While there is no word on the cancellation of Halloween in Florida, it will definitely look different. “No one can really cancel Halloween, but authorities can eliminate certain activities,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s leading independent homeowners insurance agency.
Many Florida HOA’s are considering cancelling trick-or-treating, with no official decisions yet. Some area theme parks have already moved to abandon their Halloween events. Disney World and Universal will not hold their annual celebrations, however Sea World’s Halloween Spooktacular is already underway.
According to a Harris Poll survey, 63 percent of adults plan to find creative, fun and safe ways to celebrate the Halloween season. Three out of four people surveyed said they had no plans to take their kids door-to-door for candy. Only 27 percent of the 1,790 adults polled said they anticipate seeing kids trick-or-treat on October 31.
“When it comes to trick-or-treating, you may be wondering, ‘is it worth the risk?’” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s top independent homeowners insurance agency.
Members of Congress were curious about fall festivities as well and asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to come out with their recommendations on the safest way to celebrate Halloween.
The CDC guidelines split activities into risk levels for guidance.
Low Risk
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household
- 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 walk outdoors 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
Moderate Risk
- Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
- Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
- Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest, if screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
- Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
- Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
- Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest, if screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
Higher risk
- Participating in traditional door-to-door, trick-or-treating
- Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
- Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
- Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
- Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
- Traveling to a fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19
The CDC makes it clear these are supplemental not to take the place of any state or local health and safety laws, rules and regulations for Halloween celebrations.
However you decide to spend your Halloween, stay safe.
GreatFlorida Insurance is committed to protecting you and your belongings from spooky incidents this Halloween. Contact us for all your homeowner insurance needs.
