Amarían Garcia & Hayden Cole
Lantern Staff
With Halloween fast approaching, many people question what they can and cannot do this holiday season with COVID-19 still impacting our daily lives. Some people want to go trick or treating with their kids, others want to go to costumed parties, then there are those who just want to stay in. This article will give you some tips and tricks to staying safe and enjoying the spookiest day of the year.
With COVID-19 continuing to be a problem, the Center for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) has made several recommendations to help keep you and those around you safe. Start with wearing a mask; it may be inconvenient to you, but it is for the benefit of others. Second, make sure to carry hand sanitizer when accepting treats. To those handing out candy, be sure to wash your hand regularly and sanitize. The CDC recommends individually wrapped bags filled with treats. As always, make sure to maintain social distancing.
Many churches and large chain grocery stores around Wichita will be hosting trunk-r-treats, with carnival games, petting zoos and food trucks.
As a parent myself, I plan to trick or treat with my child. I intend to follow the CDC guidelines, as most everyone if we want to get through these trying times together. Alternatively, if you don’t feel like going out, there are options for a safe, fun Halloween without going out. If you’d like to stay home, there are many things you can do with your family for fun such as pumpkin decorating, cookie kits, wacky face paintings, virtual costume contest and much more.
In El Dorado, trick-or-treating down Main Street is canceled for the first time in 10 years. El Dorado may not be celebrating, but visiting Walter’s Pumpkin Patch is an option.
Halloween may be in collaboration with Christmas this year, with a small chance of snow this year.
Halloween will be different this year, and as a society we should not fault anyone for doing things differently. Dealing with COVID and holidays is a new experience for everyone, so be sure to be polite to others as they are going through the same hardship as the rest of us, and be kind. While the times may be different, some people have children who want them to experience what they once did. Stay safe, and mask up!
