Halloween is usually the highlight of the kid calendar. Most kids spend months looking forward to the chance to rock an amazing costume and to go candy crazy while trick-or-treating. In a normal year, most families would be deep into costume and trick-or-treat route planning right now, but, thanks to COVID-19, this is definitely not a normal year. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labeling trick-or-treating as a high risk activity and with COVID cases on the rise in many parts of the country, a lot of families are starting to think about alternate ways to celebrate this usually super fun day.
We talked to 16 moms from around the country to get the scoop on how they plan to spend October 31st. From trick-or-treat traditionalists to those who are skipping the holiday entirely, their responses really highlight the fact that Halloween 2020 is going to be a spooky day in a totally different way this year.
PiΓ±ata
"We are in a COVID pod with two other neighborhood families. We all agreed that trick-or-treating feels too risky this year. We're going to do a piΓ±ata for the kids and have a backyard picnic with the other families instead. The kids will still wear costumes and get candy, so it should be fun!" β Tilly F., El Paso, Texas
Halloween Movie Night
"We're going to do a family movie night with popcorn, Hocus Pocus, pizza, and LOTS OF CANDY! I'm letting each kid pick out three bags at the store so they get to have a candy stash for the next couple of weeks." β Heather S., Altoona, Iowa
Trick-or-Treating
"We're going to go trick-or-treating. I feel like it is safe. I mean, it's like the only time everyone will likely be wearing a mask, right? My only concern is that too many houses will opt out and it will be a bummer for my kids." β Jessica M., Tampa, Florida
Bonfire
"We're going to do a backyard party with some neighbors — chili, fire pit and marshmallows, and then a candy scavenger hunt with flashlights when the sun goes down. It should be lovely!" β Perrie W., Boise, Idaho
Camping
"We aren't going to do trick-or-treating, but I know some of our neighbors are, which seems like it will be a bummer for the kids. So we are opting out and going camping instead. I'm hoping that will ease the pain of having to skip it this year." β Anna M., Albert Lea, Minnesota
Selective Trick-or-Treating
"We are going to do super limited trick-or-treating. Basically going to like 10 houses on our block that are people we know really well. We've all agreed to be very generous with the amount of candy we give so the kids end up with more than just 10 pieces of candy." β Erin A., Colby, Kansas
Craft Party
"We're going to stay inside and keep the lights off. We'll do snacks and have a craft party. I'm thinking painting pumpkins, doing some leaf crafts, that kind of thing. We'll just buy a few bags of candy, too." β Melissa H., Portland, Maine
Candy Day
"We're calling Halloween 'Candy Day' and I'm giving each of the kids $20 to buy whatever candy they want at the grocery store. I'm expecting that they'll then get to do all the swapping and candy binging they normally would but minus catching COVID." β Kim N., St. Paul, Minnesota
Costume Parade
"Our neighborhood is going to do a daytime, socially distant costume parade and then have individual candy bags for each kid. That way they all still get the fun of dressing up, but less risky that way." β Claire R., Tulsa, Oklahoma
'Harry Potter' Weekend
"My kids are SUPER into Harry Potter right now, so we are going to do a whole Harry Potter-themed weekend. We're going to watch all the movies, make butterbeer milkshakes, eat some [Bertie Bott's] Every Flavour jelly beans, the works! Should be fun!" β Amanda B., Fort Collins, Colorado
Nothing, As Usual
"Nothing! But we never do anything for Halloween because we are Jehovah's Witnesses, so we don't celebrate Halloween. This year will actually be kind of nice for my kids since they won't be the only ones not doing it. We'll just be chilling at home, reading and hanging out." β Tamara W., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Backyard Fun
"The trampoline we ordered this summer is finally here, so we are going to surprise the kids and set it up on Halloween. We'll let them jump and then we'll hide some candy around the yard for them to find." β Grace J., Casa Grande, Arizona
Socially Distant Candy
"My 12-year-old has decided she is too old to trick-or-treat, which is great because we were on the fence about letting her anyways. She's going to stay home and give out candy in a socially distant way, either by just watching the bowl or maybe making a candy chute." β Samantha C, Naperville, Illinois
Game Night
"I think we're just going to get some candy and do a game night. My guys are pretty little, so they'll be excited to get to pick out a new game and to get a few pieces of candy." β Boa L., Oakland, California
No Worries
"Ugh. We're going trick-or-treating and I hope I don't get mom shamed for saying that. I think the risks of COVID are being overhyped as far as Halloween and my kids deserve to just have some fun." β Sarah F., Tucson, Arizona
Dia de los Muertos
"We're kind of skipping Halloween this year. We lost a family member recently due to COVID, so we are going to do more around Dia de los Muertos this year, it just seems more on point with the fact that so many people have died." β Eva G., Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
