For many Wildcats, Halloween is a day that is anticipated all year long. The excitement surrounding the holiday usually goes hand in hand with treasured activities such as trick-or-treating, exploring local haunted houses, and going from party to party all night long. Prior to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, the fact that Halloween fell on a Saturday this year just added to the bubbling excitement of the holiday. However, as it became clear that COVID was not leaving the party anytime soon, many became upset as they felt their favorite holiday would be canceled this year. While there may have to be modifications to celebrations and traditions, Halloween this year is far from canceled. There are still many simple, fun, and COVID friendly ways to celebrate this year!

  When it comes to Halloween, students often look forward to dressing up in a creative costume and trick-or-treating with their friends. However, the CDC cites trick-or-treating high on their list of high-risk Halloween activities as it involves large groups going door to door and receiving candy from people who they may not usually come in contact with. While traditional trick-or-treating may not be the safest option this year, many neighborhoods still plan to socially distance the activity this year. This will allow children to get dressed up in their favorite costumes (and a mask), and go house to house to receive candy in safe, non-traditional ways. This can be as simple as goodie bags sitting on the edge of the lawn, or more complex methods of delivery such as shooting candy out of t-shirt cannons or connecting a series of PVC pipes to drop candy into the baskets of trick-or-treaters. 

  Another treasured Halloween activity is going to parties with friends and family. Parties have been pretty much out of the question since March, but there are still many ways to have a nice and safe gathering. The CDC recommends limiting groups to ten people or less, spacing guests at least six feet apart and containing festivities to being outside only. To some, this may be a step down from the typical crowded costume parties that people have gotten used to over the years, but it is a much safer alternative in these times of COVID and can still be just as fun!

  Many look forward to activities surrounding the Halloween season such as attending local pumpkin patches and haunted forests. Unfortunately, many popular pumpkin patches and haunted houses/forests are closed this year. Never fear, because there are still many pumpkin patches open in the Triangle, such as Firefly Farm (Hillsborough), Lazy Hound Farms (Zebulon), Page Farms (Brier Creek) and Pumpkin Patch Express (Durham). Additionally, the beloved Panic Point is also open this year with parameters set in place for social distancing and mask wearing.

  While there are many ways to modify Halloween traditions to be COVID friendly, many Wildcats have decided it is in the best interest of their health and safety to keep celebrations low-key this year. Senior Sierra Lowery said, “This year I am planning on having a Halloween movie marathon with my family and buying lots of candy since our neighborhood is not participating in trick-or-treating this year.” However you choose to celebrate this year, remember to wear a mask, wash your hands and have fun!