Around the nation, the COVID-19 public health emergency is leading many areas to discourage trick-or-treating in 2020. Some cities have even gone as far as to ban it, such as the case in Beverly Hills where their Mayor says it cannot happen this year: “I understand the disappointment that all children have, but even though it was a difficult decision, it really was the right decision to make in this day and time.”
On the Kenai Peninsula, trick-or-treating is allowed, but the Centers for Disease Control suggests following specific guidelines during the annual parade of spooky ghosts and ghouls looking to fill their bags with candy.
Dr. Jennifer Ashton offers general safety advice: “Public health officials, epidemiologists, taking this very seriously. We don’t want trick-or-treaters to bring coronavirus to someone’s door, and we don’t want trick-or-treaters to leave someone’s door with this virus. So, I think the advice is to be creative. There’s no such thing as zero-risk today, but according to the CDC, virtual events or events done just at your home with the people with whom you live, really they’re the safest thing this year, unfortunately.”
Families on the Kenai wary of hitting the streets for a traditional trick-or-treat have another option. Many businesses are participating in a drive-thru Halloween where the family can dress up, take a Saturday night tour of the Kenai, and hit their local drive-thru restaurants for something new on the menu: Halloween candy.
The list of participating businesses are large, sprawling across the Kenai: “A trick-or-treat drive-thru! In this event, it is being sponsored by a variety of business around town, all the way to Nikiski, K-Beach, Kenai, Soldotna, all the way out to Sterling. These are businesses who already have drive-thrus and they are set-up to give out treat to kids. We’re really excited about this, mainly because it is safe, fun, and it allows kids to celebrate the holiday in a really tough year. It’s going to be this Saturday, tomorrow, starting at 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. There are over 22 places. We have a Facebook event page.”
An entire list of all participating companies can be found at their Facebook event page.