Will Halloween Happen This Year?

Bethany Simpson

Now that fall has started and the Halloween season approaching, I’m sure everyone is getting in the spirit of things. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, this Halloween season might look a little different than the past. Halloween brings people together of all ages doing activities such as trick or treating and costume parties; it would be such a shame if these activities would not be here to get us in the Halloween spirit. The CDC has provided a list of low, moderate, and high risk activities. The low risks include: “Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them” along with, “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.” On the moderate list, it suggest: “Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart,” and, “Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing.” On the high risk list, it includes things such as, “Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door” along with, “Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming.” In conclusion, the CDC has provided some low risk and safe activities to get us in the Halloween spirit. I talked to a student here in Bourbon County about her opinion on the situation: she believes that students should be allowed to participate in activities such as trick or treating and costume parties as long as extra precautions are taken to ensure that everyone is safe, but still having a good time. The CDC’s suggestion on trick or treating is that you wear a mask while maintaining social distancing and only hand out pre-packaged candy. I feel that making these adjustments to Halloween will still allow for people to enjoy their time, yet still keep everyone safe and remain healthy.