Like everything else in 2020, Halloween is going to look quite a bit different this year. I have put together a list of 5 fun socially distanced Halloween activities to do with your family this year! Dr. Hinshaw has just announced that she has no plans to cancel Halloween this year, which is great news for most parents! However, there are still some people who wither cannot take their children out or are just not comfortable with it this year. Whatever your decision is, here are 5 ways to celebrate Halloween this year!
1. Halloween Scavenger Hunt
A Halloween scavenger hunt sounds so fun! There are a couple of different ways to set up a scavenger hunt for Halloween. You could either do the scavenger hunt as a family and set up clues in and around your home and let your children dress up in their costumes and go around your home (inside and outside, if the weather permits) collecting clues and treats leading them to a bigger prize such as a candy basket at the end, or even adding things like Halloween movies that are age appropriate that you and your family can watch given that Halloween is on a Saturday this year.
If you live in a smaller neighbourhood or even in a small subdivision another idea for the scavenger hunt is to get together with your neighbours and plan something for the neighbourhood kids. The best thing is that this can be totally customizable to however you want to do it! Just remember, if you are doing a bit of a larger gathering, keep it outdoors and remember to maintain social distancing recommendations!
If you are planning to have a gathering outdoors, do not forget to take care of the outdoor decorations. For some extra spookiness to your home, this Halloween season, take care of the rats. No Halloween party is complete without a few black rats scurrying around. Place sticker rats on your stairs or anywhere else you want to add a touch of creepiness. Then make leaf wreaths, that are a must-have for any Halloween enthusiast. You can find them at most craft stores, or you can make your own using a hot glue gun. Finally, no Halloween party is complete without custom Halloween blow-ups that are made to look like ghosts, witches, or other spooky characters. You can design them to your specifications and to the size you want. So get creative and have fun decorating your outdoors for Halloween!
2. Reverse Trick-or-Treating
Wondering what reverse trick-or-treating is? It is a really simple concept! Although it has been announced that Halloween is a go here in Alberta, many parents are still going to opt out of taking their children trick-or-treating and handing out candy. So, bring the candy to them! You can make up goodie bags for the neighbourhood kids and then you can go door-to-door and drop off these bags. If you know the kids, you could always personalize the baggies to make it a little more fun! This way everyone can still participate in the Halloween fun.
3. Neighbourhood Costume Parade
Everyone in your neighbourhood gets their costumes on and then you can parade around the block and show off your costumes! Instead of having the parade participants throw out candy, why not have the spectators prepare some candy bags to give to the participants of the parade instead! This way your kids do not have to go door-to-door, which then limits exposure risk and is a win-win for everyone!
4. Pack It Up
Making bags of candy for trick-or-treaters is nothing new, but why not make it a little more fun for the kids by tying these bags of candy from tree branches, porches, or other areas in the front yard! This way the kids can grab one and go and it helps avoid a bunch of people coming in contact. If you want to see all the kids dressed up, make sure to sit outside and enjoy the festivities too.
5. Family Crafts
This activity is not in keeping with trick-or-treating, but it still allows families to have fun all the same. Why not dress up as a family and get crafty? After all, Halloween is on a Saturday this year so there is plenty of time to do Halloween crafts during the day. From carving pumpkins to decorating the house, there are endless opportunities with this activity. End the evening off with a spooky-themed dinner and a movie!
Regardless what you and your family decide to do for Halloween this year, there are a lot of options to make this year fun. But please, remember to keep social distance recommendations in mind no matter what you decide to do. If you are making bags of candy to hand out, remember to wash your hands before putting these bags together, and only let one person handle the bags.
If you want to check out some other ideas to make Halloween 2020 memorable, check out Always a Treat and also be sure to check out the CDC’s recommendations on how to celebrate Halloween this year.
