Trick-or-treat will be different this year, but it is still on-schedule. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, which is seeing a resurgence, the Ohio Department of Health has shared a list of guidelines for families to follow.
First and foremost, to be safe, anyone who is feeling unwell or who is at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19 should avoid participating this year.
Families should stick to the six-foot rule, wear cloth masks instead of costume ones and make sure to sanitize candy wrappers when they get home. Community members giving out candy need to find a way to distribute it from at least six feet away without using a communal bowl that everyone grabs from, and only give away factory-wrapped candy.
The guidelines also recommend regular use of hand-sanitizer.
Around the county, trick-or-treat is happening on Halloween night this year. Mount Vernon has chosen to expand their trick-or-treat times to run from 4-7 p.m. to encourage social distancing. Centerburg, Danville, Fredericktown and Gambier will not be changing their trick-or-treat times, which are from 5:30-7 p.m.
Utica, per normal and in keeping with the Licking County schedule, is holding their trick-or-treat on the Thursday evening before Halloween. This year it will be Oct. 29 from 5:30-7 p.m.
Halloween will also bring other fun family activities this year.
For 18 total guests, there will be a spooky hike through the woods near the Brown Family Environmental Center in the late morning, ending with a rest by the campfire to warm up. That is, if the weather holds— otherwise, this event will be canceled. With so few openings, interested parties should reserve their spots by calling 740-427-5052.
While Trunk-or-Treat events have had to undergo changes to be pandemic-friendly, there are two happening in Mount Vernon on Halloween. One will be held from 2-4 p.m. at New Life Church, 665 Harcourt Drive. The other, from 4-6 p.m., will be held by Mount Vernon Community Churches at Riverside Park.
Later in the evening, from 6-9 p.m., a display of carved pumpkins will be illuminated for guests to enjoy at Wolf Run Park. Participants who want to submit a pumpkin for the display need to fill out the online form at knoxcountyparks.org early next week, be prepared to send in a picture of their design by Oct. 29, and be able to drop their pumpkin off between 10 a.m and noon on Halloween. Everyone will be able to vote for their favorites on Facebook the next day, with winners announced on Nov. 2.
