Halloween will not be the same in Minnesota this 2020. There are scarier things in the air than ghouls and ghosts, but events will push through if people have their way. State-imposed limitations and strict guidelines will be the norm, and everyone will have to wear a different kind of mask when they haunt the streets.
No Grand Parties
There won’t be large gatherings come October — at least not ones sanctioned by the government. Even Minnesota’s Anoka City — regarded as “the Halloween Capital of the World” — will celebrate its 100th Halloween Festival in a limited fashion. The Grand Day Parade will continue, but merely as a drive-by. Revelers can still watch the parade, although joining in will not be allowed. Kids can still dress-up as their favorite superhero or scary character. However, the kid’s parade will be held entirely online. Halloween Bingo tournaments will also be held in the same fashion. The House Decoration Contest will go on as usual. But judges would be limited to viewing houses from the streets.
Limited Trick-or-treating
Monsters, superheroes, as well as the rest of the Halloween crew, will have reduced freedom to go trick-or-treating. Several communities have set specific dates for kids to go out in search of candy, but most activities in the Metro are either canceled or heavily modified to ensure safety. Local health officials are suggesting the use of individually-wrapped goodie bags. The bags are to be handed out from a distance and not merely left at the porch.
Everyone going out to trick-or-treat or join festivities are also advised to wear the usual cloth masks for protection. Thankfully, data shows that children are mostly unaffected by COVID-19. Minnesota has recorded more than 15,000 confirmed COVID cases on children, resulting in a single death (a 9-month-old baby in Clay County). The morbidity rate for individuals under the age of 20 stands at less than 0.006 percent, and most children suffer through the illness without showing symptoms.
Save Halloween for the Kids
Halloween is the holiday that kids enjoy the most. Letting them experience the joys and frights of October is only reasonable, considering everything they went through the past months. While the state might have reduced sanctioned Halloween activities, private institutions are still carrying out fun activities for the whole family. Halloween-themed venues all over Minnesota are still open to give you scares and laughter.
Get your thrills by going for a harrowing hayride or scary ghost tour. Most venues have no contact policies, so the only threat to you would be actual spirits. You can also spend a relaxing time with your children at an art station, drawing or coloring to your hearts’ content. Of course, specific regulations are bound to be in place, so stay informed before choosing a venue.
Take a break from real scares and enjoy the festive feelings of Halloween. The powers that be might want to stifle Halloween festivities. However, you have to do a bit of digging to find them.
