Can someone do us a favor and wake up Dracula? ‘Cause Halloween is just around the corner. And we don’t want him to miss out…
It’s the perfect enchanting time to wander around pumpkin patches, indulge yourself with your go-to candy (everything except candy corn, of course), dress up in your favorite costume, and watch your scary movie of choice (Rocky Horror Picture Show, anyone?). But just like everything else, Halloween looks a little different this year…
Chin up. Having fun is not canceled. Quite the contrary.
Believe us, it is possible to have fun while still following best health and safety practices. “The kids are excited, but first parents need to make sure everyone knows what to do in order to have fun and stay safe,” says Rich Woodruff, the American Red Cross’ director of communications.
Below are a few suggestions* (compiled by the CDC and the American Red Cross) to have a COVID-19 safe Halloween:
* Please also check with local officials, as there may be official restrictions or limitations on permitted Halloween activities.
Low-Risk
Decorating Pumpkins
If you haven’t adorned your front porch or yard with some pumpkins, it’s not too late! Wash your hands, grab some gourds from your neighborhood store or patch, and get ready to pluck the guts out of those pumpkins and carve your best spooky jack-o’-lantern.
If you decide to carve pumpkins with friends outside of your COVID bubble, please make sure to maintain a safe distance. Ask everyone to bring their own carving and decorating tools to minimize in-person contact.
Holding A Virtual Costume Contest
Round up the ghouls and goblins, it’s time for a costume contest! While they’re not what we’re used to, virtual costume contests and other online fun activities will eliminate the risk of exchanging germs and contagions. It’s still possible to conjure memories everyone will remember. Take advantage of Zoom: use a spooky virtual background for an edge over fellow competitors.
Setting Up A Candy Hunt (At Home)
Going door-to-door in search of candy is discouraged by the CDC, but that just means getting creative. What about setting up a candy hunt at home for your kids to find? Even in this controlled environment, it’s still possible to have loads of fun! Your kids will most likely be running around searching for candy, which gives them the opportunity to get their energy out (burn up that sugar rush). Even more fun, you can put the kids in their costumes!
Halloween Movie Night With Your Immediate Bubble
Yes! A night in! Pop some popcorn, grab the snacks (and candy), pour some apple cider (spiked or not), and get ready for a Halloween movie marathon. And best yet, you are protecting your family/friends from prolonged exposure to germs and contaminants. Halloween is just once a year—make the most out of it and enjoy all the great eerie blockbusters!
Stuck on a good movie to watch? Our HOTELSIGNS.com team suggests Hocus Pocus (1993), IT (2017), Carrie (1976), Get Out (2017). Coraline (2009), and The Addams Family (1991).
Drive Around to Admire Halloween Decorations
Holidays are always an excuse for homeowners to deck out the house out with (sometimes extravagantly over-the-top) holiday decorations, and Halloween is no exception! Consult your local Facebook or Nextdoor group to see which are the must-visit neighborhoods, and then hop in your car and head out! Photograph the spookiest house for your Instagram stories! If you decide to take a selfie, make sure you keep a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household.
Moderate Risk
Visiting A Pumpkin Patch or Orchard
Tis’ the season to capture Insta-worthy pictures at the pumpkin patch, or go apple picking. Tis’ also the season to be extra cautious. If you decide to venture out, be sure to use hand sanitizer and wear face coverings.
Have A Socially Distanced Outdoors Costume Parade
May the best costume win! Consider holding a costume parade outside to show off everyone’s outfits! Follow all social distancing guidelines, and make sure that everyone wears a face covering!
Participate in One-Way Trick-or-Treating
Still want to give away candy? Participate in what the CDC calls “one-way” trick-or-treating. Prepare individual goodie bags and set them up at the end of a driveway or edge of a yard so people can stay socially distanced. Be sure to wash your hands before you assemble the goodie bags!
Outdoors Halloween Movie Night
Want to watch a flick with a few more folks? If you decide to have an outdoors movie night, make sure that you hold it in an environment where there is ample room for everyone to space out. Make sure to anticipate whether screaming will be involved, and distance people appropriately. (Turns out screaming leaves more potential for germs. That makes sense.)
High Risk
For your reference, here are a few activities that the CDC considers as high risk for exposure to COVID-19.
Participating in Traditional Trick-or-Treat
Sadly, the CDC has called traditional trick-or-treating a higher-risk activity because of the possibility for airborne transmission. Consider participating in one-way trick-or-treating or constructing a chute instead!
Going Through An Indoors Haunted House
Haunted houses are quite the spine-tingling experience, but there’s so much potential to bump into other people (especially while indoors). In addition, screaming increases the risk of COVID-19. Consider driving through an outdoors ‘haunted forest’ instead!
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We hope we’ve showed that unprecedented times doesn’t have to stop the Halloween fun! With a little bit of creativity and flexibility, you can create a Halloween worth remembering.
Need signage for the holidays? HOTELSIGNS.com has you covered.
After the Halloween festivities are over, you might consider stocking up on signage for your hotel property so that you will be good to go for the winter holidays (and beyond). We mean, guests will be checking in before you know it. Get ready now!
At HOTELSIGNS.com we have an abundance of social distancing products (including floor decals, temperature checkpoint signs, face covering reminder signs, and Germ Screens©), room number signs, nameplates and manager on duty signs, directory signs, and more. We make it easy to prioritize the health and safety of your guests and employees, so shop our products now! (Contact HOTELSIGNS.com today to learn more!)
Show us what you end up doing this Halloween by using the hashtag #hotelsigns on your next post. (If you haven’t followed or ‘liked’ us yet on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin, what are you waiting for?) We want to know and revel in the fun!
Stay well, and stay awesome.
— Your favorite sign artisans, HOTELSIGNS.com
P.S. Dying for something to do? We need your help to add the finishing touches on our client’s custom sign package for their brand-new property. But only if you dare…