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OCT. 28, 2020

Guide to Halloween During COVID-19

Halloween typically represents a time of fun and excitement for children and adults alike, but this season will be different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, the more closely people interact with each other and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.

While Halloween is not an official holiday, and is not regulated by the County, Arlington is asking everyone to continue to practice the behaviors we know slow the spread of COVID-19: avoid close contact with people not in your household, wear a mask and practice social distancing and frequent and proper hand washing. This may mean choosing not to participate in Halloween this year.

If you may have COVID-19, may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or are showing any COVID-19 symptoms, you should not participate in trick-or-treating or any other in-person Halloween or Día de los Muertos festivities.

Events that involve large gatherings of individuals (e.g. large Halloween parties, haunted houses, etc.) can increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and are not recommended.

Read the information in the links below to make the best decision for you and your family about choosing how to participate this year:

• Guide to Halloween 2020 in Arlington County
• Avoid Large Crowds on Halloween
• Guidance for a Safer Halloween During COVID-19

Safer Halloween Celebrations with Arlington

• Get your skate on while listening to spooky music: Join a Halloween-themed Outdoor Skate at the I-66 parking garage on Oct. 31. Participants must bring their own skates and wear a mask. Family-friendly: 2-3 p.m.; 3:15-4:15 p.m.; Tweens & Teens: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Halloween-themed Rec on Wheels: Make spooky luminaries and enter a Fun House obstacle course for a scary fun scavenger hunt. All ages welcome but geared toward ages 2-10. Multiple times and locations, Oct. 26-29 — visit Parks & Rec for more info.
• Monsters of the Natural World (Virtual; Ages 16+): Explore real-life zombies, vampires, and other “monsters” of the natural world in celebration of Halloween.
• Focus the Fox Explores the Courthouse Neighborhood: In the short, self-guided story walk, early elementary-age children and an adult can join Focus the Fox and his cousin Clara as they explore the Courthouse neighborhood on Halloween. 

Arlington County Halloween Mask Contest Want to celebrate Halloween in a safe way? Join Arlington’s Mask Contest! To participate, take a photo of your best COVID-safe Halloween mask and tag Arlington on social media: @Arlingtonva on Twitter  facebook.com/ArlingtonVA @arlingtoncountyva on Instagram

COVID-19 News & Notes

• Join Friday's Town Hall at 12:30 p.m. for an in-depth understanding about the science, trends, and strategies for COVID-19 from the County's Public Health Director

• Rebuild VA, a grant program to help small businesses and nonprofits affected by COVID-19, is expanding eligibility and increasing the amount of money businesses receive

• Check out this great "Little Free Pantry" built by Charlie from Boy Scout Troop 106 for his Eagle Scout project
• 6 Things to Know Before Voting in 2020
• Superintendent’s Oct. 27 Return-to-School Update: APS to provide in-person learning support for Level 1 students with disabilities beginning Nov. 4
• WATCH: The importance of contact tracing
• See the winners of Library's 2020 Pumpkin Decorating Contest
• $22 million in CARES Act funding will be used to create a statewide program to distribute COVID-19 vaccines

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Questions about COVID-19? Call the County's public information line at

703-228-7999, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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