If 2020 has proven anything, it’s that sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. This can be frustrating, but it can also be a great opportunity to change up traditions and try something new.
Now that we’re well into October, many are thinking about the year’s spookiest holiday: Halloween. For kid-less adults, it’s often celebrated in large gatherings or out on the town. For parents, kids, and teens, gaggles of costumed trick-or-treaters abound. But, with the COVID-19 pandemic still at large, these activities as they usually happen aren’t advised.
That doesn’t mean you have to skip it altogether, though. We’ve gathered up some ideas for how to enjoy Halloween safely, no matter your age.
Celebrate at home, with small family gatherings
Instead of going out on the town or heading to a large Halloween party with people outside of your established quarantine pod, plan a smaller at-home gathering. You can still turn the music up loud, watch scary movies, and even have a costume contest—just on a more limited scale.
Outdoor gatherings will be safer than confined spaces, so consider moving celebrations to your back yard if weather permits. If not, try to keep a few windows or doors open to ensure good ventilation.
Whip up some Halloween-themed treats or snag some from your local grocer. Right now, Little Rae’s Bakery has seasonal spooky cookie packs like Squad Ghouls, Pack O’ Jacks, Black Widows, Scary Skulls, No Tricks, and more.
Wear an appropriate face covering
Many Halloween costumes come with masks, but they are unfortunately not designed to stop the spread of a virus. Wearing your surgical-style mask beneath a Halloween mask that already restricts breathing isn’t recommended but wearing one under a looser helmet is OK as long as it doesn’t cause breathing difficulties. You can also make or purchase your own surgical-style mask that is costume appropriate. Use your imagination!
What to do instead of trick-or-treating
Normal trick-or-treating—going door to door, grabbing candy from communal bowls, and not maintaining social distance—is not recommended this year. If you’ve just got to have some kind of community or candy-based activity, you might try these out:
- Host or attend a drive-in scary movie night. Everyone can enjoy the movie while still maintaining a safe distance from others.
- Set up a costume parade with your neighbors. Kids can show off their costumes as part of a (socially distanced) parade through the neighborhood.
- Skip door-to-door trick-or-treating and make a scavenger hunt for your kids. Hide candy or Halloween-themed objects around your yard and house like an Easter egg hunt, or get extra creative by coming up with clues to help kids figure out where everything is hidden.
- Visit an open-air pumpkin patch or orchard with your family. Maintain social distancing from other families, wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer before and after touching pumpkins or picking apples. Save the pumpkin carving (and seed roasting!) for Halloween night. Make a party or contest of it with your household or host an online event to include others outside of your quarantine pod.
- Take your kids on a Halloween walk or drive to enjoy yard decorations around the neighborhood from a safe distance.
- If trick-or-treaters coming to your house is unavoidable, lessen the risk by removing the face-to-face interaction and communal candy bowl. Instead, consider preparing individual treat bags and lining them up in front of your door, walkway, or driveway. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing them. If you want to greet kids as they collect their treats, set yourself up at least 6 feet away.
- For more Halloween activity ideas, including risk levels, visit the CDC website or the WA State Department of Health website.
Distance and sanitize
If you’re having any kind of gathering with people outside of your home / quarantine pod, make sure to wear your masks, maintain social distancing, and sanitize/wash hands often. This is especially important for little ones.
Enter the Little Rae’s Bakery Halloween costume photo contest
Every year, we host an online costume photo contest, and this year’s no different. However you’re celebrating, snap a photo of you or your little ones (or both) in costume for a chance to win a free pack of cookies, mailed with love from us to you. But you’ve gotta make it good… previous winners have already set the standard pretty high!
