The City of Bloomington will not set official trick-or-treating times for Halloween 2020 but will also not ban festivities, according to an email from the mayor’s office.
Communications Director Yael Ksander said in an email the City of Bloomington will defer to the Monroe County Health Department, which advises following Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when celebrating Halloween.
“Since the City supports CDC guidelines that advise against traditional trick-or-treating because it is considered a high-risk activity, the City will not set official trick or treating times as in past years,” Ksander said.
Ksander said it is up to residents to implement activities if they choose to participate.
READ MORE: Halloween Can Be Safe With Precautions
The CDC lists on its website low-risk and moderate-risk activities, which include virtual costume parties (low risk) and one-way trick-or-treating (moderate risk). The latter involves community members placing goodie bags at the edge of their yard or driveway for families to grab and go while maintaining social distancing. The CDC considers this safer than traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating and trunk-or-treating.
The CDC recommends other low-risk activities like carving pumpkins or having a Halloween movie night with your household. Instead of trick-or-treating, families may choose to plan a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat with their household members in and around the house.
Ksander said for those who do go out trick-or-treating COVID-mitigating masks are required if individuals cannot maintain six feet of physical distancing. Indoor private gatherings within city limits are still limited to 15 people.
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