In a world still under lockdown, it may seem like Halloween is the only brief respite of fun we can have before things get too cold. But while it may be tempting to run out and party, here’s some things to remember.
Wear a mask
Even if the costume you’re planning to wear already includes a traditional costume mask, find a way to incorporate a protective face mask into your outfit. Find a mask that’s the same general color as your costume, or, if you can, find a mask that can become part of your costume. Painting over a mask is only a good idea if you’re using fabric dye or markers. Make sure that your end product is still breathable!
Stay distanced
A fun idea that I’ve seen is a candy slide, where houses open for trick-or-treaters have a PVC pipe slide on their porch. Homeowners slide candy through the pipe down to trick-or-treaters so that they can socially distance. Even if your living space doesn’t have a porch, experiment with fun ways to hand out candy, such as catapults, hanging baskets, or animatronic candy bowls. Though you should try to make sure you don’t hurt anyone with your alternative candy delivery methods, get creative and have fun!
If you’re looking to trick-or-treat yourself, consider going to a smaller event that allows for distancing, such as a trunk-or-treat event. Find a neighborhood or organization doing drive-through trick-or-treating and join in. For example, Miracle Kids Success Academy is hosting a free Halloween event from 6-8 p.m on Friday. The event is called “Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat” and will be at Miles Park at 1605 N. Bridge St.
Avoid large gatherings
As tempting as it may be to attend Halloween parties, avoid large gatherings if you can. While community Halloween parties are normally safer than trick-or-treating, when it comes to COVID-19 it’s better to have a smaller gathering, or even just a virtual one. Programs like Discord, Tabletop Simulator and the Netflix Google Chrome extension Teleparty allow friends to spend time with each other over the internet. If you’re meeting in person, find an activity that allows for social distancing, such as a walk through the woods, pumpkin carving or a movie night.
Try something new
Instead of going out for Halloween, try a new experience! Try playing a board game (like Betrayal at House on the Hill) or a video game (like Plasmophobia) that can be played with friends. If you have a VR headset, try a VR experience like Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted, or find a haunted house world on VRchat. If you’d like a lighter or cheaper experience, you can try Among Us with your friends — as of time of writing two of the three maps have been redecorated for the Halloween season. Watch a spooky Halloween movie you’ve never seen before. If you’d rather stay off technology altogether, try turning your living space into a haunted house and take turns scaring your housemates, or turn the lights off and tell some spooky stories.
With COVID-19 cases in Northeast Arkansas hitting a critical high, it’s important to remember to be safe. With any luck, following safe procedures will make sure that the only things that scare you this Halloween will be ghosts and monsters — not COVID-19.
Categories: Opinion
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