Tips for a Safe Halloween 2020

Halloween is right around the corner, but we are in the middle of a pandemic, so how do you celebrate while keeping everyone safe? Here are tips for a safe Halloween 2020 and ideas for a fun halloween even if you don’t trick or treat or attend halloween parties.

Now before reading, please note that guidelines for Halloween 2020 differ from province to province, state to state and city to city so please do not take this as firm advice and follow the guidelines set in your area. This is not meant to be used as medical advice and please always discuss any health and lifestyle changes with your own doctor or health care provider.

Halloween is always one of the most fun holidays of the year. Getting dressed up in costumes, going trick or treating, enjoying delicious treats and going to halloween parties are some of the usual enjoyments. But, this year we are in the middle of a pandemic which is going to drastically change how Halloween looks this year. However, that doesn’t mean that Halloween 2020 still can’t be fun! Here are some tips for having a fun, yet safe Halloween 2020!

Guidelines for trick or treating in 2020

1. Don’t go trick-or-treating if feeling ill (even if you have mild symptoms)
2. Wear costumes that allow a non-medical mask to be worn underneath – ensuring that you can see and breathe comfortably
3. Minimize contact with others: trick-or-treat with your family, remain within your community and stay 2 metres apart from others that you come across
4. Avoid touching doorbells or railings: call “trick or treat” from 2 metres away, knock instead of using doorbells, and use hand sanitizer after touching surfaces
5. Before eating your candy, wash your hands and disinfect packages

Recommendations for handing out candy:

Again, these are the Alberta guidelines, and please follow your local rules.

1. Don’t hand out candy if you are feeling ill or are isolating
2. Wear a non-medical mask that fully covers your nose and mouth when handing out candy
3. Ask trick-or-treaters to knock or call out rather than ringing the doorbell
4. Use tongs to hand out pre-packaged candy to avoid handling treats with your hands
5. If weather permits, hand out treats from your driveway or front lawn
6. Set up a table or desk to help keep yourself distanced from trick or treaters
7. Make candy bags and space them out on a table or blanket for people to pick up themselves
8. Don’t leave out self-serve bowls of candy

Recommendations for Halloween parties:

These are the Alberta recommendations for halloween parties. Again, please follow the directions in your own city/ province or state as parties may not be allowed where you live.

1. Stay home if feeling ill, even if symptoms are mild
2. Consider hosting a virtual party rather than an in person to limit your risk as much as possible
3. Spend time with people you know – the smaller the group the better
4. Choose games and activities that don’t use shared items and allows people to stay 2 metres apart
5. Don’t share drinks, food, cigarettes, vapes or cannabis
6. If weather permits, host your party outdoors. If you must stay indoors: reduce your gathering size; choose a location that allows for physical distancing between people from separate families and cohorts; provide hand sanitizer
7. Wash or sanitize your hands often

Alternatives to trick or treating or halloween parties:

If you don’t feel comfortable going trick or treating or attending a gathering with others or if it’s not allowed where you live here are a some fun alternatives ideas:

1. Create a candy scavenger hunt in your home for your kids to participate in.
2. Host a virtual halloween party with friends or family.
3. Carve pumpkins at home with your family or outdoors with neighbours (assuming you can stay 2 meters apart). If every family has their own tools, wears masks, and are properly distanced this would be a low risk activity.
4. Turn your house into a haunted house!
5. Set up trick or treat stations in your own home! Set up tables or bowls of candy throughout the house and let your kids venture from room to room.
6. Plan a halloween walk in your neighbourhood. If you don’t feel comfortable going trick or treating you can still take the kids out and walk around your neighbourhood to look at decorations and ensure everyone gets exercise! Just be sure to maintain 2 meters between you and any others you come across and to wear your masks.
7. Make some fun treats at home with your kids! Whether it’s baking or candy making get your kids involved in kitchen and then everyone can enjoy the treats! Here are some treats that would be fun to make:

• Gluten free pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
• Cookie bites with maple frosting
• Orange chocolate fudge
• Chocolate raspberry cups
• Gluten free apple pie bars

I hope you found this helpful! Have a safe and fun halloween 2020 everyone!

AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST AND FACEBOOK WHERE I SHARE EVEN MORE RECIPES AND HEALTHY LIVING TIPS!

References:

1. Alberta Government 2020 Halloween Guidelines

Pin this post for later: