Halloween 2020: How to Celebrate Safely

The City of Oak Grove has some hauntingly good tips and tricks to make this Halloween as enjoyable as you want it to be.

In the month of October, there will be a full moon, a blue moon, and daylight savings time to boot. With COVID-19 still hanging over us, this Halloween has the potential to be the most unique night of this already crazy year. 

The City of Oak Grove will NOT be canceling trick or treating. We encourage everyone to practice the social distancing guidelines put in place by the local health department and Governor Beshear.

  • Have your porch light on if you want to hand out candy.
  • The hours to go door-to-door are usually from 6pm to 8pm, even though we do get some children a little earlier and a little later.
  • Please drive slower than normal due to children running through the neighborhood.
  • Stay home if you or your child is sick.
  • Carry a flashlight and make sure your children have reflective clothing.
  • Wear a face mask that covers both your mouth and nose (Halloween masks don’t count!)
  • Clean hands before and after touching wrapped candy, as well as after touching high-contact surfaces and before eating anything.
  • Inspect all candy prior to consuming & wipe down candy wrappers with sanitizing wipes. Allow children to eat only factory-wrapped treats & avoid homemade treats from individuals you don’t know. 
  • Most importantly, have a safe, fun night!

Here are a few additional “Safe Trick-or-Treating” activities recommended by the Kentucky Public Health Department

  • Place individually wrapped candy outside on porches, driveways, or tables.
  • Maintain a social distance of six feet from anyone not in your household.
  • Trick-or-treat in family groups and don’t congregate in large groups.
  • Trick-or-treat in your own neighborhood & don’t travel to other neighborhoods.

As an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, Kentucky health officials also recommend these low or moderate risk activities:

  • Hold a virtual Halloween costume contest. 
  • Hold a scavenger hunt for Halloween treats around your home/yard with members of your household rather than going house to house. 
  • Hold a drive-by costume or car decorating contest with socially distanced judges.
  • Hold a socially distanced outdoor parade.
  • Visit a pumpkin patch or orchard (Remember to use hand sanitizer, wear a mask and keep your distance).
  • Have an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family and friends, observing social distancing and limiting the event to 10 or fewer guests.

Kentucky health officials recommend avoiding these “higher-risk activities” this Halloween:

  • Traditional trick-or-treat where treats are handed to children going door-to-door.
  • Trunk-or-treat events where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots.
  • Costume parties inside someone’s house, hayrides, or tractor rides.
  • Haunted houses where people may be crowded together and screaming.
  • Any event with large crowds.

The City of Oak Grove wants Halloween to be fun for everyone while keeping safety in mind. Please check with local officials for the most up to date information. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact the City of Oak Grove. We are more than happy to help in any way we can.