Local health officials are discouraging traditional, door-to-door trick or treating — but parents are still looking for ways to make Halloween fun and exciting for their kids.
On Facebook neighborhood groups, Nextdoor and other platforms, parents are asking each other for ideas from tossing candy out of cars to buying a pinata.
Here are some other ideas from parents on alternative activities:
- Leave a bowl of candy (and hand sanitizer) at the end of your driveway, and wave at trick-or-treaters from your front door.
- Set up a piñata for your children in your own yard.
- Set up a haunted house for your children at home. They can still dress up and be scared in a fun way.
- Create a candy scavenger hunt inside your home (or outside if you have room).
- Scary movies, ghost stories and more can make the night fun, too. Get out the popcorn, Halloween candy and blankets and find some classics on Netflix.
Local Halloween Events
While Alexandria police are not planning to close down Lee Street for the annual Halloween party, there are lots of activities Halloween weekend. Here are a few:
- The Alexandria Drive-In features Casper and The Mummy. Get tickets here.
- Carlyle House is hosting a T-Rex costume party and more.
- Carlyle Valley Initiative is hosting fun activities, too.
- Trick or treating at Mount Vernon is on!
- The Del Ray Scavenger Hunt continues.
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More Alternative Ideas for Halloween Night
Virtual “trick or treating” – Dress up, have a costume contest, play games, host a dance party, and make spooky treats virtually with your friends via Zoom or FaceTime.
Halloween trunk or treat parade – Coordinate with your neighbors to have the kids dress up and sit in their front lawns while adults drive by and throw candy.
Yard decoration contest – Organize with your neighbors and compete and vote on who has the scariest house. Families can dress up for the theme and wave to those that drive by to enjoy.
Spooky scavenger hunt – Hide Halloween-themed items in the yard for the family or come up with a hunt all over town to various “haunted” spots to get info that leads to a big candy finish (maybe even a pinata!)
Virus-themed costumes – We expect to see lots of coronavirus-related costumes this year, among kids and adults. Here are some fun ones to consider.
Online haunted house walkthrough – Who needs to visit haunted houses when you can experience one from the comfort of your home? Turn off the lights and turn up the volume to have a spooky watching party via a YouTube walkthrough like this one from Universal Studios.
