Halloween in a pandemic: Some families make alternative plans

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David Treglown Jr. and sister Harper love Halloween and will be going trick-or-treating like usual this year. (Provided by Treglown family)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging parents to skip trick or treating, and instead find other activities, like virtual costume parties.

Some say that will take the fun out of Halloween, so they’re not changing anything. Others are planning to take precautions, like Nicole Fiorenti-Katz and her daughter Jocelyn.

They love Halloween, but the family will wear their costumes in the safety of their home this year. Fiorenti-Katz and her husband have asthma, putting them in a high-risk category for COVID-19.

“I thought about it for a while and I really did want to take her out. With Halloween being on a Saturday, it’s like how dare COVID ruin a Saturday Halloween?”

But they’re making the best of it.

“We are going to carve pumpkins and we’re going to decorate the house and turn off all the lights and put up a lot of candles and tell spooky stories and roast marshmallows.”

Over at the Treglown household, David Jr., Harper and mom Samantha are getting ready for a traditional night of tricking or treating.

“They love Halloween. They like, basically once it’s Oct. 1, they’re like OK, when’s Halloween? Let’s count down the days,” Samantha said.

She said it’s important to keep things as normal as possible.

“We are all outside, the candy’s already prewrapped, you can open it at your own pace and you know, if things don’t feel exactly like safe-ish, we can always just stay around our house.”

The City of Naples has a drive-thru Trunk-or-Treat event, as does Collier County, among its other plans, which include a Halloween party and a candy haunted house event.

Collier County Halloween events

Halloween Howl Pre-K – 5th Grade

Friday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Cost: $10 Per Child

East Naples Community Park, 3500 Thomasson Dr. Naples

Come enjoy an evening of tricks & treats at the East Naples Community Park. $10 per child, price includes a costume contest, games, crafts, prizes, candy, pizza, and soda. For ages Pre-K – 5th grade. For more information, call 239-252-4414.

Candy Haunted House Creations

Friday, October 23, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Cost: $10 Per Child

Vineyards Community Park, 6231 Arbor Blvd. Naples

Children will use an assortment of candy, frosting and cookies to design their own haunted candy house! Everything is included to make a yummy work of art! Please pre-register by Oct. 18th. Ages 4-12. For more information, call 239-252-4105

Halloween Party

Friday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cost: $10 Per Child

Must pre-register to attend (only 45 tickets available) No Walk-Ins

Max Hasse Community Park, 3390 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples

This Spooktacular event is to provide some holiday fun for children, as well as give their parents a night out! Parents will drop their children off at 6:00 p.m. and pick them up at 8:00 p.m. Participants will enjoy music, cookie decorating, and a costume contest. All registrants will also get a slice of pizza and a drink. All participants are required to wear a mask and social distance. For more information, call 239-252-4200.

Boo-Tacular Drive

Friday, Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cost: Free

North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Rd., Naples

Calling All Ghosts & Goblins! This Halloween get ready to experience BOO-TACULAR DRIVE! A drive-thru trick or treat experience where you’ll travel in your vehicle along a slow-moving road and enjoy themed scenes of Halloween, lots of candy and vendor-provided goodies. For more information call 239-252-4000. Free for all ages.

Trunk or Treat Drive-Thru

Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cost: Free

Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. 1st St. Immokalee

Looking for a place that’s safe and fun on Halloween weekend? Please join us for our first-ever Trunk or Treat Drive-Thru Celebration! Come have fun with your whole family, see some super cool decorated trunks while your kids enjoy candy and treats! Invite your friends and neighbors. This is a FREE event for all ages. Social distancing & COVID-19 guidelines will be practiced and encouraged. Individuals must remain in their vehicles. If you would like to participate, please call 239-252-4449.

For more information, contact Collier County Parks & Recreation at 239-252-4000 or visit www.collierparks.com.

Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat and Movie Night

Saturday, Oct. 31, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Cost: Free; $5 per family for movie

Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Blvd., downtown Naples

Anyone can attend the event by driving up to the site, adjacent to the Naples Zoo and Coastland Center Mall, any time during the event. City staff will lead the car through various exhibits decorated by community groups and local businesses.

There are spots available for families and groups to set up as a station to pass out candy and treats, registration is required by calling 239-213-3020.

Following the event, there will be a Movie Night at 7:15 p.m. on the Fleischmann Park Field. A large inflatable screen and a projector will be showing ‘Hotel Transylvania.’ There will be popcorn and Italian ice for sale, patrons may bring their own food.

There is a $5 fee per family bubble to attend the movie in our social distance circles.

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