Halloween is creeping around the corner! Sure, this year might look different than the pub crawls and costume parties of the past, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate. In fact, the holiday falls on a Saturday this year, which provides a full day of festivities!
To ensure a safe experience for everyone, follow these Halloween guidelines from the CDC, which includes ideas for low-risk, moderate-risk and high-risk activities (that should be avoided). The Halloween & Costume Association has also created a helpful tool for evaluating the current COVID risk level of each county in the country, and a list of appropriate activities for each. Both Larimer and Weld Counties are at a moderate (or yellow) risk level, which means there are ways to celebrate the holiday safely.
We’ve included a mix of local happenings and some ideas from the Halloween & Costume Association. Whether you’re comfortable venturing out or would prefer to stay home, there’s something for you on this list!
Go to the Frightmare Compound
While many haunted houses have shut their doors for 2020, there are a couple in the area swinging their doors wide open, inviting the brave to venture through their haunted halls. The Frightmare Compound in Westminster is an outdoor open-air attraction with a number of COVID-19 guidelines in place. After years of experience and honing, it has become one of the top-rated haunted houses in Colorado which means it’s not for the faint of heart (or for kids). You can see the schedule and buy your tickets online here.
Conquer the Fritzler Farm Scream Acres
Photo Courtesy of Fritzler Farm Scream Acres
Fritzler Farm Park is filled with fall fun during the day, but at night, it transforms into Scream Acres. Filled with visual and sound effects, monsters and chainsaw-wielding madmen, you’re guaranteed a scare in this haunted maze. Purchase your tickets if you’re ready to scream!
Make Your Way Through the Terror in the Corn
Similarly, this haunted corn maze is an innocent farm by day and a horror at night. Terror in the Corn is a 30-minute, three-part haunt in the corn fields at Anderson Farms in Erie. The tour begins on a wild hayride through the cornfield. Then, when you’re left in the middle of the field, you’ll have to make your way through it only to find yourself at the third and final stop: a haunted ghost town. Each part travels along a single trail, so you won’t get lost, but you will get scared! Buy your tickets ahead of time so you can reserve your day and time to reduce your time waiting in line. Click here for their COVID-19 policies.
…Or the Haunted Field of Screams
One hour south of Fort Collins, Colorado’s largest haunted attraction offers four terrifying haunted experiences at one location. Backing the famously haunted Riverdale Road in Thornton, the Haunted Field of Screams is a 40-acre cornfield serving up terrorizing attractions that prey on individual’s innermost fears. Learn all about the Riverdale Road, read up on their COVID-19 policies, then buy your tickets for a night of terror!
Take the Little Ones to Treatsylvania
Photo Courtesy of the City of Fort Collins
Each year, the community comes together at Treatsylvania — and this year is no different! Well, it’s a little different. They’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of Treatsylvania with a modified, COVID-friendly event, complete with a not-so-spooky barn, photo opportunities, a Halloween-themed maze, and trick-or-treating. Treatsylvania is taking place October 28–31 from 10 a.m. to noon with an additional celebration on Friday evening from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Learn more about the event and register here.
Sign Up For Painting and Pints at Maxline Brewing
Maxline Brewing is hosting a two-hour Painting and Pints event on the evening of Tuesday, October 20. Check in at 5:30, grab a free beer and follow step-by-step painting instruction to create your very own “Ghost Pumpkin.” Masks must be worn when painters are out of their seats and social distancing must be practiced at all times. Check out the Facebook event page for more information and get your tickets before the event is sold out!
Go Trick-or-Treating (Safely)
Don’t worry — many are still planning on trick-or-treating this year, and you can too! Just be sure to read the recommended guidelines for trick-or-treating if you plan on taking your kids out or you’re handing out candy at home. You can also take the Safe House Pledge, print it out, and hang it on your window or door, telling your neighbors your house is safe for trick-or-treaters!
You could even arrange a one-way outdoor trick-or-treating route with tables set up in a cul-de-sac or along the street, with no-contact candy pickup. Take it to the next level by creating a candy chute to transfer candy even more safely!
Host a Neighborhood Costume Parade (While Social Distancing!)
Participants can show-off their creativity while maintaining a safe distance during this outdoor activity!Get everyone dressed up in their finest costumes — including the kids, the pets, and even you — and host a costume parade in the neighborhood. You can create a panel of judges, who will determine who has the best overall costume, the spookiest costume, the most creative, and the best couple’s costumes!
…Or a Candy Parade
Or you could host a candy parade instead! This version has less judging and way more candy. It’s like a reverse parade; instead of the parade participants throwing out candy to those lining the streets, costumed kids will parade through the street and homeowners will carefully toss candy their way. Get the whole neighborhood involved ahead of time for a truly successful candy parade!
Create a Fairytale Forest
Transform a neighborhood park or wooded area into your very own fairytale forest, lighting it up with lights, glow sticks or other magical light features. Add in Halloween decor, props, candy and other surprises along the way! Mark the trail with arrows and signs to create a one-way path and enforce social distance guidelines.
Have a Face Mask Decorating Party
Face masks have become the latest fashion accessory of 2020, so it’s only right to make sure yours stand apart from the rest. Host a small face mask decorating party for your family, where you embellish and personalize some fall-themed masks to wear throughout the season. Gather supplies, like fabric, pens or plain masks you can draw on, and create your very own DIY face masks.
Happy Halloween!
We wish you a fun, safe and oh-so-spooky Halloween! How are you celebrating the holiday this year? We’re dying to know…
Comments