Halloween 2020: Guidelines and Suggestions

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween.

Alternative options/activities to consider:

  • Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular: discount tickets available with your Union Membership

  • Visit a Pumpkin Patch

    • Benton Family Farm, Walton, KY.

    • Holliday Farm & Garden, Hazard, KY.

    • Eckert's-Boyd Orchard, Versailles, KY. (Apple Fest)

    • Evans Orchard, Georgetown, KY. (Fall Package available)

    • Happy Hollow Farms, Calhoun, KY.

    • Devine's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, Harrodsburg, KY.

    • Gallrein Farms, Shelbyville, KY.

    • Happy Jack's Pumpkin Farm, Frankfort, KY

    • Kinman Farms, Burlington, KY

    • T.J.'s Orchard & Pumpkin Patch, Evansville, IN

    • Hubers Orchard and Winery, Borden, IN

  • Danger Run: This year you don't have to go to a haunted house at all — although you can add on up to three. Instead, for $15 per person, half the cost of last year's ticket, Danger Run takes you to historically haunted locations throughout the city. With each haunt, Book has left a corresponding QR code in the clue book that shows you a video explaining the local lore of each place. They've also added some augmented reality features to its pages to create a few spooky, animated elements, too.

  • Boo at the Louisville Zoo: Fun and safe for the entire family

  • Horses and Haunts Walking Tour. Kentucky Derby Museum

  • Waverly Hills Sanatorium Haunted Halloween Guided Tours: One of the most haunted locations in the world will have a haunted Halloween guided tour

  • Kentucky Railway Autumn Express: Celebrate the beautiful fall season with a train ride and fun activities like picking a pumpkin

  • Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum: Pumpkin Patch Train Rides every Saturday in October with Trains that leave at 11 am and 2 pm

The following are guidelines and best practices suggested by the CDC.

Low Risk

  • Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them

  • Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends

  • Decorating your house, apartment, or living space

  • Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance

  • Having a virtual Halloween costume contest

  • Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with

  • Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

Moderate Risk

  • Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)

    • If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.

  • Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart

  • Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart

    • A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.

    • Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

  • Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart

    • If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

  • Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing

  • Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart

    • If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

Whatever you choose to do this Halloween Season have fun and be safe!

Emily Browning