Fate Of Halloween In CT: Here's What We Know, Don't Know

CONNECTICUT — Two days before Halloween 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey. On Oct. 30, Stonington First Selectman Edward Haberek canceled the holiday and designated “with encouragement” that Nov. 16 of that year would be “declared Halloween in Stonington Day.”

The municipal leader said then the move was to “provide a safe, disruption free and enjoyable environment for our children as they enjoy this activity. With no power and lights, distressed families and difficult lighted roads, I feel this would be an enjoyable alternative date. Please join me in this exciting day of fun. I am even dressing up!”

Many in Stonington went trick-or-treating anyway on October 31, power outages and Sandy devastation notwithstanding.

And while the coronavirus pandemic is not a devastating hurricane, it is an unprecedented public health crisis. But will it cancel Halloween? That’s an unknown in Connecticut right now.

A spokesman for the state education department said it and the state department of public health are "discussing and may issue guidance around safety for Halloween and trick or treating."

And at least three local health departments contacted by Patch had no guidance to offer. And no first selectmen or mayor Patch reached out to returned that call for comment.

Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet provided clear Halloween guidance, despite a letter sent to its director Robert Redfield requesting that information by a bipartisan group of 30 members of Congress.

“We are writing to ask you to update your Halloween safety guidance to include considerations related to COVID-19 so that Americans across the country know how to celebrate the Halloween season safely this year,” the members wrote.

A check of the CDC site Sunday found no Halloween-specific guidance.

What we know and don't know

It appears, for now at least, there are few answers on the fate of Halloween and trick-or-treating. But based on existing guidance, some things are known.

In Connecticut, indoor gatherings of more than 25 are prohibited, so Halloween parties are unlikely to be OK’d. Similarly, haunted houses are mostly indoors and some larger ones in the state hope to open, like Fright Haven Haunted House in Stratford.

"We certainly plan to be open, and we think it’s going to be an awesome Halloween season," reads an announcement on the Fright Haven website. "But, we want you to know that the health and safety of our guests and our staff are the number one consideration. We are working with state and local officials and monitoring the situation both locally and across the country and making our plans accordingly. We are also taking some steps to make sure we provide a safe environment for the scares this year."

Fright Haven said it was opening Saturday.

Other Halloween events may work as they are outdoors, like the Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven, which is holding its Haunted Isle 2020, dubbed "not your average walk in the woods ... a "lonely trolley will carry passengers down the tracks."

About trick-or-treating

If as the holiday approaches there is no guidance from state or municipal officials on trick-or-treating, Good Housekeeping advises that "risks associated with heading out in your neighborhood can be greatly reduced with some planning ahead of Halloween."

For starters, keep the group of trick-or-treaters limited to inside your "pandemic bubble," the magazine —and CDC community spread guidance — suggests.

And as masks are a given at Halloween, they may help to reduce virus spread.

Candy touching is another matter that through a cursory search has not been addressed by health officials.

Candy makers, costumes suppliers say, ‘Halloween is happening’

The National Confectioners Association said that in a Harris Poll it commissioned, 74 percent of millennial moms and young parents say that "Halloween is more important than ever this year," even as families need to "rethink their approach" and get more creative than ever before.

"The results of our research reveal a deeply rooted enthusiasm for Halloween, even if it means that people have to rethink their approach this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic," the association said in a statement.

Some candy makers though will not be producing iconic Halloween treats, like Peeps.

And Halloween retailers are hoping consumers will be celebrating as evidenced by the August opening of the world's largest specialty Halloween retailer, Spirit, as the pop-up stores are open across the state.

Nothing official yet on Halloween in Connecticut, but Massachusetts is another story

A cursory search online found few, if any, Connecticut cities or towns have canceled the holiday.

But in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts, they’re taking no chances.

"Unfortunately due to the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, door-to-door trick or treating will not be allowed this year for Halloween,” the city said in a news release, noting it was making this announcement as early as possible to give families and organizations proper time and notice to plan for these permitted Halloween events.

Correction: A previous version of the story quoted a DPH spokesman. Peter Yazbak is a spokesman for the state education department.

What’s your family’s plan for Halloween? Let us know in the comments section.