Halloween While You Quarantine: How to Celebrate Halloween in 2020
Halloween While You Quarantine: How to Celebrate Halloween in 2020
It’s hard to imagine anything scarier than 2020, but have fear, Halloween is here. The spookiest night of the season is going to look a lot different this year. Certain states have added new mandates and restrictions on celebrations due to COVID-19. Your favorite events might be canceled this year, but you can still have fun!
There are a lot of activities you can do from the comfort of your home. However, if you want to go outside, be sure to take every precaution. Here’s how you have a haunting Halloween – safely:
A Halloween like this one comes once in a blue moon
Literally. On Saturday, October 31st, 2020, there will be an actual blue moon. According to NASA, “A ‘Blue Moon’ is the name given to the second full moon in a calendar month.” The last Blue Moon was in 2018. However, this is the first time since World War II, this one is global! Everyone in the world will be able to see it. But that’s not all. Daylight Savings Time starts this Saturday. So, don’t forget to set your clocks back 1 hour.
Zoom and gloom, anyone?
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s the art of getting dressed with nowhere to go. Take a tip from this inspired costume and planning a virtual Halloween party. Be creative and dress up. Use what you have at home to make the perfect costume.
Photo credit: Greg Dietzenbach via Good Morning America
Get your Halloween horror flix fix
Drive-ins are back! Find one near you here. Watch movies responsibly at your local drive-in theater. Call ahead to request open captioned screening. Enjoy the chills and thrills from the safety of a socially distanced car. Alternatively, stay even safer at home and start a Netflix watch party! Or create one on Hulu, Prime Video, or HBO Max. The majority of streaming services now offer watch party features. We suggest streaming the critically acclaimed horror film “A Quiet Place” with deaf actress Millicent Simmonds on Prime Video.
Did someone say David S. Pumpkins?
Jack o’ lanterns are sometimes haunting, sometimes happy reminders that Halloween has arrived. Carving spooky or funny faces onto a pumpkin is a fun pastime. You can find pumpkins to use at your local grocery store, craft supply store, or nearest pumpkin patch. Check out this Buzzfeed article for inspiration. Can you top these?
Catch me outside, how about that?
If you must celebrate with others, the CDC recommends meeting outdoors. Indoor gatherings pose a higher risk of spreading the virus due to poor ventilation. The CDC also recommends keeping any gatherings short and with as few people as possible. Try to attend events in your neighborhood and encourage your friends and family not to travel outside their communities. As always, continue to social distance, wear masks, and exercise caution.
On that note, trick or treat responsibly
Who doesn’t want to collect free candy from strangers? It’s a Halloween tradition. However, this year it’s vital that you exercise additional precautions. Here are some specific CDC safety guidelines for trick or treaters:
- Avoid direct contact with trick or treaters
- Give treats outdoors
- Set up stations with individually bagged candies for kids to take
- Wash your hands in between handing out treats
- Wear a mask
We also reiterate to everyone celebrating to stay within your neighborhoods as much as possible. Do not take candy that is not individually wrapped or if it looks weird. If you or someone you know is sick, do not hand out candy!
Check if your county is safe or trick or treating here. You can also find more information on how to celebrate safely. Be safe, wear a mask, and have a happy Halloween.
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