Safe and Spooky Celebrations

It’s time for skeletons, witches, and jack-o’-lanterns, but how do we prepare our families for a safe and fun Halloween?

By Melissa Wickes

Halloween is quickly approaching, and it’s a dose of fun every family is in dire need of right now. But considering the pandemic, is traditional Halloween fun off the table? Is trick-or-treating allowed? Can you show off this year’s homemade costume at a spooky soirée? No matter what your celebrations look like—and whether they’re in person or not—here are some ideas for celebrating safely.

TRICK-OR-TREATING: YAY OR NAY?

Governor Andrew Cuomo said he won’t formally ban trick-or-treating this Halloween, but he doesn’t necessarily encourage parents to take their kids door-to-door either. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified traditional trick-or-treating (where treats are handed to children going door-to-door) as a high-risk activity and instead recommends the following alternatives:

Individually wrap goodie bags and line them up at the end of your yard or driveway for neighbors to come collect in their costumes.

Create a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search in your home or backyard for family and friends.

You can determine the risk-level of trick-or-treating in your area with Hershey’s new Halloween website, halloween2020.org. It tracks the risk levels (red, orange, yellow, and green) of trick-or-treating throughout the country. Most of New York is yellow, though there are areas of red, orange, and green. Based on the color of your area, the site lists suggestions of activities that are considered safe.

If your family ultimately chooses to go door-to-door, everyone should wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth and regularly sanitize, especially if chowing down on some treats during the trip. Remember: Not every family will feel comfortable handing out treats this year, so be patient and understanding— and try not to ring the doorbell more than once!

FACE MASK 411

A costume mask for Halloween cannot be substituted for a cloth face mask, according to the CDC, unless it’s made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that cover your mouth and nose and don’t leave any gaps around your face. Also, you and your little ones should not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can make it difficult to breathe. Instead, consider buying a fun Halloween-themed cloth mask or one that goes with your costume.

PARTY PROTOCOL

As we know, outdoor activities are lower risk than indoor ones. Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, consider hosting an afternoon gathering with just a few guests in your backyard, as long as everyone follows social distancing and face mask guidelines.

If staying home is more your jam right now, throw a costume party (and contest) over Zoom. You can even use spooky Zoom backgrounds to make it feel like a real graveyard smash.

COSTUME PARADES

Unfortunately, many Halloween parades and organized events (like NYC’s Greenwich Village Halloween Parade), have been canceled. However, you can safely create your own smaller parade outside, socially distanced, and with everyone in a mask (and of course, a costume!). Walk down the street where you normally trick-or-treat and have a costume contest at the end.

PUMPKIN CARVING

Making jack-o’-lanterns is a timeless Halloween activity (visit nymetroparents.com/carve for pumpkin-carving tips) that can easily be done outside. Everyone can bring their own pumpkins, tools, and hand sanitizer—and sit 6 feet apart. May the best pumpkin win!

(NOT-SO) SCARY MOVIE NIGHTS

Many drive-in movie theaters are throwing Halloween movie nights throughout October. Pick a night to go with friends (in separate cars, of course) and enjoy a spooky (or not-so-spooky) Halloween flick. Bonus points if you bring candy corn instead of popcorn! Alternatively, you can have a Halloween movie marathon at home (or give Netflix Party a try for an at-home movie night with friends).

HAUNTED HOUSES

Spooky venues throughout the New York area are doing their very best to keep you and your family safe (and spooked) through the Halloween season. If you’re all about being scared, pay a visit to one of the many haunted houses or spooky corn mazes in the New York area. If you’d rather something not-so-spooky, consider the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, which is being hosted in Westchester County and on Long Island this year.