Newfoundlanders are ready to celebrate Halloween 2020

As Halloween approaches, Newfoundlanders are finding safe ways to celebrate Halloween. Many are hoping for lots of little trick-or-treaters.

Yumna Iftikhar
Kicker

It’s official! Newfoundland and Labrador is celebrating Halloween, even if it will be a little different this year.

For Yi Li, Huan Yang and their four-year-old son Lex, Halloween is a special event.

“The first time we celebrated Halloween was when we bought our house,” Li said. 

Now, four years later, the family is just as excited.

“We will be buying his (Lex’s) costume at Spirit of Halloween.” 

The family is ready to decorate their home, but Li fears this Halloween may be quieter.

“We are just worried about less and less kids coming to get candy.”

Chelsea and Kent Davis also worry about fewer trick-or-treaters.

“I like opening the door and handing out candy,” Chelsea said. She hopes that there will be several trick-or-treaters.   

“I don’t want him to remember the scary COVID-19 masks. I just hope he remembers the candies.”

Lex will trick-or-treat around his neighborhood, and Li hopes he remembers a fun Halloween.

“I want him to be a kid. I don’t want him to remember the scary (COVID-19) masks . . . I just hope he remembers the candies.”

But there are families choosing to skip parts of Halloween celebrations. Nerrisa Morris says her family will not celebrate Halloween to its fullest due to the pandemic. 

Although Morris will not hand out any treats, she says her son Ethan is still excited to dress up as DJ Marshmello and visit people in their family bubble.

“We will only be taking him to trick-or-treat at close family and friends,” said Morris.

COVID-19 has changed how scores of Newfoundlanders will celebrate Halloween. This year, there is more focus on spending Halloween with friends and family.

“Since COVID has started, my family has been spending time with family and very close friends,” Morris said.

“We will be dressing up as Chips ahoy,” Kent said. Chelsea and Kent will have a small get together with friends. 

With the guidelines in place, many public events like Pumpkinfest and Halloween Howl are going ahead while others, including the St. John’s Haunted Hike, have been cancelled.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s government website states that as long as COVID-19 cases remain low most Halloween activities can continue. There are strict guidelines in place:  

• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before handing out treats.
• Consider wearing a non-medical mask when handing out treats.
• Avoid entering indoor porch areas when getting treats.
• Consider keeping social gatherings within your usual bubble of family and friends.
• Avoid activities that pose a high risk for transmission (e.g. bobbing for apples, decorating cookies).
• “Trunk-or-treating” events are permitted provided physical distancing is maintained and shared contact items are minimized or eliminated. Food and drink service or other activities are not recommended to discourage gathering. (Source: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)