FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2020
City encourages safety for Halloween Trick-or-Treating and recommends alternative ways to celebrate
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The City of Charlottesville encourages families to plan for a safe observation of Halloween and Trick-or-Treating activities.
Traditional Halloween activities are fun, but some can increase the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 or flu. Due to COVID-19, the Thomas Jefferson Health District (TJHD) recommends that everyone celebrates safely this year by hosting activities with household members or outside with social distancing. People shouldn't participate in celebrations this year if they are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
If you do plan to participate in Halloween activities with people outside your household, here are some tips from TJHD to stay safe and healthy.
Trick-or-Treating
- When trick-or-treating wear a mask. You can make it fun by making your mask part of your costume
- Place a sign on your door or mailbox that tells trick-or-treaters you're open or closed and you have extra safety precautions in place for handing out candy. You can download and print these premade door signs (PDF - English & En Espanol).
- If you’re heading out to trick-or-treat this year, or planning to put candy out for trick-or-treaters, remember to avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters and give treats away outdoors if possible. Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take, wash hands before handling treats, and wear a mask.
Halloween Activities (Other than Trick-or-Treating)
- If you’re planning to participate in activities like visiting an orchard, forest or corn maze; attending an outdoor scavenger hunt; or hosting an outdoor costume party, remember to wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others who do not live with you, and wash your hands frequently.
City Sponsored Halloween Event!
- The City is sponsoring a fun and safe alternative to Trick-or-Treating by hosting “Charlottesville (Halloween) Night Out” in partnership with the Charlottesville Police Department and the Charlottesville Police Foundation.
- Charlottesville Halloween Night Out will be held October 31 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Charlottesville High School. Unlike previous Charlottesville Night Out events, this year’s event is 100% drive-thru. Community partners and local businesses will be distributing candy, goodies and t-shirts for the kids.
- Join in on the fun by decorating on your cars for our Spooky Car Contest! We will post pictures of your cars to our Facebook page, and the winner gets a prize!
- All volunteers and community partners working the event will be required to wear masks and gloves at all times, and stay physically distant from your vehicles. We will also have any goodies like candy, individually bagged, to make sure you and your families are as protected. We also ask you to do your part and wear a mask as you enter and exit the event. More details about this event will be released this week.
You can enjoy Halloween activities while taking steps to protect yourself and the Charlottesville Community from COVID-19.
Media Contact
Brian Wheeler
Director of Communications
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3129
wheelerb@charlottesville.gov
