Tips for Homeowners: Ditch the Candy Bowl: Quite possibly the most important thing you can do is skip the "communal" candy bowl. Whether you usually hand out candy from the bowl or let kiddos dig in and grab their favorites, it's too tricky for trick-or-treating this year. Grab-and-Go: Set up a table outside your home and place wrapped candy on the table individually, allowing kids to pick their favorites without touching any other pieces. If you have the time and resources, you could create small pre-wrapped goodie bags and encourage trick-or-treaters to each take one. Keep it Clean: If you set up a table, put hand sanitizer on it as well. Use it and offer it to others. Forget the Front Door: Having kids approach your door to get candy will make social distancing difficult. The safer bet is to stay outside during trick-or-treating hours – keeping fingers crossed for good weather – so you can greet your neighbors safely from a distance while they get their candy from your table. Large Parties Are Discouraged, Family Celebration Encouraged: The CDC strongly suggests that you avoid Halloween parties and large gatherings with people from outside your household. Instead, consider celebrating with your family at home. Turn Exterior Lights Off: Homeowners may not wish to participate in trick-or-treating or other Halloween activities for many reasons. Please turn off exterior house lights to indicate that you’re not accepting trick-or-treaters. Exposed Individuals Should Self-Isolate: If you have COVID-19, or you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities, nor should you give out candy to trick-or-treaters.
| Tips for Trick-or-Treaters:Mask Up: Halloween was tailor-made for masks. Make a protective mask part of your kid's costume. There are hundreds of themed cloth masks out there — finding Halloween-themed ones should be easy. Or you can also simply color a medical mask to blend in with their costume. Remember: costume masks should not replace protective masks. Stay Small: If you’re venturing out in the neighborhood, keep the group small. Consider limiting your group this year to just one other family for easier social distancing. Celebrate at Home: If trick-or-treating is just too risky for your family, celebrate at home. Put out decorations, turn on Halloween music or movies, and let the good times roll. Know What to Do When the Lights Off: Homeowners may not be able to participate in trick-or-treating for many reasons. Someone at the residen ce may be infected; there may be an at-risk adult in the household; the residents may be away; or quite often residents simply run out of candy. If the lights are off, do not trick-or-treat at the home. Please respect homeowners’ privacy and property. Exposed Individuals Should Self-Isolate: Again, if you have COVID-19, or you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities, including trick-or-treating. |