Not quite canceled: celebrating Halloween in 2020

There have been more tricks than treats in 2020, and among the former is the hobbling of many local Halloween traditions, such as Niwot's Great Pumpkin Party. For many area families, finding an enjoyable but safe way to enjoy the popular holiday has been a matter of getting creative.

For those in the mood to be social but distant, there are a few public celebrations organized with safety foremost in mind-from a trunk or treat in Cottonwood Square, to a virtual 5K benefit race organized by a Niwot High School student. So whether you're venturing out, or keeping it low-key with small group activities at home, there are a variety of nearby options that offer a safe way to have some scary fun.

Trunk or Treat

Among the most visible local celebrations will be the Niwot Business Association's socially distanced, Trunk or Treat event, scheduled for 4 - 7 p.m. on Halloween Night. Families are invited to decorate their cars and come to Cottonwood Square for some pandemic-friendly trick-or-treating.

Event organizer Stacy Szydlek, co-owner of Niwot Tavern, is particularly excited to be offering some form of Halloween fun to the community this year. "I heard that Halloween wasn't going to be the same this year. I threw this together so kids could have something to do, parents could keep an eye on them, and everyone could relax. I'm going to get tongs to help people hand out candy and I'll keep everything socially distant. [I'm} going to do lots of decorations."

The Trick or Trunk is designed for both kids and adults. Szydlek said that the businesses around Cottonwood Square are going to be festively decorated and handing out candy. There will also be to-go food and drinks from nearby restaurants, and Niwot Tavern will have an outdoor band. There will also be a prize for the "best decorated" car.

Other celebrations

As another event, all month long, the Niwot Business Association has been holding a virtual costume contest that's fairly simple to take part in. All that participants need to do is snap a photo of themselves in costume located anywhere in downtown Niwot and submit it to the NBA's online entry form. The deadline for submitting photos is November 1st at 8 p.m..

For those looking to commit good instead of mischief, Niwot High School student MacKenzie Demmel has organized a Halloween Virtual 5K to fight brain cancer. The event, called the St. Vrain for the Brain 5K, was organized in honor of Demmel's aunt, who was diagnosed with brain cancer. Demmel created the run to fulfill one of the requirements for participation in the high school's International Baccalaureate Diplomae program, and she hopes it can become an annual tradition.

Anyone wanting to participate in the race is invited to wear their Halloween costumes and complete the course at any time or location of their choosing during the hours of 9 and 11:30 a.m. on Halloween. The cost to enter starts at $5, though participants can elect to donate more. All proceeds will go to the National Brain Tumor Society. Entry is available at the race's Eventbrite form.

Creative celebrations

In many cases, how individuals choose to celebrate outside of community events is age-dependent. Younger kids may be happy with a costume walk while it is still light outside, or sharing costume time and pizza with a small group. Some parents of younger kids on social media have talked about constructing cardboard haunted houses for their little ones.

Older kids might be planning smaller get togethers, or sleepovers. Some families are considering having an outdoor backyard movie on their own or with just another family to keep the group small.

Heidi Alina, the mom of a 10th grader and a participant on the Niwot channel for the social media app NextDoor, talked about her thought process for plans. "I'm not sure how many friends she will be with, but likely less than five. She's probably having a sleepover at their home."

To trick or treat . . . or not

Many people are carefully considering the pros and cons of venturing into neighborhoods for trick or treating. Alina commented that she doesn't intend to hand out candy as she'd understood it was recommended kids don't go out trick or treating this year.

In line with this view, the traditional trick or treating map on NextDoor substantially changed focus for 2020. This year, it describes itself as "your guide to contact-free fun." The app shows seasonal decorations, pumpkin carving displays, and places open to a costume wave parade.

As part of its official guidance on COVID safety for Halloween, The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) said, "The individual risk from some Halloween activities, like trick-or-treating door-to-door, may seem lower because people are outdoors and interactions may be short. But, when lots of people participate in lower-risk activities at the same time, it raises the potential for disease spread across the state." The agency encouraged alternatives to door to door trick or treating this year.

CDPHE is realistic about the fact that many families, especially those with school-aged children, might head out for their annual candy haul anyhow. For those who do want to trick or treat, they suggest that lining up pieces of candy at the end of a driveway or sending it down through a plastic or cardboard "Candy Tube" might make it easier to maintain social distance.

The agency reminds revelers that Halloween masks aren't substitutes for COVID-19 masks, and that trick or treaters should stay in their own neighborhood and follow local guidance on group sizes.

That said...

Whatever your plans for All Hallow's Eve in 2020, it's probably good to have a plan B. The recent resurgence of COVID cases in Colorado and Boulder is prompting officials to revisit gathering restrictions, and at least one event planned for Saturday-an adult-friently costume party at the newly opened Niwot Wheel House on 2nd Avenue-has already been cancelled. Conditions are changing quickly, so be sure to check your event before venturing out. -