Trick or Treating Guidelines

The City of Highwood encourages families to celebrate Halloween safely this year. With the proper precautions, everyone can enjoy a safe and spooky celebration. 

Children may trick or treat on Saturday, October 31, 2020, between the hours of 3:00 – 7:00 PM.  The following guidelines will help promote a safe experience for families and individuals that choose to participate:

• Do not participate in trick-or-treating if you are feeling unwell, if someone in your house is unwell, if you are awaiting COVID-19 test results, if you have recently returned from travel to a hotspot state, or if you know that you have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Turn on your porch lamp or outdoor lights to show that your home is welcoming trick-or-treaters. 
• Face coverings should be worn by all participants over the age of two, including individuals passing out treats. 
• Avoid close contact with others, consider leaving candy on your porch.
• Individuals should use hand sanitizer regularly throughout the trick or treat hours.
• Do not trick-or-treat in groups with others; trick-or-treat as a household.
• Do not approach a house until the previous group has left.
• Consider distributing treats other than candy, which parents can then sanitize before giving to kids: stickers in cellophane packaging, pencils, mini pumpkins, erasers, etc.
• Refrain from distributing coins or cash.
• Do not distribute homemade treats or fresh fruits.

Creative Ways to Distribute Treats

If you would like to avoid trick-or-treaters coming to your door, but would still like to participate, consider passing out treats using the following socially-distanced ideas: 

• Create a grab-bag candy walk on your lawn: place candy inside recyclable paper lunch bags so each child can simply pick up a bag of treats.
• Hang treats from a clothesline at children’s height.
• Mark a safe distance from your door using chalk and ask children to stand behind the line before you open the door to pass out candy.

Halloween Face Coverings

Per the CDC, a Halloween costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask or face covering. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn't leave gaps around the face. 

The CDC does not recommend that individuals wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask, because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, the CDC urges individuals to  wear a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

For additional information see the CDC guidelines for holiday activities.