Waterbury preps for COVID-safe Halloween celebrations
October 29, 2020 | By Lisa Scagliotti
In Tuesday’s press briefing on COVID-19, Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said that if Halloween and other upcoming holidays don’t look different this year than usual, we’re probably doing them wrong.
“I am fully in favor of trick-or-treating,” Vermont’s top public health official said before channelling his inner Dr. Seuss: “Six-foot spaces. Masks on faces. Avoid crowded places,” he said.
For both adults and kids heading out, remember masks, Levine said, “the ones that you wear to the store,” adding that with a little creativity, parents can make kids’ everyday masks “a fun part of their costume.”
So far, Halloween events are coming together in the next couple of days and they definitely are looking different.
Passersby on Main Street may have noticed entries in the Waterbury Recreation Department’s Scarecrows on Main contest. From Maxi’s to Rusty Parker Park, there are contest entries, each with a number to be used to vote for favorites.
The contest is a twist for this year to invite community members to get into the Halloween spirit without planning a gathering.
Details for the contest are on the department’s website including a form to vote for favorites in the categories of most scary, best-dressed, and best use of recycled materials. Winners will receive a $50 gift card to Waterbury Village Market.
Recreation Director Nick Nadeau said there’s still time to add entries with winners in the voting to be announced on Saturday. The department’s Facebook page will also be updated with photos of the entries as a guide for voting. Anyone in the community may vote, Nadeau said.
Several events are planned, mosty for Friday, all outside with requests for participants to wear masks and keep distance from others not in their immediate group.
Nadeau offered suggestions for residents to do small events at home or with close friends and neighbors outside such as scavenger hunts or pumpkin carving.
He suggests that households not wanting trick-or-treaters to turn off porch lights. And for those who do go out, to take appropriate precautions as Dr. Levine explained: wearing masks and being mindful of keeping groups small and observing at least six feet distance between groups from different households.
Sounding like a seasoned Halloween chaperone himself, Levine suggested groups avoid streets busy with other trick-or-treaters and that by spreading out in neighborhoods, kids might “get a better haul.”
For those who might want to welcome visiting ghosts and goblins safely, Levine shared an example from his own neighborhood where he said residents are discussing setting up a table at their house where they could put candy for children to pick up.
“The table reduces contact, helps keep people apart,” Levine said. “But all the usual camaraderie and observations of the kids’ costumes can occur still without having a very close face-to-face transaction”
Here is a rundown of a handful of Halloween events happening mostly on Saturday:
Scarecrows on Main
Time’s running out to get entries set up for voting but it’s still possible through Friday. See the Waterbury Recreation Department website for details. Everyone may vote using the online form on the site. Photos should be posted on Waterbury Recreation’s Facebook page to help with choices. .
Trunk or Treat
The folks at E&S Transport are hosting a free Trunk or Treat event Saturday, 2-5 p.m. in the lower parking lot at the Cabot Annex on Route 100 (located behind E&S at 2731 Waterbury-Stowe Road).
This is open to all ages. There will be vehicles parked around the parking lot decorated and with goodies to hand out. Trick-or-treaters can walk a loop to collect treats at each stop.
Jessica Dickinson at the towing and U-Haul operation said masks will be required and participants will be asked to keep distance between groups. “Slime stations (hand sanitizer) will be available throughout the area,” she added.
Anyone with questions or wishing to participate with a vehicle, should email estransportvt5@gmail.com.
Trick-or-Treat with Waterbury Fire Department
The Waterbury Fire Department is still planning to welcome trick-or-treaters this year from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at both of its fire stations – Main Street downtown and Maple Street in Waterbury Center.
The setup will be modified this year, however, to allow ghosts and goblins a quick visit with firefighters to pick up a treat. There won’t be hot dogs so trick-or-treaters and grownups with them are asked to come wearing a mask and they can keep them on. Department members wearing gloves and masks will hand out candy and glow necklaces.
Battalion Chief Sally Dillon said each spot will have a path marked out with cones for visitors to follow keeping space between groups. The stations will not be open for children to check out the fire trucks.
Randall, Elm Streets and Park Row
Neighbors in Waterbury Village’s most popular trick-or-treat neighborhood have debated their plans for this year and they decided against their usual invitation to the community to visit door-to-door. With town officials opting not to close the streets, the neighborhood will be “mostly lights-out,” according to resident Jeremy Ayers who passed along information.
“This was a very hard decision for us to make, but we just don’t feel that we can invite many kids and their parents to our neighborhood given the state of the pandemic,” he said.
The Children’s Room
A special note from The Children’s Room: Friday afternoon’s scavenger hunt on Stowe Street has been called off, according to Coordinator Naomi Alfini. Also, registration is full for Friday morning’s Little Outdoor Halloween Party at the Waterbury Public Library.
Alfini did pass along details about two virtual events with Musical Munchkins on Zoom on Friday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. These are geared for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners featuring Halloween songs, puppets, storytelling, movement and dance. Participants are encouraged to attend in costume and with an instrument they have at home. Details online at musicalmunchkins.net.
Other resources:
Halloween guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween
From the Vermont Department of Health: healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19