This year, Halloween will be different than we have ever experienced. In light of COVID-19 cases on the rise and hospitalizations soaring in Dallas, health officials have advised against even trick-or-treating.

While it is so important to put safety above all else for Halloween this year, I am here to share some fun and COVID-19 friendly ways to enjoy this holiday.

1. Host a virtual costume party: Dress up, DIY a costume, design a scary backdrop and invite your friends and family to join you in a virtual costume party on any video chatting platform! This is such a fun way to get in the spirit of Halloween while staying safe.
2. Make some fun and spooky Halloween treats: find a recipe for some Halloween-themed treats and make them!
3. Have a virtual scary movie night with your friends: You can download Netflix party (or any other virtual watch party platform) on your computer and watch a movie while being able to chat with your friends. This allows you all to enjoy the movie together while staying socially distant!
4. Go to the Tunnel of Terror Haunted Car Wash: this haunted car wash is a socially distanced alternative to going to a walk-through haunted house! You can drive through and get your car clean while getting spooked by some scary characters and engaging in the Halloween fun.
5. Make a scavenger hunt candy search: you can create a scavenger hunt with a map of hiding places for people around your neighborhood or just your family members. This allows for everyone to have a fun and socially distanced activity to do on Halloween night.
6. Attend the candy caravan at Dallas Heritage Village: This is a contactless drive-through candy caravan. You can pull up in your car, caravan with others and leave with a bag of Halloween goodies! This event is being held at Dallas Heritage Village and is organized by the city of Dallas. It starts at noon and ends at 3 P.M.
7. Explore the “Art of the pumpkin” exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum: this is a beautiful exhibit that showcases more that 90,000 pumpkins. It is a great way to stay socially-distanced yet get into the Autumn and Halloween spirit.

While I’m sure many of us are disappointed that Halloween will be much different than it has been in past years, it is crucial that we all play our part in ensuring that we keep ourselves and those around us safe.

“Obviously Halloween is going to be a lot different this year but I know that it’s necessary to have these safety guidelines put in place,” said Senior Cameron Russ. “My number one priority is for everyone to stay healthy so whatever I have to do for that to continue happening, I will do! Holidays like this happen every year so just to have one year that is different from the others is okay because there’s always next year to look forward to when it’s safer for everyone.”