How To Trick-Or-Treat Safely In Alexandria

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.

The City of Alexandria did not cancel trick-or-treat but recommended against activities that are deemed higher risk. In accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, activities considered higher risk are traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treat events with treats handed out from trunks of cars, crowded indoor costume parties, large dinner parties with different households in different geographical areas, and using alcohol or drugs. One-way trick-or-treat with individual wrapped treat bags is considered a moderate risk activity.

“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.

Unlike some spring holidays when the pandemic was new, 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.

Other ideas shared in a Virginia Patch survey on trick-or-treating included socially-distant parties with neighbors, drive-thru trunk-or-treat, a Halloween piñata and crafts. Residents who plan to hand out candy suggested using a reacher stick, tossing bags to kids from the porch, or leaving candy outside.

Families who scored tickets to the Alexandria Drive-In movie series will have socially-distant plans on Halloween night. As of Friday afternoon, the "Casper" showing at 5:30 p.m. is sold out and "The Mummy" showing at 9 p.m. still has tickets.

One activity that doesn't require registration is the Del Ray Halloween Scavenger Hunt. Families can practice social distancing while looking for Halloween-themed items on Del Ray's murals and decorated businesses. Submit your answers by Oct. 31 for a chance to win one of four $50 gift cards to a Del Ray business of choice. Download the scavenger hunt form here.

Families can also check out decorated houses in Alexandria and the surrounding area. Our decorated Halloween house guide includes quite a few submissions with Alexandria addresses.