Socially Distanced Halloween Activities

Halloween is almost here, and while the coronavirus pandemic may have altered or cancelled your family’s usual plans, it doesn’t mean you still can’t make it fun. Traditional trick-or-treating, attending trunk-or-treats, or visiting a haunted house are considered high-risk activities by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but there are plenty of other Halloween-themed activities you can do while remaining socially distant and helping prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Low-Risk Halloween Activities

To ensure your family is as safe as possible while enjoying Halloween, consider participating in one or several of the following low-risk activities:

• Carve or decorate pumpkins with those who live in your home. Once you’ve each finished, you can display your creations in your home, on your front porch, and share with others on social media.
• Host a small, outdoor pumpkin carving or decorating gathering with neighbors or friends. Be sure you have plenty of space outside to spread out and keep the recommended social distance of 6 feet!
• Get in the spirit by decorating your home, apartment, or room. Simply displaying a variety of Halloween decorations can put you in the spooky spirit and bring some visual fun for others to enjoy.
• Plan a Halloween scavenger hunt for the kids. If you have several neighbors who have decorated for Halloween, create a scavenger hunt with a list of Halloween-themed things to look for while you take a walk. You’ll get to see everyone’s fun displays while your children get to play a fun game. Make sure you have some treats for a completion prize!
• Host a virtual Halloween costume contest. Half the fun of Halloween is getting to dress up, but only if others will get to see your creativity. Invite your friends and family to a virtual contest where everyone can show off their best costumes and vote for their favorites!
• Have a Halloween movie night with those living in your home. Choose several movies to match everyone’s tastes (and age levels), turn of the lights for some spooky atmosphere, and enjoy delicious treats while you delight in a marathon of frightening flicks.

Moderate-Risk Halloween Activities

If you’re looking for a bit more Halloween fun, there are some activities you can do that may carry some risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19, but can still be practiced safely with proper precautions. These moderate-risk activities include:

• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating. Allow the kids in your neighborhood to trick-or-treat in a safer way by providing individually-wrapped, grab-and-go goodie bags that you can easily place on a table at the end of your driveway or yard. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly prior to preparing the bags to avoid spreading germs.
• Host a small, outdoor costume parade. Let friends and neighbors show off their costumes with a fun Halloween parade – be sure participants and spectators are spaced at least 6 feet apart!
• Attend an outdoor costume party with a protective mask and proper social distancing. Remember that Halloween masks don’t replace cloth or medical masks (and don’t wear both as it can hinder breathing).
• Visit a one-way, walk-through haunted forest or attraction. Be sure that the attraction you visit is outdoor and open-air, and proper use of masks and social distancing is enforced.
• Go pumpkin or apple picking. Be sure any pumpkin patch or orchard you visit promotes the use of hand sanitizer and/or handwashing prior to touching pumpkins or apples, use of masks is encouraged or enforced, and proper social distance is easily maintained.
• Host an outdoor movie night with family and friends. Be sure everyone can be seated at least 6 feet apart (further if you believe anyone will be screaming). You can also help lower everyone’s risk by following the CDC’s recommendations for hosting gatherings.

Stay Safe this Halloween

It comes as no surprise that Halloween and other holidays will look quite different this year, but with the right approach and continued practice of proper safety precautions, you and your family can still have fun. For questions or help with keeping your family safe and healthy, contact or visit us at Midwest Express Clinic today.

We hope you have a fun, safe, and happy Halloween!