Halloween is the start of the fall and winter holiday season and this year, it’s going to be different. Perhaps you’re expecting a season of disappointment, without the traditional family celebrations. After all, what’s Halloween without trick-or-treating?
But there’s actually lots of family-friendly ways to celebrate Halloween safely this year. You don’t have to build candy chutes to prevent the spread of COVID this fall.
Many Halloween traditions don’t require any changes to make them socially distant: pumpkin carving, wearing costumes, watching spooky movies, and decorating your home can all be done safely. There are also plenty of community events in Phoenix this year that are festive and socially distant.
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Instead of thinking about all you can’t do this Halloween, consider the abundance of ways your family CAN celebrate. Here are some of the fun ways to get spooky this October:
At Home
- Carve or paint pumpkins together as a family!
- Watch a spooky movie. Some family favorites include It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Casper Meets Wendy, Coco, and Hotel Transylvania. Check out even more ideas from Common Sense Media.
- Make some spooky treats to go with your movie. From mummy-wrapped hot dogs to ghost-shaped pizzas, there’s plenty of ideas to turn dinner into some Halloween fun. Try a Halloween snack mix to munch on.
- Make a haunted gingerbread house! This is a great activity for the whole family to do together. Follow a guide like these from Food Network or Betty Crocker, or purchase a kit from the store. Many stores sell haunted house gingerbread kits, including Target and Walmart.
- Get dressed up! Even if you’re not trick-or-treating this year, costumes can make the holiday feel special. Since Halloween is on a Saturday, get dressed up early and wear your costumes all day. Here are some DIY family costume ideas.
- Have a candy scavenger hunt. Channel your inner Easter Bunny and hide pieces of candy around the house or even outside if it’s not too warm. Hunting for candy at home can be just as fun as trick or treating.
Family Friendly Halloween Celebrations In the Phoenix Community
- Check out a drive-in or drive-thru Halloween event! These events are perfect for social distancing while getting to experience some family-friendly frights. In the Phoenix area, check out these events:
- Chandler Halloween Spooktacular Drive-Thru: October 29-30
- Glendale West Wind Drive-In has Halloween movies all month!
- Glendale Halloween BOO Drive-Thru: October 29
- Great Arizona Puppet Theatre drive-up puppet show: Trouble at Haunted Mountain: October 31
- If your community is having trick-or-treating, take some simple precautions to ensure the experience is safe for everyone.
- Everyone should wear a cloth mask at all times.
- Stay 6 feet away from anyone not in your household.
- To give out candy, place them in individual bags to trick-or-treaters can come and get a bag without digging through a bowl of candy.
- Check out these recommendations from the CDC for more tips on how to stay safe.
Halloween 2020 doesn’t have to be less fun than usual! With a few modifications, it can be just as fun as every other year. You might find your family creates some new Halloween traditions.
How is your family planning to celebrate Halloween safely this year?
