Got your candy catapult at the ready? Maybe you've rigged up a candy chute instead? Hung physically distanced goody bags from trees?
There seems to be no limit to the creative ways people are finding to celebrate Halloween.
After eight months of COVID-19, residents in St. Albert and around the country seem determined to make this spooky day a special one. Our children deserve it – their carefree childhoods have been anything but since mid-March. Many have missed celebrating important milestones in their lives: graduation, birthdays, holidays.
As of the time of this writing, the province hasn't cancelled Halloween. In fact, they've released a whole list of safety measures people can take in order to celebrate responsibly – and, given the increasing rise in COVID-19 cases in Alberta, they're worth reading. Thankfully, Halloween is the perfect holiday to celebrate outdoors during COVID-19, since most costumes look great with a mask.
In St. Albert, several residents who've decked out their yards in Halloween attire told the Gazette they've emphasized safety for the children who walk through their displays. Homes at 7 Donald Place and 16 Andrew Crescent, for example, have incredible one-way displays so kids aren't bumping into each other. Both also have candy chutes for a no-touch experience. That's made even more creative by the sheer magnitude of these displays – these residents went all-out with animatronics, fog machines and music.
Other residents have included a charitable aspect of their displays this year – 7 Nicolet Court, for instance, is collecting donations for the St. Albert Food Bank.
If you're still stumped on how to celebrate this spooky day safely, take a page out of the province's book. Ditch the self-serve candy bowls and throw a blanket out on your lawn with properly spaced candy bags – or, if you want the face-to-face experience, try using tongs to hand out candy.
You can also use our Halloween map on page 28 of this paper to plan out a tour of displays.
If you'd rather not have a parade of kids traipsing up to your door, plan a Halloween drop. Instead of handing out candy, deliver little goodie baskets to your family and friends.
Want to skip the candy altogether? Movie nights and Halloween parties are still OK, according to the province – just make sure to take precautions like staying within your cohort, keeping your distance, washing your hands and not sharing food or items.
The most important advice is something that's been said ad nauseum over the past eight months: if you're feeling sick – even just a little bit – stay home and swear off the scaring. There's always next year.
