October 31 might look different this year as people continue efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus and stay safe. Depending on which county you live in, trick-or-treating may not be an option in your neighborhood. Even if it is, many parents are still uncomfortable with allowing their children to be within six feet of their neighbors – and vice versa. There’s also concern about handling treats that others have touched. Fortunately, there are many ways to stay safe this Halloween while making it memorable for both kids and kids at heart.
Plan At-Home Activities for Halloween
The best way to stay safe this Halloween is to celebrate at home. Thankfully, Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so it may provide an opportunity to plan several fun activities throughout the day.
- Start the morning off with a healthy Frankenstein smoothie or something more decadent like Pumpkin Pop Tarts.
- Whether you like your Halloween decor playfully spooky or on the scarier side, set the scene with decorations to really get in the spirit. You can get your kids involved by having them create easy-to-make Halloween decorations to display around the house.
- No Halloween is complete without pumpkin carving. Spend the afternoon designing your perfect jack-o-lantern. And don’t forget to save and bake the pumpkin seeds for a tasty snack later on.
- Once the sun sets, you can continue to stay safe this Halloween by staying indoors and having a family movie night Make popcorn, have a variety of candy and themed treats, and cozy up under blankets while you watch a seasonal flick.
Making an effort to do special at-home activities as a family will not only help you stay safe this Halloween, but it could end up being your most memorable holiday yet.
Stay Safe this Halloween by Celebrating Virtually
Online gatherings have been a very popular way to engage with large groups of friends during stay-at-home orders. Consider a virtual party this Halloween. With a little advanced planning, it can be an engaging and creative way to spend part of the day. Some ideas for your virtual Halloween party include:
- Sending invited guests a “party in a box” ahead of time that includes decorations, game pieces, and special treats
- Having contests for costumes, pumpkin carving, and/or best themed background with electronic gift cards sent to the winners
- Turning off all the lights and telling ghost stories
- Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt around the house
- Taking a virtual haunted house tour
Halloween Car Parades Offer Fun at a Distance
If you really want to have an in-person celebration, but also want to stay safe this Halloween, why not organize a car parade? Instead of your neighbors waiting at home for trick-or-treaters to come by, children can stand out front of their homes and watch the parade. You could even sponsor a contest for the best-decorated car.
A Halloween car parade allows for social interaction at a distance, but limits the amount of foot traffic in your neighborhood – a big bonus considering the safety concerns about young people walking in the dark. The parade takes away much of the disappointment that might come from not being able to go door-to-door: the kids still get to dress up, the neighborhood comes together for a good time, and everyone stays six feet apart.
Celebrations Are What You Make of Them
It’s easy to feel disappointed if your county is regulating normal trick-or-treating this year. But with so many options to both celebrate and stay safe this Halloween, you can still make wonderful holiday memories – even in a pandemic. It’s important to remember that attitude is everything and a little extra planning can make for a very special day. Who knows? This may just be the start of new traditions that you carry on for years to come.
Whatever you choose to do, your Credit Union wishes you a Happy Halloween!