There has been lots of discussion about what Halloween might look like this year. Is it safe to trick-or-treat? Are there alternative activities that could be planned? Is it even responsible to be handing out candy?

Well, the Centre for Disease Control has released their guidelines for Halloween 2020. And they have suggested the concept of “One-Way Trick-or-Treating“! What does this mean exactly?

This is where individually wrapped candies are bagged for (pre-determined) family and friends to grab placed at the end of a driveway or at a distance in order to continue to social distance.  (It’s important to remember, if you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags.

Unfortunately, the typical practice of kids hitting up as many houses as they can may not be the norm this year…..the CDC says this would be considered a “high risk” activity, which should be avoided. Other activities in that list:

High-Risk Activities that should be avoided include:

  • Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
  • Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
  • Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
  • Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
  • Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household

Low-Risk Activities Include:

  • Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household
    Decorating your house for the occasion
    A Halloween scavenger hunt
    Virtual Halloween costume contest
    Halloween movie night with people you live with

Out-door, open-air costume parades with a small group with people 6 feet apart is a moderate risk activity.