Wondering what to do this Halloween? Here are some way you can celebrate the holiday and reduce your risk for getting COVID-19.
Low Risk
Carve Pumpkins
Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household (or with neighbors or friends outside) at a safe distance and displaying them. Decorating pumpkins is a staple of Halloween traditions.
Get a little creative and a lot of messy while doing this project with your roomies––and don’t forget to save and roast the seeds for a delicious treat.
Set Up Your Spooky Decor
Is it really spooky season if you don’t decorate? Stop by the dollar store or have a night with your roommates making and decorating for Halloween.
Find the Best Decorations on a Walking Tour of the Neighborhood
Go for a social distanced evening walk where you seek out Halloween theme things to look for, while talking outdoors from house-to-house admiring Halloween décor.
My favorite house so far is on the corner of Belleview and Grand St. 10/10 would recommend including this on your spooky walk.
Having a virtual Halloween costume contest or participating in photo Halloween contests. Isn’t the best part of Halloween is the photos anyway?
Have a Halloween Movie Night
Watch Halloween-themed movies– whether scary, silly or scary-silly– with your roommates.
Pssst! This is a great time for Disney+ members to re-watch all their childhood favorite Halloween specials and movies.
Create a Trick-or-Treat Scavenger Hunt
Put on a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt with your roommates by hiding pieces of candy around your living space.
Moderate Risk
Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart.
Match Your Mask to Your Costume
Buying a new cloth face mask to accompany your Halloween costume. A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. Do not double up on masks as it could become a breathing hazard.
Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask or making your own costume mask to ensure that it has 2+ layers of breathable fabric that cover the mouth and nose without any gaps.
Visit a Haunted Forest, Pumpkin Patch or Orchard
Going to an open-air, one-way, walk through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced and people can remain more than 6 feet apart.
Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain physical distance.
Ecker’s & Ferguson’s apple orchards are just a 10-20 minute drive across the river from Winona.
Have an Outdoor Halloween Movie Night
If you hold it outdoors, you can have an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family and friends being spaced at least 6 feet apart.
Check out events on Facebook to find more opportunities for outdoor spooky movies.
High Risk
These are high risk activities that you should think carefully about before you do them:
- Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed out to people who go door-to-door
- Attending crowded costume parties held indoors or at bars
- Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
- Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgment and increase risky behavior
- Traveling to attend fall festivities that are not in your community
As you can see there are still plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween this year.
So have fun, protect yourself and your family from COVID-19 and have a Happy Halloween!
