How Will Halloween 2020 Look in the Columbia Basin? It Depends

Ghosts and goblins and ghouls your attention, please. We have somewhat spooky stuff to share. Halloween 2020 is a go. However, as with other holidays in 2020, most traditional festivities, such as jam-packed Halloween parties, haunted houses and classic trick-or-treating, have been cited in guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control as really big no-no's.

The experts say pumpkin carving is your best bet for a low risk event, either at home with the family or with others, socially distanced, outside. Scavenger hunts around cul de sacs or neighborhoods might work for some peeps, a virtual costume contest seems doable, but dull, and depending on the ages of family members, a big fat scary movie with those you love always works.

For the more adventurous, you might want to try something new like low or no-touch trick or treating, reverse trick-or-treating, socially distanced goodie bag handouts, or on a larger scale, which seems a bit optimistic, outdoor distanced movie night or an outdoor distanced costume parade.

Of course, the highest risk events are the ones we traditionally love to do: Shared trick-or-treating candy bowls (as long as I'm holding my fake chainsaw, in a scary mask, making sure the buckaroos only take one apiece); crowded indoor costume contests (what, no skimpy Dr. Fauci outfit?) and trunk or treat events fall into the "you-gotta-be-kidding-me-we're-in-a-freakin'-pandemmic" category.

The CDC offers their holiday considerations to help protect individuals, their families, friends, and communities from COVID-19. These considerations are meant to supplement—not replace— any state, local, territorial or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which holiday gatherings must comply. When planning to host a holiday celebration, you should assess current COVID-19 levels around the Columbia Basin to determine whether to postpone, cancel, or limit the number of attendees.