The coronavirus has made trick-or-treating a lot more complicated this year but not even a global pandemic can stop kids from putting on garish costumes and asking strangers for candy.
After some hesitation and debate, virtually all communities around Concord and in most of the state are allowing some form of trick-or-treating on Halloween. The decision is easier because it falls on a Saturday this year.
“I was surprised to see so many towns and cities decide to go ahead with trick or treating this year, especially given how many schools are still engaged in remote learning and the cancelation of so many events this fall. But I’m happy — and I know that parents are happy — that trick or treating is still on this year in many parts of the state. After this tough year, it’s great to have something to look forward to, and it’s something families can do safely,” said Melanie Hitchcock, editor of ParentingNH magazine.
The board of selectmen in Salisbury were the latest to go ahead with trick-or-treating, voting Wednesday have a house-to-house Halloween celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. Chichester is putting together a map of places that are participating. The town of Bow, like other towns, set trick or treat for the same time span.
Still, many official celebrations have been canceled or are up in the air. In Webster, for example, fire and police are still debating whether to hold their traditional “truck or treat” event at the safety building.
Canterbury has canceled its gathering in the town center, which traditionally draws children from all over. The semi-official gathering on Auburn Street in Concord has also been called off.
It’s unclear whether Penacook will have its unusual Gate Night tradition of trick or treating on Oct. 30, the night before Halloween. This is an unofficial habit with no city involvement.
There were questions in September about what state health guidelines would say about the Halloween tradition. The Centers for Disease Control has discouraged door-to-door collections, but the state has left decisions up to local communities although it has recommended a series of changes from the usual process.
The suggestions from Bow on the town website are typical and include giving only wrapped candy and distributing it outdoors rather than from the front door, preferably from a bowl on a table or some method that doesn’t involve handing it to children directly.
Trick or treaters themselves should consider wearing a cloth mask as well as a character mask, since the latter rarely provide good coverage.
Bow has one clever piece of advice for parents who want to see their children dress up and go-door to-door but don’t want them to take any candy.
“If you are uneasy about getting treats door to door, you can always just provide your own,” the town said. “Then you can still go door to door and hand them out to your own children at each stop.”
Most communities will have trick or treating starting at 4 or 5 p.m. and running through 7:30 or 8 p.m. Check the local website or call town hall to find out details. The sun sets at 5:38 p.m. on Halloween night.
Many communities are holding different sorts of celebrations to compensate for what will undoubtedly be a quiet Halloween this year. Allenstown, for example, is having a town-wide Halloween Lighting Contest and a number of other towns are organizing similar events.