Acton Offers Tips For Safe Halloween Festivities

ACTON, MA — Halloween will look different this year, but Acton's Board of Health is offering tips to make sure residents are safe and lower the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19.

The board stressed that trick-or-treating events incorporate social distancing, masking, and proper handwashing, as well as adherence to event size limitations.

"The Board of Health decided that it would be beneficial to allow traditional trick or treating as long as safety protocols are followed and we would be looking for our residents to help reinforce these guidelines," the board said.

In lieu of traditional Halloween events, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a list of low risk activities:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house