Is Halloween canceled? Tri-Cities officials weigh in

Tri-Cities kids already are dreaming — and worrying — about being able to get their loot of candy as Halloween approaches.

But what are parents to do when social distancing, masking up and group restrictions are still in place?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending against traditional trick-or-treating — or even trunk-or-treating.

Instead, it’s advocating socially-distanced activities such as virtual Halloween costume contests, outdoor pumpkin carving parties or scavenger hunts for holiday-themed items.

City officials in Kennewick and Pasco said they’re looking to Gov. Jay Inslee’s office and the Benton Franklin Health District for guidance. And a Richland official told the Herald it’s likely the city will follow the health district’s recommendation.

So far, the district hasn’t taken a hard stance on the issue and may be waiting and watching local COVID-19 infection numbers.

But it’s clear that parents are split on whether to take their children out trick-or-treating or even if they’ll hand out goodies.

“Why keep the kids who all have been cooped up all spring and summer (home). We go to Walmart. We go to parks. Use common sense,” wrote one Tri-City mom on the public Flatten the Curve Tri-Cities Facebook page.

Another wrote that children have suffered enough, and she’d be giving out as much candy as trick-or-treaters want.

One Richland parent went as far as to post an informal poll in a Facebook group, asking just that question.

About two-thirds of the roughly 80 people who voted said that they still plan to let their kids go door to door collecting treats.

Many Tri-Citians online seemed ready to forge ahead with the holiday tradition.

“If the schools can hand out lunches (not keeping 6 feet apart), we can get fast food, if we can pick up activity kits why can we not pass out candy,” said one woman on a Richland neighborhood Facebook group.

“We’ll be avoiding large crowd events ... Neighborhood trick or treating is definitely on our agenda. I feel the likelihood of spreading contagions is very low, in this regard,” said another commenter.

Some people said they plan to have a bowl outside their house, unattended candy stations and prewrapped cellophane bags filled with toys and candy.

At least one person felt a reward was needed for the adults heading out.

“Thinking of goody bags for the grown ups, as well,” one woman wrote.

Olivia Paz of Richland told the Herald that her 3-year-old has sensory issues that make large crowds, costumes and events often too overwhelming so trick-or-treating isn’t something they’ve ever embraced.

Instead she is organizing an effort to get people to decorate their homes for a Tri-Cities Halloween Light Show, and creating a map so families can do a self-directed drive-by of participating houses.

“I created this because I wanted to have a safe and fun way that everyone could enjoy it,” Paz said. “I think it would be amazing to have an entire neighborhood to drive through.”

Health district tips

Answering the question on the top of minds, The Benton Franklin Health District wrote in a post Wednesday afternoon after CDC released its guidelines, “Many have asked us, ‘Is Halloween canceled?’ The short answer, absolutely not.”

They acknowledge that Halloween traditions may look different because the country still is fighting against a virus that has killed 200,000 people in the U.S

However, the district also is offering CDC advice on what to do to celebrate — and how to do it safely.

▪ Evaluate the risk vs. reward. If you have a high-risk family member or if you have a high-risk person in your circle, consider if the activities you choose put anyone at risk.

▪ Stay local. If you choose to trick-or-treat, stay close to home and with members of your household. Avoid large groups of people outside and always keep that 6-foot distance.

▪ Make cloth masks fun. Get creative with costumes and incorporate face coverings into the costume. Costume masks are not a replacement for cloth masks.

▪ Choose treats wisely. Many houses will set treats outdoors to avoid close contact.

▪ Keep it outside. Avoid gatherings of anyone outside your core group and your household.

▪ Start a new tradition. Consider proposing that houses decorate a treat station outdoors and sit on the porch, away from the goodies, and wave to passersby.

For those who want celebrate at home:

▪ Buy favorite treats and snacks for an at-home Halloween.

▪ Show off costumes virtually to family and friends.

▪ Decorate indoors and out, turn off the lights and watch age-appropriate scary movies.

This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 12:56 PM.