COVID-19 Halloween Tips 

Being safe doesn’t have to be boo-ring! Celebrate Halloween with CDC-recommended guidelines so you and your family can have fun while being safe. While accommodations can be made for many activities, some Halloween celebrations are safer to avoid. Look for alternatives!

If you’re trick-or-treating this year, please avoid the traditional door-to-door method. Instead, try “one-way” trick-or-treating and place individually wrapped goodie bags at the edge of your driveway. Or try trick-or-treating in Downtown Tempe in an outdoor, open-air environment

Here are some more CDC guidelines and Halloween celebration ideas you can follow:

• ENJOY a small group party outdoors with plenty of distancing and face coverings
• AVOID crowded indoor Halloween parties 

• ENJOY a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt
• AVOID indoor haunted houses where people may be crowded together and screaming

• ENJOY open one-way walkthrough attractions while wearing a mask and maintaining distance
• AVOID social gatherings where people are not wearing masks 

• ENJOY a Halloween movie marathon with your family

The Tempe Halloween Carnival is cancelled, but check out the virtual Costume Contest presented by K-LOVE radio!

While Halloween looks different for many of us this year, we can still have a fun holiday by being creative and safe. Follow standard CDC guidelines of wearing masks, sanitizing frequently, and avoiding crowded spaces while enjoying any holiday celebration for you and your family’s safety.

The City of Tempe wishes you a fun and safe Halloween. For more tips, visit the CDC's Holiday Celebration page. For more on Tempe's coronavirus response, visit tempe.gov/coronavirus

General Tips  

Halloween is a time to dress up and have fun with friends, but it’s also the number one day of the year for childhood falls. Many Halloween-related injuries can be prevented by following these safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Safety Council:

• Use flashlights, stay on sidewalks and avoid crossing yards.
• Cross streets at the corner, use crosswalks and do not cross between parked cars.
• Wear clothing that is bright, reflective and flame resistant.
• Use face paint instead of masks (NOTE: This tip was written for traditional Halloween celebrations. Please wear a mask this year. However, masks should not be worn by anyone under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, according to the CDC). 
• Avoid wearing long, baggy or loose costumes or oversized shoes to prevent tripping.
• Travel in small groups with an adult.
• Go only to well-lit houses and do not enter the house.
• Carry a cell phone and know how to call 911.
• Adults should inspect candy before letting kids eat it. Discard any unwrapped candy or open containers. Do not eat any unwrapped candy.
• Use flexible costume knives and swords.
• Motorists should remember to drive slowly and watch for children in the street.
• When carving pumpkins, have the children draw a face on the pumpkin and have an adult do the carving.
• Place lit pumpkins away from curtains and do not leave lit pumpkins unattended.