Kids Will Trick-Or-Treat, But With Masks: Georgia Patch Survey

GEORGIA — The verdict is in. Despite guidance from the CDC to avoid trick-or-treating — which health officials have described as "high risk" during the coronavirus pandemic — most of the more than 660 parents who weighed in on Patch's informal survey said their kids will trick-or-treat this Halloween.

But while 51.5 percent of those who responded said their kids will trick-or-treat, another 33.8 percent said they won't be sending their kids door-to-door on Halloween, and another 14.7 percent said they aren't sure yet.

Parents overwhelmingly said their kids will wear a mask — and not the costume kind — while trick-or-treating, even though there isn't a mask mandate in Georgia. More than 53.9 percent said their kids will wear a mask while another 35.3 percent said they won't.

Despite appearing to be in favor of trick-or-treating, parents were split about the practice during coronavirus. More than 37.5 percent said they are "very concerned" about allowing kids to go door-to-door during the pandemic, compared to 35.5 percent who said they are not concerned at all. Another 27 percent said they are slightly concerned.

More than 52 percent of the thousands of respondents said they plan to pass out candy on Halloween, while 33.6 percent said they won't. Another 13.5 percent said they're not sure yet.

Most of those who responded — nearly 52 percent — said the coronavirus will not change the way their family celebrates Halloween, but 42.3 percent said it will. Another 5.9 percent said they don't celebrate Halloween.

With the CDC suggesting alternative celebrations this Halloween, here are some of the ways Georgia Patch readers said they plan to mark the holiday this year:

• Halloween movies at HOME with immediate family only
• Instead of pass out candy, I will probably have goody bags for the kids, so they will only need to take yours. But no corn maze or hay rides this year
• We are going to celebrate just with immediate family.
• I am builidng a candy shoot so we can give out candy at a healthy distance. Kids will not have to knock on the door to get candy. We have also cancelled our annual Halloween Party.
• Backyard. Scavenger hunt.
• Standing or hanging out in our yard, lining up treats on a table for kids to walk by and grab themselves.
• I bought a 10' long 4 inch PVC tube and a right angle end joint and I'm going to paint it black, with luminous green and dripping red blood, and use it as a candy chute down the front steps. I always have indivually wrapped candy, so given a steep enough angle, this should be great fun.
• Church trunk n treat
• Yes, but only because I think the houses that will be passing out candy are going to be a lot less than previous years. We're doing a fun Halloween party with family and close friends.
• We’ll wear masks as we Walk. We’ll leave a bowl of candy on the porch with a sign to take one piece of candy.
• Treats in home, wearing costumes.
• We will, of course, wash and sanitize our hands more often.
• Wear a mask when passing out candy. Parents, let candy sit for a day or two before letting them have the Candy.
• Wear mask and I will spray the candy lightly with Lysol before they touch it again. Also carry hand sanitizer with us as we go.
• We will enjoy our halloween as we do Christmas...enjoy outside decorations of the neighborhood, but celebrate inside the house.
• Passing out candy outside with a mask on, yard decorated as usual. Will put out another table to leave candy on for distancing.
• If too few hand out candy we will hide mini pumpkins full of candy, like eggs on Easter. We will also do pumpkin patch and other outdoor activities on slow, weekdays to avoid crowds.
• Outdoor Corn Maze
• Costumed dancing at home.
• Watch halloween movies with friends, small group, instead of having large halloween party.
• We will stand outside wearing masks and gloves to hand out full sized candy bars. Our children are grown.
• We are going to do a drive by trick or treat at our church
• Possibly planning a pumpkin decorating contest - virtual event for our elementary school
• I’m organizing a subdivision parade where candy is placed in bowls by mailboxes the afternoon of Halloween
• We are driving our kids around to see Halloween decorations then treating them to candy at home.
• My kids will visit each other's rooms in the house to trick or treat.
• my children understand and are ok with giving up a year of trick or treating to be safe.
• We will be pre-packaging candy with a “stand here” sticker and a long, creepy arm (basic reach tool in costume) to “hand” out candy at a distance.

Others responded saying they won't change a thing this year, including one respondent who said they will be "celebrating as usual. Let these kids be kids in the midst of the craziness in this world." Another said they "find trick-or-treating easy for social distancing. Better than parties or trunk or treats. It's the best option for my family."

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