Much like everything else surrounding 2020, Halloween celebrations will look very different than they have in the years past. Large Halloween bashes or community festivals with costume contests, bobbing for apples, and candy galore are traded for masks (not the fun kind), hand sanitizer and social distancing. However, the ongoing COVID-19 concerns don’t have to completely take the fun out of the upcoming holiday weekend. Instead, think of it as a fun opportunity to think creatively and go outside of the box for some ways to spread cheer and safely enjoy time with family and friends.
Trick or treating is a touchy subject this year, and health experts are divided on their approach. All of them agree that those who live in areas with continuing COVID spread should probably forgo traditional door-to-door methods this year, and even if your area’s infection rates have tapered off somewhat, you should exercise caution. Try these tips to keep up the tradition 2020 style, while keeping your family protected:
- Opt for all one kind of candy or treat (or put together already-bagged assortments) to avoid excess touching and transmission of germs. By having no choice, you make it easier for YOU to drop the selected treat into the waiting bags or buckets of your front-door visitors instead of having little ones ask to pick something different and rummaging through the container themselves.
- Place tape down at 6-foot intervals on your front lawn, walkway, or entrance. This will prevent large groups of children and adults from gathering around the front door and will promote proper social distancing. Additionally, consider taping off “enter/exit” lanes so people approaching won’t have to pass in close contact with those who have already received their treat.
- Have hand sanitizer on hand at the front door if possible, for yourself and for visitors. It’s also worth keeping a bottle of spray disinfectant or antibacterial wipes nearby, to wipe down doorknobs, handrails, and other easily touched surfaces throughout the evening.
If trick-or-treating is out of the question for you this year, don’t let that stop the Halloween festivities. Schedule a virtual costume party with family and friends. Just put on your favorite tunes, and dance via a zoom call or Google chat. Let people vote via online poll or email. Prizes can be awarded via virtual gift card or sent through snail mail! Not your thing? A socially distanced pumpkin carving party in the backyard is a great way to still enjoy time with friends and neighbors without the risk. Provide pre-packaged snacks and drinks, set up several carving stations at socially distanced intervals, and ask everyone to bring their own pumpkin and tools! Offer prizes for the best in show, most creative, and most detailed. If you are on quarantine and can’t leave home at all, a spooky movie night in your own living room with your favorite takeout is still a fun way to celebrate.
Sessums Law Group is proud to serve the Tampa Bay area during this time, witnessing the resilience and positivity of its residents each day. We encourage you to find some way to celebrate and bring some joy into the upcoming holiday season, from Halloween all the way to the New Year. We are here to support you in the community and in the courtroom. When it comes to the unexpected, We Stand for You!