Apple bobbing is out! But there are lots of other things to do!
Tips
The FRCOG’s Safety Tips: Halloween 2020 has info from the CDC and MA Department of Public Health on what’s considered safe, less safe, and high risk for COVID exposure. You can also download the Safety Tips poster here and learn how to make a candy chute for safe dispensing of candy.
This article by Dr. Malia Jones, a parent, epidemiologist, and contributor to Dear Pandemic, reminds us that Halloween is Not Cancelled and has tips for how to have fun while keeping COVID precautions in mind.
Ideas for safety precautions while trick-or-treating or passing out candy from The Greenfield Recreation Department.
Outdoor Activity Ideas
- Spooky Roundhouse Pumpkin Walk at The Franklin County Fairgrounds. (Semi-outdoors with COVID precautions.) October 23, 24, 25 from 4 – 8:30PM. Suggested donation is $2 per person. Families welcome to contribute carved pumpkins – see the link for details.
- The Greenfield Recreation Department is hosting a FREE drive-thru Halloween event on Friday, October 30 from 4 – 6PM at Highland Park. Details here.
- Dear Pandemic has a Halloween post that uses the acronym S.M.A.R.T. to help us think about how to have a safe and fun Halloween. Check it out! It even has a graphic to share with friends and neighbors.
- Some neighborhoods, families, and groups of friends are doing:
– physically distant parades of kids (and anyone who wants to dress up) in costumes
– outdoor dance parties in costumes
– physically distant outdoor treasure hunts to find treats. Each kid can have a separate bag of treats with their name on it, if desired – this also works well for kids with dietary restrictions.
– Jack-o-lantern contests
– Outdoor decoration contests or collaborations
- Mike’s Maze in Sunderland (this costs money, just FYI) is open this year with COVID-19 precautions.
Indoor Activity Ideas
- Indoor treasure hunts for treats can be really fun and not as hard as you might think. This site has a bunch of tips and clues for creating indoor treasure hunts! Note from Ilana: It can be really simple – my 4 year-old requested that we hide treats and small toys in the pockets of clothes in various parts of the house!
- Spooky story time – Spooky but not too scary book recommendations from a children’s librarian.
- Halloween movies and TV specials. There is a ton of stuff out there.
For older kids, teens, and adults who like spooky and crafty stuff, multi-talented artist Christine McConnell has a YouTube channel that some people really love!
- Halloween games. Even Good Housekeeping got in the spirit of how to have fun indoors or out with a list of Halloween-themed games. Many but not all are good for social distancing.
- Don’t forget Jack-o-lantern carving! Here are recipes and tips for how to roast pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin you carve.
- Halloween-themed baking or cooking.
Pumpkin bread! Halloween pies! Halloween cookies!
For something savory, Allrecipes.com has a list of easy of Halloween-themed appetizers. If you’re into this kind of thing, here are fun and gross-looking Halloween Bloody Baked Rats. Ewww.
- Zoom or other virtual gatherings in costumes for spooky story time, dancing, or connecting.