is it safe to go trick-or-treating this year?
How to celebrate Halloween without going trick-or-treating
If you’re looking for Halloween safety tips that do not involve trick-or-treating, there are options. Consider a lower-risk way to celebrate Halloween like a socially-distant pumpkin carving party with family and friends outdoors or a Halloween “scavenger hunt”, where kids have a list of items to look for while staying socially distant — leaves, carved pumpkins, etc. — while walking around your neighborhood.
Shaye Wylie shared how she and her daughter will be celebrating Halloween all month long. “Lately, we’ve been having weekly family movie nights, and in October we’re making them Halloween themed! I’ve got a list of movies my daughter can pick from and we’ll watch one each weekend cuddled up under a blanket, with popcorn until the month is over,” she told Mom.com.
“Last year was her first year trick or treating and I’m sad she can’t do it again this year, but for now, we’re staying safe inside with lots of movies and snacks,” Wylie said.
Other ways to safely celebrate Halloween in 2020
- Visit a pumpkin patch or corn maze and adhere to social distancing
- Attend a drive-thru or outdoor haunted house
- Settle in at drive-in for a horror movie marathon
- Take to social media for a virtual costume party or Tik Tok challenge
Halloween, much like everything in 2020, will look a lot different than it has in the past. We’ve learned over the last several months, that collectively, we change and adapt as necessary. If that means implementing some the funny Halloween candy safety tips like crafting a candy slide that recently went viral, pass the glue gun.
