Alternatives Planned For Halloween On The Green, Parade In Vienna

VIENNA, VA — The Town of Vienna is planning to hold alternatives for its annual Halloween events. Halloween on the Green, an event for children, has been cancelled, while the Vienna Halloween Parade will carry on in a different format due to the pandemic.

According to the town, the 74th annual parade will go through Vienna neighborhoods as a "wave parade" on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to noon. About 10 to 15 floats will participate, and all four quadrants of Vienna will be covered in the route. A specific route will be shared on Oct. 29 at viennava.gov/halloween.

Residents will be invited to watch the parade along the route while practicing social distancing and wearing masks. Spectators should avoid standing in the street or sitting on curbs to view the parade. Halloween costumes are encouraged.

Halloween on the Green is canceled, but the town will offer a to-go box similar to the one offered for Fourth of July. The Halloween in a Bag will provide crafts and toys, ideas for Halloween fun, recipes, and candy for children. It will include supplies for two children: a pumpkin decorating kit, Halloween candy and treats, spooky crafts, recipes and activities, vampire teeth and an assortment of Halloween fun, and more to be announced.

Bags are $20 and will be available for purchase on Sept. 1 for Town of Vienna residents and Sept. 8 for non-residents. They can be bought on Vienna's online registration system using Activity # 610704-A1. Bags will be available for pickups with time slots in mid-October.

Trick-or-treat typically happens on Halloween, and residents may be wondering if it will be allowed during the pandemic. In response to a question on Facebook about trick-or-treat, the town said it is seeking guidance from the Fairfax County Health Department. While the decision of trick-of-treat is left up to individuals, the town will share health department recommendations.

The town previously announced the cancellation of events through Oct. 3, including the annual Oktoberfest. The Vienna Business Association is promoting an alternative Distanz Oktoberfest, where businesses can hold German-themed events and promotions at their own locations. Additional details will be announced at viennaoktoberfest.org.