In its recently released guidelines, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recommends that it is safest to forego traditional trick-or-treating. Instead, you might plan special events at home and use social media to connect with friends and family.
If you choose to allow your children to go trick-or-treating, keep in mind that social distancing rules and group size guidelines are still fully applicable. Only household members should trick-or-treat together. Please do not allow your children to congregate in large groups. THIS RULE APPLIES ESPECIALLY IN THE RIVERSIDE/AVON NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE LARGE GROUPS OF CHILDREN TYPICALLY CONGREGATE.
Outdoor areas are preferred if you plan to trick-or-treat. However, trunk-or-treat events are discouraged as high risk because they promote group gatherings.
Adults and children who walk through our neighborhoods on Halloween should wear face masks. Halloween masks do not offer the same protection as the face masks we have all grown accustomed to wearing.
Trick-or-treating hours this year will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on October 31. IF A HOUSE’S OUTDOOR LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF, THAT MEANS THE RESIDENT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN TRICK-OR-TREATING AND YOU SHOULD PASS IT BY. Please respect this simple guideline.
In order to minimize contact, it is recommended that if you pass out treats, you do so by leaving pre-wrapped candy on an outdoor table or on any other outdoor space outside your house. Please wash your hands before placing the candy outside. If you elect to hand out candy from your front door, you should wear a face mask and gloves. Children should wash their hands before consuming the candy and parents should inspect the candy.
With just a little bit of planning and creativity, parents can make this year’s Halloween festivities every bit as fun as any other year. Please be safe out there. For further information concerning Halloween recommendations, you can read the IDPH guidelines here , and the Center for Disease Control recommendations here .