8 ideas for celebrating Halloween safely this year

Halloween is fast approaching, and while usually families up and down the country would be preparing for a good-natured evening of trick or treating, this year that’s not going to be so easy.

With coronavirus restrictions in place across much of the country, going door-to-door and knocking on other households is not advised, and so you may have to find some alternative ways to celebrate this year.

Thankfully, we’ve got you covered, with a list of ideas to keep things safe while you’re keeping things spooky.

Pumpkin trails

One idea is a pumpkin trail, which involves children drawing pictures of pumpkins and sticking them in their windows for other children to see.

Families can then see how many they can spot throughout October as an alternative to trick or treating.

You can download a pumpkin template from the internet, or design your own from scratch.

You could even paint a funny face onto a real pumpkin and put it in your garden. Which leads us nicely on to…

Pumpkin picking

Another popular alternative activity this year is picking your own pumpkins at a local pumpkin patch.

Being an outside activity, it negates much of the risk of being indoors in public spaces during a pandemic, and given properly implemented social distancing measures, can be a fun day out for the whole family.

Pumpkin carving

(Photo: Shutterstock)

And once you’ve got those pumpkins home, you’re going to want to carve them into a traditional Jack-O-lantern.

Pumpkin carving doesn’t always have to just be scary faces either; why not try recreating the visage of your favourite cartoon character, a heartwarming family portrait, or forgo imagery altogether and carve out some wording instead!

Trick or treat trails

Just because you can’t leave the house to go knocking on other doors, that doesn't mean you can’t do that indoors instead.

Why not set up a trick or treating trail around your home, with challenges and sweet rewards hidden behind each room’s door?

Movie night

Another sure fire way to keep everyone entertained is with a movie night, but while it can be fun to get frightened at Halloween, no parent wants to give their children nightmares.