Many of the traditional ways of celebrating Halloween and Dia de los Muertos will not be appropriate this year, so it is important to identify safer alternatives to avoid the risk of spreading COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Local Order does not allow for events or activities of more than 50 people. Large Halloween gatherings, even if held outdoors, are not permitted.The following guidelines will help families and their neighbors stay safe on the upcoming Halloween weekend:
Avoid these activities
- Traditional, door-to-door trick-or-treating, due to the challenge of maintaining proper physical distancing on porches and at front doors.
- However, if individuals do so, make efforts to ensure that everyone answering or coming to the door is appropriately masked to prevent disease spread.
- Sharing of food through activities such as “trunk-or-treating,” where children go from car to car instead of door to door.
- Online parties/contests (such as costume or pumpkin carving).
- Decorating homes, yards and neighborhoods with Halloween-themed decorations.
- Car parades such as:
- Drive-by events or contests where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles, with drive-by “judges” that are appropriately physically distanced.
- Drive-in or drive-through events where individuals remain in their vehicles and drive through an area with Halloween displays. Participants can receive a treat bag (limited to commercially packaged nonperishable treats) or other takeaway items from an organizer while the participants remain in their vehicle.
- Halloween movie nights at drive-in theaters (must comply with the public health drive-in movie theater guidance).
- Halloween-themed meals at outdoor restaurants (must comply with the restaurant protocol).
- Halloween-themed art installations at an outdoor museum (must comply with the public health museum guidance).
