Halloween guidance amid COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released its guidelines for Halloween to help people stay safe during the pandemic.

The agency discourages traditional trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating, and indoor parties, among other activities, as they are higher risk when it comes to the spread of the coronavirus. Additionally, the agency rates one-way trick-or-treating (packaged goodie bags at the end of a driveway), costume parades and outdoor parties as moderate risk.

So instead of trick-or-treating this year, Carnation would like to encourage low-risk activities (see below) and ask neighbors to decorate their homes. On Halloween, families should still feel free to walk around the neighborhood (observing social distancing and with face coverings when that’s not possible) to look at decorations and find things for a scavenger hunt.

We will post a suggested scavenger hunt on Nextdoor, our neighborhood Facebook group and this site (coming soon). Neighbors should plan to put traditional Halloween decorations (think pumpkins, witches, ghosts, etc.) in spots that would be highly visible from sidewalks for those participating in the scavenger hunt (make sure you sign up for our Halloween decorating contest).

And if you dress up before or on Halloween, share photos of your costumes in the running threads on Nextdoor and our Facebook group.

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Ways to celebrate Halloween safely this year

*Source: Lower risk Halloween activities from CDC.gov

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them

• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends

• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space

• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance

• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest

• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with

• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house