NEEDHAM – Thursday, October 1, 2020 -- The Town of Needham and Needham Public Health, informed by recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, issued the following guidance today for safely celebrating Halloween this year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
While celebrations and activities may look different than in years past, there are still many great ways to enjoy the holiday:
Trick-or-Treating: Passing Treats Out at Home
If you’re passing treats out at home: Consider one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard).
Trick-or-Treating with the Kids:
- If you’re taking children Trick-or Treating, limit your Trick-or-Treat group to immediate family members.
- Consider bringing a goodie bag from home with hand sanitizer and a few pieces of candy for your children so they aren’t touching many pieces from many different households.
Masks – MaskUp (But Not the Plastic Superhero Kind)
- Ditch the costume mask this year and instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask or making your own mask using a breathable cloth face covering that covers the mouth and nose.
- Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.
Other Celebration Ideas
There are several low-risk activities for families to enjoy this Halloween:
- Carve pumpkins as a family and display outside your home or carve pumpkins outside with a few friends socially distanced.
- Go on a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.
- Host a virtual Halloween costume contest.
- Hold a Halloween movie night with people you live with.
- Have a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house.
No matter the activity, people should practice social distancing, wear face covers when around others, and wash hands and use hand sanitizer. If you’re feeling ill, stay home.