FIVE IDEAS FOR SAFE HALLOWEEN FUN
Five Ideas for Safe Halloween Fun
By Jan Milliman
Halloween may look a little different this year with folks feeling cautious about COVID-19 exposure. Big parties and parades have been called off, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate. Halloween has always had an element of creativity, now’s the time to double down on the skills you’ve honed over the years and make the most of things.
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Craft a costume contest: If you haven’t already bought or made costumers, why not have a family contest to come up with the best costume made from things around the house? Raid the dress-up box, poke around in each-other’s closets, dig through your craft supplies and see who can come up with the most creative costume.
Tip: If you have a stash of paper grocery bags and some markers or crayons, you have everything you need for a mask contest. Check out these amazing creations by artist Saul Steinberg for some inspiration.
2. Bake something: There are all kinds Halloween recipes that can add a festive touch to the season. We love cooking from “The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook” around this time of year. Chef John’s mini meatloaf ghosts look like fun. Or, a pumpkin roll is always a great treat!
3.Tell scary stories: You probably already know some good campfire ghost stories you could share on a candlelight night. For little kids “The Monster at the End of this Book” is a fun read. We love “Space Case” a James Marshall picture book about an alien who crash lands on earth on
Halloween. Or, for older kids, you could turn to a collection like “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” (Warning: These stories are pretty scary!)
4. Play some games: Take a tip from the Easter Bunny and hide Halloween candy around the house for the kids to find. If the weather’s nice, you could bring it outdoors. If you’re lucky enough to have a clothesline in the backyard, string up some donuts for a round of donut on a string. Our break out the board games and serve up some popcorn and cider.
5.Go virtual: It’s a tough time for getting out to do things, but it’s a great time to try out new virtual experiences. Airbnb has a great selection of online experiences that include magic shows, living room scavenger hunts, virtual tours and more. For older folks, History Happy Hour brings you interactive history lectures with a seasonal flair. Your local library probably has some virtual fun planned, too.
Tip: The Brockport Merchant’s Association has moved the annual Halloween parade online this year. Send in photos of you and your pets in your costumes by Oct. 24 and watch the virtual parade online on Oct. 30. More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/375525990299132.
