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How do I stay safe on Halloween during COVID?

Halloween may look a bit different this year, but here are some ways you can still have fun.

Nashville, Ark. – Choosing costumes, decorating pumpkins, and trick-or-treating brings joy to many children at Halloween. Some Halloween traditions may look different this year to keep everyone safe during the COV​ID-19 pandemic. However, there are still plenty of ways families can have fun while avoiding the scare of being exposed to or spreading the virus. Here are a few ways you can have a spooky blast at home!

What are some safe costume ideas for kids on Halloween?

  • Enjoy choosing or making a Halloween costume and dressing up! Involve the whole family, where everyone makes a costume and dresses in it.
  • Have a video chat with family and friends, showing off your costume! Grandparents and other family members who live miles away will love this!
  • Host an outdoor parade in your neighborhood. Be sure to stay at least 6 feet apart and wear a face covering.
  • A Halloween mask does not take the place of a fabric Covid mask unless it has several layers of fabric and snuggly covers the mouth and nose. Consider making your facemask part of the costume.

What are safety tips for trick-or-treating during COVID?

  • If you decide to go trick-or-treating in your neighborhood, consider setting up a one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while social distancing.
  • If you are preparing to hand out goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags.
  • Hand-out only wrapped candy or treats.
  • Parents should make sure children use hand sanitizer often during trick-or-treating.
  • Make sure you know the neighborhood you are trick-or-treating in. Avoid neighborhoods where you do not know the people who live there.

What alternatives are there to trick-or-treating?

  • Instead of trick-or-treating, have a family movie night. There are plenty of Halloween movies on TV. Choose one that is age appropriate for your children!
  • There are some organized community events in the area. Consider attending one of these where hand sanitizer will be encouraged.

Covid-19 continues to impact our holiday fun. With the rise in positive cases, consider alternative ways to have fun this year! For more information on Halloween fun during Covid-19 check out the CDC’s website at or visit our COVID resources online. As always, you can contact the Howard County Extension Office at 870-845-7517 or visit our office located on the second floor of the courthouse.  

Halloween Caramel Nut Snack Mix Recipe

Here is a great recipe for your Halloween movie night celebration. Deb Kreul, Howard County 4-H Program Assistant, shared this recipe along with other Halloween treats. You can check out her videos on the Howard County FCS Facebook page . There are three videos in all! If you would like additional Halloween recipes that she shared, contact the Extension Office.

  • ½ cup butter
  • ¾ cup white corn syrup
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 cups salted mixed nuts
  • 1 (12-oz.) pkg. crispy corn or rice cereal, like Chex
  • 1-2 cups festive M&M’s
  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line 2 large jell-roll pans with parchment paper. In a medium-size microwave safe bowl, mix butter, white corn syrup and brown sugar. Place the mixture in the microwave and cook 2 minutes, or until butter melts. Stir mixture until combined and smooth.
  2. Place cereal and nuts onto the prepared pans. Pour melted butter mixture over the cereal and nuts and mix gently until the cereal and nuts are coated. Bake for 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Halfway through, rotate the pans in the oven.
  3. Remove pans from the oven and continue to stir the mix so it doesn’t harden. Once the mix is cool, add M&M’s and toss lightly to incorporate.

 

By Jean Ince
County Extension Agent - Staff Chair

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