While 2020’s Halloween will be a bit different this year due to the coronavirus, we can still have a fun and festive celebration. We’ve put together a list of recommendations for a green and covid safe Halloween. You can also find a list of recommendations for a covid safe Halloween from the CDC - they break activities down by low to high risk.

1) DIY Costumes

Use old clothes or items found at thrift stores to incorporate into homemade costumes. You can always dye old pieces if they’re not the color you’re looking for. You can go for a retro look and dress up as an era. Or check out these easy DIY costume ideas from women’s day.

You could also go for the classic look and turn an old white sheet into a ghost costume. This is a great way to stay warm on Halloween as you can where whatever works best for the weather underneath!

2) DIY Decorations

There are a ton of ideas for turning regular household items or old decorations into awesome decorations for this year. Check out a great list here or get creative and see what you have lying around the house that may work. You could turn old stockings into spiderwebs, for example.

3) Locally Produced Candy Goodie Bags

Look for locally produced candy or treats to hand out to add a bit of sustainability to trick or treating this year. Also, consider making goodie bags which will be easier for kids to grab without touching all the other candy in the bowl. Make sure to wash your hands before and after creating the goodie bags.

4) Household Scavenger Hunt

If you’re not trick or treating this year consider another fun way for your kids to collect candy. Hide candy throughout your house and yard and map out a scavenger hunt with clues to where you hid the candy. Or you can do a candy hide and seek and let your kids search all over for those small pieces of candy (much like you do at Easter with Easter eggs).

5) Virtual Costume Contest

Use one of the many video chat options available to host a virtual costume contest with your friends and family. This is a great way to get your kids excited about dressing up and you can incorporate games or sing-alongs to add to the fun. This has the added benefit of reducing any carbon emissions from having to drive to a set location for the contest!

6) Distanced Outdoor Community Event

Look for local outdoor events that offer safe ways to have fun. Zoo Knoxville is hosting their yearly BOO! at the Zoo with updates incorporating Covid safety measures. There are also multiple corn mazes and pumpkin patches throughout Knox County. Check out a list of local outdoor Halloween activities here.

7) Distanced Trick or Treating

Trick or treating can be done safely with some simple adjustments to your normal routine.

Avoid large groups or clustering in front of doorways.
Instead of handing out treats directly, consider lining up individually wrapped goodie bags in a way that’s convenient for families to take from your front yard.
If your child is collecting treats, wipe down all the packaging before opening or let them sit and air out for a few days first.
Consider wearing masks if you’re going to busy trick or treating areas. They have a ton of fun Halloween themed face masks available that will incorporate perfectly into many costumes. Just check out this hocus pocus themed one! Please don’t wear a face mask underneath a costume mask as it could lead to breathing problems.

Keep Knoxville Beautiful wishes everyone a green, safe, and happy Halloween!

7 Tips for a Covid Safe and Green Halloween