Despite the coronavirus pandemic, plenty of Halloween events and activities have been scheduled this season for local families to enjoy safety.
MCC (Moving Communities to Christ), 4221 Main St., Elverson, will hold a Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 1 to 3 p.m. During the event, children will be able to trick-or-treat in a fun and safe environment by traveling from car to car, where vehicle owners will hand out candy or prizes. Children will get to vote on the best decorated vehicle, and the winner will receive a prize. A meal of hot dogs and snacks will be provided.
Volunteers are currently needed to decorate their trunks. Complete details, including registration information, are available at https://movingcommunitiestochrist.org/trunk-or-treat-at-mcc.
The Caernarvon Township Parks and Recreation Committee will present its annual Halloween home decorating contest. Judging will be on Oct. 31 between 7 and 9 p.m. Sign-ups are recommended, but not mandatory.
"We're not doing the Trunk or Treat this year," said Michelle Raymond, a member of the board, noting that the event was canceled due to state requirements on large gatherings. However, local residents are encouraged to decorate their homes for the contest. "A lot of people decorate but don't realize there is a contest," she said.
The first-place winner will have his or her name included on a brass plaque in the Caernarvon Township Municipal Building lobby. The winner will also be recognized in the township newsletter and on the township Facebook page. To register or for more details, readers may search for "Caernarvon Township, Parks and Recreation Committee" on Facebook.
This year, most towns are allowing trick-or-treating during designated hours on Oct. 31. However, local residents who do not want to participate should turn off their front house lights. Those who want children to visit are asked to keep their front porch lights on. Trick-or-treaters should respect the decisions of their neighbors and refrain from knocking on front doors or ringing doorbells where the lights are off.
Trick-or-treaters are encouraged to take safety precautions. "I think trick-or-treating can happen safely if certain procedures are followed, such as distribution of prepackaged candy, candy distribution in a self-serve fashion like in a bowl or even person-to-person if people are wearing masks," said Dr. Timothy Tam, a Berks County pediatrician. "Trick-or-treaters should also exercise social distancing when walking up to houses."
In lieu of trick-or-treating, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests attending outdoor events, such as costume parties where people remain 6 feet apart, walking through a haunted attraction wearing a face covering, visiting outdoor pumpkin patches or having an outdoor Halloween movie night with family and friends who are socially distanced.
"I think outdoor activities are ideal, especially if there are measures to allow appropriate social distancing," Tam said. "From my observation in our communities, it appears that most people are willing to comply with recommended safety measures such as use of hand sanitizer, appropriate social distancing and mask usage, as well as staying home if one is sick. This should allow us to continue enjoying the traditions and activities and still mitigate the spread of illnesses."
Leave a Review