How To Trick-Or-Treat Safely In Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA — Halloween will have a much different feel in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Trick-or-treating in large groups and hosting parties are against recommendations, but some people have found creative ways to keep the spirit of the annual Oct. 31 holiday.

Trick-or-treating is not recommended in Arlington, but a number of alternative ways to celebrate the holiday are taking place this weekend around the county:

• Halloween-themed Skate! A Halloween-themed Outdoor Skate is taking place Saturday, Oct. 31, in the I-66 parking garage. Get your skate on while listening to spooky music. Participants must bring their own skates and wear a mask. Family-friendly: 2-3 p.m.; 3:15-4:15 p.m.; Tweens & Teens: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Halloween-themed Rec on Wheels: Families are invited to make spooky luminaries and enter our Fun House obstacle course for a scary fun scavenger hunt. All ages welcome but geared toward ages 2-10. Free outdoor fun with exciting arts and crafts projects and some active movement. Offered at multiple times and locations, Oct. 26-29 — visit Parks & Rec for more info.
• Monsters of the Natural World (Virtual; Ages 16+): Explore real-life zombies, vampires, and other “monsters” of the natural world in celebration of Halloween.
• Focus the Fox Explores the Courthouse Neighborhood: In the short, self-guided story walk, early elementary-age children and an adult can join Focus the Fox and his cousin Clara as they explore the Courthouse neighborhood in Arlington on Halloween. It is perfect for early elementary-age children to do with a grown up, and feature places of interest in the Courthouse neighborhood that are fun and welcoming for a child.
• ACPD’s Frightfully Fun Parade of Costumed Cruisers: Head outside Saturday from 3-5 p.m. to see the Arlington County Police Department's frightfully fun parade of costumed cruisers make its way through the streets of Arlington as part of our physical-distancing friendly Halloween celebration! Parade, route, times and details.’s>

Traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, where treats are handed directly to children, is considered a high-risk activity this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unlike St. Patrick’s Day, when the pandemic was just a few days old, Halloween enthusiasts have had time to prepare for different kinds of celebrations this year.

Building a candy chute has been touted as a fast and fairly simple way to ensure trick-or-treaters can get the sweets without contact.

An Arlington, Virginia, woman told the Washington, D.C., ABC affiliate she bought a PVC pipe, had the kids paint it orange and black, decorated it and attached it to the porch.

Transforming a front yard into a candy graveyard and holding a Halloween egg hunt are among 14 other ideas for low-contact trick-or-treating shared by Fun365, a website that offers party, wedding and classroom ideas.

Lower-risk activities recommended by the CDC include carving pumpkins, decorating the house, having a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt and a virtual costume contest.

“If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters,” the CDC states.