October has arrived and the discussion surrounding Halloween has begun. What are the rules? Is trick or treating back on? How do I keep my kids safe?
With a multitude of opinions and some fear, it’s hard to know the best way forward. In regards to trick or treating,” if you’re able to be outdoors, absolutely,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky. She also suggested skipping larger Halloween parties and staying away from crowds. So far, apart from her comments, there is little information about regulations from our city officials. So I would plan on seeing our little trick or treaters out and about this year.
But I’m also sticking to “school rules” for my kids. We’ll stay outdoors, wear a mask and keep some distance between ourselves and others. We’ll plan on placing a bowl of candy near our entry, but sitting on the porch about 6 feet away to enjoy costumes and some camaraderie. If you’d like to surprise your neighbors while keeping plenty of distance, consider making a “candy chute” out of PVC piping.
Looking for an alternative to handing out candy? Jeni’s Ice Cream is selling “Cone Coins” (20 coins/cones for $35) for you to hand out to very lucky recipients.
For those who aren’t interested in opening doors to trick or treaters, a little Halloween decor is always appreciated! Feel free to get creative and block your entrance with spider webs or caution tape. If you want to skip trick or treating with your kids this year, I would recommend a good old fashioned game of “hide and eek” (a play on an Easter egg hunt). It was a huge hit with my kids last year.
There are also many Halloween themed events happening around Los Angeles. More to come on this from Buzz contributor Julia Christiansen and her weekly events column!
Of course, the pandemic isn’t over yet, and conditions and recommendations can and do change quickly…so stay tuned for updated recommendations from the LA County Health Department and the City of LA over the next few weeks before the holiday.
