Halloween Is Not 'Canceled' Because Of COVID-19, But It Will Look Pretty Different
Like most things, Halloween is set to look pretty different this year. With social distancing and masks still highly encouraged—and in some cases, required—amid COVID-19, people have been wondering Halloween will be canceled altogether. The short answer is: No, people will still find ways to celebrate, but it might be a bit different than in previous years.
What Halloween looks like for you this year will largely depend on who you are, where you live, and what you do to celebrate Halloween. For example, if you're a younger adult who lives in an area where cases are not particularly high and you're not in a particularly high-risk group, you can probably still get together with friends. You'll just want to keep the party outside, wear your mask, and keep your distance from anyone outside of your household. You'll also want to avoid activities like bobbing for apples for...obvious sanitary reasons.
However, big events like parades, costumed running races, and haunted houses are more likely to be canceled, so keep an eye on your local events to see if they're still being held and what precautions they'll be taking, if so.
If Halloween for you, like many, means trick-or-treating, well, that depends on where you live, along with other factors. The CDC has officially recommended that people avoid traditional trick-or-treating this year as it poses a higher risk of COVID-19. You'll have to check if exact area will hold trick-or-treating, but chances are somewhere near you will be, as some mayors have pledged that it will go on. However, it will then be up to parents and guardians to listen the advice of health experts and make the tough decision as to whether their kids will attend and whether they'll give out candy. In a recent survey, almost half of Americans polled said they don't plan on handing out candy this year.
However, many businesses rely on the holiday to boost their sales and many of us count the season as one of our favorite times of year. To that end, some people have been dreaming up ways to make trick-or-treating happen with some tweaks.
For example: Opt to do smaller trick-or-treating that's more spaced out. Hand out treats in individual baggies or by using creative means like these candy chutes and slides. Find ways to hand out treats from a distance, like leaving a bowl out with sanitizer on the side or throwing candy from a car as kids stand in their own driveways. It's not fool-proof, but it may help. You can find more suggestion on the CDC's post.
Some brands are even getting in on the innovations, with Mars Wrigley, for example, celebrating with virtual trick-or-treating where you can earn real candy at www.Treat-Town.com. Celebrating will be like many things during the pandemic, which means it's up to you to determine your risk tolerance and to take precautions when possible if you do go out. No matter how you choose to celebrate Halloween, keep it safe, and still be sure to enjoy lots of candy.
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