CLEVELAND — Although a pandemic may be raging, communities across Northeast Ohio aren't planning on letting that stop them from continuing the fall tradition of trick-or-treating.
The CDC lists trick-or-treat as a high-risk Halloween event and recommended that cities set up guidelines including one-way trick-or-treating and social distancing.
RELATED: CDC issues COVID-19 guidelines for Halloween, classifies trick-or-treating as 'high risk'
The Ohio Department of Health released a complete guide for celebrating Halloween responsibly, which included the trick-or-treat-related guidance below.
General guidance:
- It is strongly recommended that Ohioans exercise caution when deciding to participate in trick-or-treating and other events that put them in close contact with people outside their households. According to the CDC, traditional trick-or-treating, with treats handed to children who go door-to-door, is a high-risk activity and should be avoided.
- Always wear a face covering and stay 6 feet away from people who are not from your household, whether trick-or-treating, passing out treats, or attending attractions or events.
- Face coverings should never be placed on children younger than 2 or anyone who cannot easily remove them.
- A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
- Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
- If you may have COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.
- Carry hand sanitizer and use it often, especially after coming into contact with frequently touched surfaces and before eating candy.
For parents and guardians:
- If taking your children trick-or-treating, limit the number of houses you visit and ask your children to stay as far from treat-givers as possible. For small children, consider holding the bag for them.
- Wipe off candy wrappers with sanitizing wipes when you arrive home. (NOTE: Never wipe unpackaged food with wipes.)
- Allow children to eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid homemade treats made by strangers.
- If your child is at greater risk of complications from COVID-19, contact your doctor before allowing participation in Halloween activities.
For community members:
- For trick-or-treating, reach out to neighbors to discuss ways to ensure 6-foot social distancing, how candy can most safely be distributed, and the need for face coverings. •
- Refrain from having children select their own treats from a bowl/common container or set up a hand-sanitizing station. •
- Consider lining up individually wrapped goodie bags on porch steps, a table in the driveway, or the edge of the driveway or yard with a sign asking children to take only one. Or use other creative ways to distribute treats, such as using a candy “slide” made of PVC pipe, or hanging treats from a wall or fence.
- If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
All that being said, if you do choose to go trick-or-treating this year, these are the dates and times for trick-or-treating across the area:
Akron: Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Alliance: Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Ashland: Oct. 31 from 6-7 p.m.
Atwater Township: Oct. 25 from 2-4 p.m.
Auburn: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Aurora: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Avon: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Avon Lake: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Barberton: Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Bay Village: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Beachwood: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Bellville: Oct. 29 from 5-6:30 p.m.
Brecksville: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Brimfield: Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Brunswick: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Canton Township: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Chardon: Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Cleveland: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Cleveland Heights: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Coventry Township: Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.
Cuyahoga Falls: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Cuyahoga Heights: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Eastlake: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Euclid: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Fairview Park: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Garfield Heights: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Glenwillow: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Green: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Hartville: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Hudson: Oct. 31 from 6-8 pm.
Huron: Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Jackson Township: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Kirtland: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
LaGrange: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Lake Township: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Lakewood: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Louisville: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Macedonia: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Maple Heights: Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m.
Massillon: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Medina: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Mentor: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Mentor-on-the-Lake: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Middlefield: Oct. 31 from 5:30-7 p.m.
Minerva: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Mogadore: Oct. 31 from 5:30-7 p.m.
Navarre: Oct. 29 from 6-7:30 p.m.
New Philadelphia: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
North Canton: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
North Olmsted: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
North Ridgeville: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
North Royalton: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Norton: Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Norwalk: Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m.
Oberlin: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Olmsted Falls: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Painesville: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Parma: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Perry Township: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Plain Township: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.
Port Clinton: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. POSTPONED until Nov. 7 due to Ottawa County's red status
Richmond Heights: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Rocky River: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Sagamore Hills: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Sandusky: Oct. 31 from 5-7:30 p.m.
Sheffield Township: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Sheffield Village: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Solon: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Strongsville: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Tallmadge: Oct. 29 from 6-8 p.m.
Tuscarawas Township: Oct. 31 from 5:30-7 p.m.
Vermilion: Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
Wadsworth: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Wellington: Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Westlake: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Wickliffe: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Willoughby: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
Willoughby Hills: Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
If your city is missing from this list, email courtney.shaw@wews.com with the information.
