Seasonal & Holidays
Trick-or-Treating Is Still On In Hamilton-Wenham
Officials in both towns are offering tips on how to stay safe while trick-or-treating this year and limit the spread of COVID-19.
![Trick-or-treating will take place in Hamilton and Wenham on Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/23145323/20201007/022136/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1499358104___07141305214.jpg)
HAMILTON-WENHAM, MA — Halloween and trick-or-treating haven't been canceled this year in Hamilton and Wenham, but they night look a bit different. Officials from both towns are offering tips on how to stay safe while trick-or-treating this year and limit the spread of COVID-19 as well as trick-or-treating alternatives.
Trick-or-treating will take place in Hamilton and Wenham on Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.
“As you start to plan for your Halloween activities, we hope you will keep the following tips in mind in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Wenham Town Administrator Anthony Ansaldi, “This includes looking at alternative ways to celebrate, such as virtual events, or holding smaller events with those who you live with.”
Find out what's happening in Hamilton-Wenhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Residents giving out candy are encouraged to make individually wrapped goodie bags that can be placed at the end of a driveway or the edge of their yard for families to take. Those who do not wish to participate in Trick-or-Treat are asked to shut off their outdoors lights as an indicator.
“Should you choose to take part in any celebrations this year, we strongly encourage you to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself, your family and your neighbors,” said Hamilton Town Manager Joseph J. Domelowicz, “This includes wearing a mask and maintaining a physical distance of at least 6 feet from those outside of your household. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.”
Find out what's happening in Hamilton-Wenhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Residents are also asked to take the following precautions from the Department of Public Health if they choose to trick-or-treat this year:
- Wear a face mask or face covering. For more information on face masks and face coverings, please see the state’s Mask Up MA webpage.
- Observe good hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of alcohol-based sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol. Carry hand sanitizer and use it often, especially after coming into contact with frequently touched surfaces and before eating candy.
- Refrain from touching your face.
- Stay home and refrain from Halloween activities, including handing out Halloween treats, if:
- you feel unwell;
- you have tested positive for COVID-19;
- you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19; or
- you have traveled to or from a state that is not classified as lower risk within the last 14 days. For more information on lower risk states, please see the state’s COVID-19 Travel Order webpage.
- Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet of physical distance from all other participants who are not members of the same household.
Lower risk alternatives to trick-or-treating include:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them, or 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
Community members may participate in moderate-risk activities, as long as they take the proper safety precautions. These include:
- 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.
Residents are asked to avoid higher risk activities this Halloween in order to prevent the spread of the virus. These activities include:
- Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door-to-door
- Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
- Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
- Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
- Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.