Stay Safe and Celebrate Halloween

Halloween is not canceled in 2020, it’s just different. Celebrate safely with your newfound safe social distancing and hygiene skills.

Maintain your social bubble when engaging in Halloween activities however you choose to celebrate.

Alternative Activities

• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends is a great way to get into the Halloween spirit while sprucing up your patio.
• Hang a piñata in your backyard for your children.
• Have a Halloween scavenger hunt for your kid's social bubble in your backyard.
• Plan an outdoor costume parade but keep everyone six feet apart. 
• Have a spooky movie night with your household.
• On Halloween day, use healthy food alternatives at home like veggies and fruits vs. candy.
  • Make Boo Bananas, Clementine Jack O’ Lanterns and Vampire Apple Wedges using healthy ingredients

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Planning to Trick-or-Treat

If you should decide to trick-or-treat, please practice the new routine of wearing a cloth mask, social distancing, and sanitizing often.

• Do not go trick-or-treating if you are sick.
• Make sure you and your children are wearing cloth masks when going out to trick-or-treat. Bust out the ninja costume or slip on a cloth mask under your spooky mask.
• Limit the size of your group. The safest group of trick-or-treaters are those within your household.
• Maintain distance more than 6 feet apart between other groups.
• Bring hand sanitizer and use frequently.
• Avoid going inside other homes.
• Wait until you get home to enjoy your treats!
  • Only eat packaged treats.
• Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds when you return home.

Handing Out Treats

• Don’t hand out candy if you or someone in your household is feeling sick.
• Don’t require trick-or-treaters to come up to your front door. Participate in distanced trick-or-treating. Find creative ways to create space between you and the trick-or-treaters.
  • Prepare individually wrapped goodie bags or leave individually wrapped candy for families to grab and go on a disinfected table at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard.
  • Be sure to disinfect the table periodically.
• When preparing goodie bags, be sure to wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds before and after.

Adult Halloween Activities

• Don’t go out if you are feeling sick.
• You should limit gathering with those outside your household. If you plan to host or go to a Halloween party, plan an outdoor gathering as opposed to an indoor gathering.
  • Gathering in small groups is safer.
  • Avoid beverages from shared punch bowl and buffet-style food.
  • Avoid crowded indoor parties, especially going into haunted houses or hayrides where people may be screaming.
• Wear an effective cloth mask and not just a Halloween mask.
• Avoid using drugs and alcohol. These will impair your inhibitions and decision-making abilities including increased risk of injury and violence.

Stay Safe

Make the decision that is best for you and your family. Just like you would check the weather on Halloween, check this website for updates and current risk levels.

• Follow the current rules and guidance being given at the state and local level.
• Mask up and wash hands before and after trick-or-treating.
• If planning to visit a pumpkin patch, sanitize before and after touching pumpkins.
• Do your research. If you plan to visit another household or a venue celebrating Halloween, check the safety requirements.
• If you are sick, stay home and do not hand out candy.