Halloween, a day devoted entirely to the spooky things that go bump in the night and the horrors that little children are taught to be afraid of. Children dressed as terrifying creatures flood their neighborhoods portraying an array of monsters from vampires to goblins, werewolves and more, but none of these beasts can compete with the horror that is COVID-19.

Trick-or-Treating is an age old tradition, dressing up as the very things that we ourselves are afraid of and of course, taking candy from strangers. This year, however, the holiday was put to the test, as many were concerned about sending their children out into the public just to grab some free candy. 

Others had another worry, did they really want to open their doors to the possibility of the virus, just to catch a glimpse at the happiness on a child’s face when given a chance at a free sugar high?

Sat. Oct. 31 the question was answered and it was a definite “yes.” The streets seemed busier than usual filled with a wide array of children wearing various different costumes, most of which incorporated a mask. 

Children of all ages scoured the streets to show off their costumes and fill their trick or treat bags to the brim, as parents hoped for the return to some normalcy. This year many parents were focused on giving their child a traditional Halloween and memories that will last them a lifetime.

Along with the swarm of children running around, there was also a large quantity of teenagers looking forward to escaping their houses to have a fun, memorable night with their friends.

To maintain social distancing, families were creative in how they handed out candy. A majority of people resorted to standing six feet away from bowls filled to the brim, while some came out adorned with gloves and a mask as well as sanitizer. There were, however, a few that threw caution to the wind and personally handed out candy with no mask or precautions.

The effects of COVID-19 also showed in the costumes. There were a fair share of Among Us characters, a game that became popular during the quarantine, as well as those dressed in hazmat suits, as doctors and as the infamous Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin.

In all, my expectations for this Halloween were different than the reality. Many people did in fact participate in the spooky tradition and as such we saw a glimpse of our normal, pandemic free world returning, at least for one night.

Contact Makinzy Todd at [email protected]