Safe and Spooky Substitutes for Halloween
I was working in the lab late one night when my eyes beheld an eerie sight. For my monster from his slab, began to rise, and suddenly to my surprise he… asked me how I would be celebrating Halloween during a pandemic.
Yes, I am aware that the lyrics to “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett do not follow this exact style. But if a monster awoke from a slab right now, I am certain that’s what it would ask. Halloween is three weeks away as I write this. There are houses around town that look like haunted houses and pumpkins on doorsteps but I have not heard enough honest conversations about safe ways to celebrate Halloween this year.
The CDC recently released guidelines surrounding the risk level of traditional Halloween celebrations. It is important to know that traditional trick or treating where children go door to door and are handed treats lands in the high-risk category. Fortunately, there are many alternatives for the 31st of October that we can all commit to in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.
Important note: consult the CDC website guidelines for specific outlines of the risk of Halloween related activities. Do not use costume masks in place of cloth masks. These celebration suggestions do not replace any local or state guidelines.
- Carve pumpkins with members of your household. Turn that Halloween music up and get carving. Set up a carving contest with other households and vote over zoom!
2. Go on a walk and admire the spooky Halloween decorations popping all around town. This Halloween decoration walk is best done at dusk or when it is good and dark.
3. Host a scary movie zoom watch party! Curl up on the couch, Halloween costume on, and enjoy watching a Halloween themes movie with friends over zoom. *This idea came from one of our UDistrict neighbors!
4. Host a virtual costume contest. Winner gets bragging rights for a year!
5. While trick-or-treating is not the way to go this year, a scavenger hunt-style treat search is a perfect substitute. Think an easter egg hunt search but Halloween style.
With some creativity and adherence to guidelines that keep us all safe from COVID-19, you can still do the monster mash this year and have a graveyard smash!
