The new lockdown restrictions in the UK are, while vital, coming at a terrible time for the festive season. As well as local lockdowns prohibiting people in the North and midlands from mixing households, all hospitality venues nationally face a curfew of 10pm - plus many other restrictions. With these rules expected to last up to six months, most people are asking one big question: What the hell is going to happen at Christmas time?
It makes sense people are concerned, after all as much as we can’t believe it, it’s only just over three months away.‘How will we save Christmas?’ people screamed. But you know what they’re forgetting about? Halloween.
Christmas plans are still up in the air, with reports that Boris Johnson is considering lifting lockdown rules on Christmas Dayso as to avoid being likened to 'scrooge', and with that there is hope. But Halloween? With the holiday loved by kids and basics alike (me included) being just weeks away, it seems more than likely the night of ghouls and ghosts is cancelled.
‘My family doesn’t normally make a fuss of Halloween,’ says Charlotte, who has two young children. ‘But this year we were planning on doing the whole shebang, dressing up and going to one of those ghoulish streets where the houses are elaborately decorated and trick or treating. It’s one of the few things we had to look forward to so it felt apt to make a big deal of it.’
Charlotte isn’t the only one, with little else to look forward to and fewer social plans than ever, everyone on social media seems to be lambasting in the Autumn themes – with celebrities and interiors influencers like Stacey Solomon and Elizabeth Anne (known as Octoberalways) beginning their decorating already. Halloween then, will likely be no different. In fact, we can see Halloween costumes and décor becoming the new banana bread. But aside from dressing up to sit in the house, can we actually do anything? We investigate.
Can you go trick or treating for Halloween this year?
Or, will this year simply be a drive by of scary houses only to go home with your sanitised Tesco-bought Haribo bag? In Los Angeles, where cases are notably higher than the UK, trick or treating was banned by local government. While officials quickly backtracked after facing backlash, the practice is still ‘not recommended’.
Over here, there are no official guidelines about trick or treating yet. Leeds Council have issued advice that it's 'not the best idea', but there's no specific government ban. With that being said, according to Dr Dominic Pimenta, co-founder and chairman of HEROES, the NHS charity founded by and for NHS workers and author of the book, Duty of Care, trick or treating should be considered high risk this year.
'Any form of group activity, particularly in the immediate future is somewhat unthinkable,' he told Grazia. 'We’re having to adjust to the current circumstances and families and children going from door to door in groups is not recommended.
'There are of course ways you could modify the traditional sense of trick or treating so people aren’t forming groups of more than six people, however, the idea of treats passing the hands of trick or treaters and those whose homes they visit is not ideal for reducing the spread or prevention,' Dr. Pimenta continued. 'The Government should advise the public to stay home this Halloween and it’s more than likely that they will do just that. People need to continue to exercise social distancing. The lives of children and families are important and activities like celebrating Halloween will likely have a negative impact on the NHS and put more unneeded pressure on the system.'
So, what can you do to celebrate Halloween this year?
While we may not be able to host or attend parties nor go door to door, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to keep kids (and basics once more) happy for Halloween. Here are some of our best ideas...
Pumpkin picking
There are plenty of pumpkin farms around the UK where you can spend the day in the safe, fresh (if a bit frosty) air finding the perfect pumpkin. After a day spent rummaging, you and your partner can set about carving it to your kids tastes (or, let’s be honest, to whatever you can manage with a kitchen knife) and then you’ll be set for another afternoon’s activities of pumpkin painting.
Pick a window or doorstep for your kids pumpkin to proudly display and perhaps it will inspire a whole host of other crafting you can partake in for the spooky holiday.
Ice-skating
With ice-skating rinks still open around the UK, including at the National History Museum in London where you could visit some spooky looking dinosaurs before heading to the rink, there’s nothing stopping you from dressing up as a family and heading for a group skate. Check out an ice-skating rink near you for local guidelines on mask wearing, and book ahead as slots will likely fill up quick.
Check out your local Halloween events
Contrary to popular belief, there are still socially distanced Halloween events happening all over the UK. Kew Gardens in London, for example, are hosting a Gruffalo-themed adventure for all the family. This year, you’ll will be given a trail pack to then work their way through the ‘deep dark wood’ using puzzles, finding footprints and feathers. With kids encouraged to dress up, it’s likely to be a popular event for Halloween celebrations so book online ahead of time!
With events like this going on all over the country, there’s no reason not to switch up from your usual trick or treating and seek out a socially-distanced spooky event near you.
Host a kids virtual Halloween party
We know, we know, Zoom quizzes are SO lockdown one. But since this IS a special occasion, how about hosting a Halloween-themed family zoom? You can create some spooky invites ahead of time, asking kids and parents alike to dress up. Then, take the opportunity to have an arts and crafts afternoon revamping your 'Zoom corner' with some ghoulish house decorations. When the time comes for the party, there are plenty of options to keep kids entertained and the Halloween spirit alive this year.
There could be a family-friendly themed spooky quiz, a kid-friendly scary movie screening or just some great Halloween-themed tunes playing while the kids show off their costumes, pumpkin decorations or Halloween treats. Hell, there could even be a competition for the scariest of each category. If you want to make it extra special, why not arrange a surprise sweet drop off at the beginning of the party, so each family opens their door to an at-home trick or treat delivery?
It may not be an all-night party but Halloween is as fun as you make it, just because the fun is virtual doesn't mean it's not worth the effort of dressing up and making a fuss!
Face painting
Since we’re all stuck in our houses this year, our lives have become a whole lot more décor-focused. That doesn’t just have to be interiors, although it may make a great Halloween treat to have the kids help decorate with autumnal themes, but with their costumes too. Rather than the same old pumpkin costume you buy every year, why not check out some face painting tutorials on YouTube and have a face-paint party with the kids? Add a spooky-themed dinner and a Halloween playlist and you’ve got yourself a little party.
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