Metro Nashville Urges Caution With Traditional Halloween Activities

By Dulce Torres Guzman, Tennessee Lookout

October 14, 2020

Metro public health officials have asked citizens to avoid activities at high risk for COVID-19 and to find alternative ways to participate in Halloween 2020.

According to CDC guidelines, many traditional Halloween activities are high-risk for spreading viruses, including trick-or-treating, crowded costume parties, indoor haunted houses, hayrides or tractor rides. Using alcohol or drugs can cloud judgement and traveling to rural areas from infected areas are also recommended against.

Families are being asked to stay home or to maintain a 6-foot distance from others while participating in outdoor activities.

“If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus,” states the CDC, referring to haunted houses.

Those who have COVID-19 or have been exposed to an infected individual should not participate in activities with others, according to the CDC.

Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because the costume may restrict oxygen. Instead, consider a multi-layered Halloween-themed cloth mask as a substitution.

Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.

The CDC has also issued guidelines for Dia de Los Muertos and states citizens should not participate in person at festivities but instead should find alternative ways to honor deceased loved-ones, such as “playing music in your home that your deceased loved ones enjoyed.”

Outdoor Halloween events across Tennessee

Middle Tennessee

• Bloody Acres Haunted Woods– Located at 318 Big Station Camp Blvd, Gallatin. $15 per person, cash only, and a mask is recommended. Open Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight and Sunday nights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Creepy Hollow Haunted Woods– Located at 2133 Joe Brown Rd, Spring Hill. $28 per person for all three attractions and masks are recommended. Open Friday and Saturday from 7p.m. to 11 p.m. and open on Halloween from 7p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Deadland Haunted Woods- Located at 7040 Murfreesboro Rd, Lebanon. Open Friday and Saturday from 7p.m. to midnight. $30 for all three attractions.
• Millers Thrillers- Located 1431 Carters Creek Pike, Columbia. Open Friday and Saturday with varied time slots. $35 for both attractions.
• Day of the Dead- Located at Riverside Revival. Held on Oct. 26 from 2p.m. to 8p.m. located at Riverside Revival
• Nashtoberfest– Located at Richland Park Farmers Market on Oct. 24 and is not officially sponsored by the Metro Government of Nashville & Davidson County but will take place on Metro property. Tickets are anywhere from $20 to $60.

Memphis

• Elmwood Cemetery Tours– Tours available.

Chattanooga

• 25th Birthday Monster Bash: Family edition– Located at 321 Chestnut Street on Oct. 17 from 6p.m. to 8p.m.
• Here Come the Mummies– An 8-piece, funk-rock band show located at the AT&T on Oct. 17. Gates open at 6p.m. A livestream will be conducted on Oct. 31. General admission tickets are $25.
• Halloween Spider Weaving- An online class will be available on Oct. 18 from 1p.m. to 3p.m. Tickets are $20.
• Halloween@Home– A compilation of online events will be available on Oct. 30 from 9p.m. to 11:59.

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