Chicago plans a week full of trick-or-treating and city-sponsored Halloween activities to safely celebrate the popular holiday during the pandemic, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday.
Lightfoot appeared in costume to make the announcement, handing out candy to some children in attendance.
The celebration City Hall calls “Halloweek” will begin Monday, Oct. 26.
Trick-or-treating can start then and continue through Halloween, which falls on a Saturday this year.
Groups going door-to-door are asked to keep moving and keep it small — to six people or less.
“Kids can trick-or-treat all week and blocks and wards can determine what works best for them,” a top mayoral aide said.
Costumed kids and adults who accompany them are required to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth beneath any Halloween mask.
Homes welcoming trick-or-treaters are asked to leave a light on or hang a Halloween sign in their windows to let the ghouls and goblins know they’re handing out candy safely.
Anyone handing out candy also must wear a mask. They’re advised to provide hand sanitizer and maintain six feet of social distance, “perhaps by using a tube or pipe to drop candy into the bags of trick-or-treaters from a distance.”
House parties — no matter the size — are strictly prohibited. So are traditional haunted houses.
City Hall and the Chicago Park District plan to fill the pandemic-induced void in a holiday that is as popular with adults as it is with kids with a week full of city-sponsored activities. They include:
• “Halloweek on the Block,” featuring “surprise pop-ups on residential streets.” The weeklong program is co-sponsored by Xfinity, the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.
• Halloween-themed virtual and in-person programs throughout the week at Park District facilities and public libraries.
• 10,000 bags filled with candy and other treats distributed throughout the week by Blommer Chocolate Company. Some bags will include “golden tickets” that can be redeemed for a 10-lb. bar of Blommer’s chocolate.
Los Angeles County has banned trick-or-treating this Halloween, but Lightfoot was not about to do the same. She loves the holiday and knows it is an “important moment for many, including the kids in my neighborhood” of Logan Square.
But the mayor has said she’s determined to avoid “mass crowds trick-or-treating like have in years past.”
“This year more than ever, it is important to celebrate Halloween safely and responsibly,” the mayor was quoted as saying in a press release.
“With these guidelines, we are making sure that children and adults [who] want to enjoy Halloween can do so without putting themselves or their community at risk.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21927692/Lightfoot_Arwady_costumes_lectern.jpg)
Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady urged Chicagoans to “use their creativity and imagination — not just on costumes and decorations,” but in conjuring up ways to “safely celebrate.”
“Maintain social distancing. Keep to small groups. And consider celebrating throughout the week to minimize congregation,” Arwady was quoted as saying.
Chicago’s positivity rate now stands at 4.3%. Relaxed restrictions on bars, restaurants and gyms took effect Thursday.
“We’ve made some good progress in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in recent weeks, but don’t want to see that reversed, especially with cold weather coming and people spending more time indoors,” Arwady said.
Starting Oct. 18, Chicagoans can download a “Halloweek toolkit” filled with “safety messaging and signage” signaling their participation in the week of events.
The National Confectioners Association is doing its part to drum up excitement for Halloween, the busiest time of the year for candy makers.
The group released a survey showing sales of Halloween chocolate and other candy for the four weeks ending Sept. 6 was up 13% compared to the same period in 2019. The sale of Halloween chocolate alone rose 25.3%.
Two-thirds of those surveyed planned to participate in trick-or-treating this Halloween — either by handing out candy or taking their children door-to-door.
The candy makers also claim a mounting sense of optimism about finding safe and creative ways to celebrate Halloween, even during the pandemic — from 63% in July to 80% as of Thursday.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21927735/Lightfoot_handing_out_candy.jpg)
