Boo! Halloween Considerations:
Halloween is just around the corner. It can be an exciting time for many young ghouls and goblins in our community. The Town of Jackson would like to pass along some information regarding Halloween this year. Be safe out there!
The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce recently announced that the annual "Trick or Treat on Town Square" has been cancelled this year for community safety. Below is their press release:
In keeping with CDC recommendations and community guidelines, The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce has officially called off the traditional Trick-or-Treat on Town Square, originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 31.
"It’s always a difficult decision to cancel events that our community has come to expect and love, but it’s much more important that we do our part in keeping our community safe,'"says Director of Events, Britney Magleby.
The decision comes after recent announcements from St. John’s and Public Health that Jackson has returned to “red” stages of the pandemic and strong recommendations that everyone do their part to limit the spread of the disease.
“We continue to look for ways to engage our community while encouraging everyone to play a role community safety,'"Magleby continues.
The Chamber will be safely donating Halloween candy to local elementary schools who will be celebrating the holiday individually in accordance with existing safety operations. Businesses wanting to be involved can also choose to donate candy or money directly to the Teton County Education Foundation. For more information, contact britney@jacksonholechamber.com.
The ever-popular costume contest will keep tradition and competition alive! The Chamber will encourage costume photo submissions via social media and will pick winners on Monday, November 1. The competition will be more encompassing, and the prizes more sought-after, than ever before! Follow “jhchamber” on Instagram for more information to come.
Contact Communications Manager, Andi Gollwitzer, at andi@jacksonholechamber.com with additional questions.
The CDC has issued recommendations for Halloween Activities:
"Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you 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.
These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:
• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
o If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
o A costume mask (such as for Halloween) 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.
o 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.
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
o If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart
o If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
o Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.
Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:
• Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
• Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
• Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
If you do choose to go out on Halloween, the Jackson Police Department would like to remind all members of the community about the following:
o Motorists should be overly cautious. Children sometimes forget to watch for cars and might dart out of the darkness or from between cars into the roadway.
o Parents should strongly consider accompanying children if they are trick or treating.
o Parents should inspect all candy before their children eat it and not allow them to eat any home made items or any candy that is not in it’s original packaging.
o Parents should dress their children appropriately for the weather. Temperatures that night are usually well below freezing.
o Children should wear costumes with reflective material and carry a light or glow stick to increase visibility.
o Children should never enter into a residence or get into a vehicle without their parent’s permission.
Our pets are not to be forgotten on Halloween either. The Jackson/ Teton County Animal Shelter reminds everyone that animals don’t have any idea what Halloween is all about.
How are they going to react when noisy, costumed children come running up to your door? The Shelter reminds you to play it safe:
o Keep your animals in a secure location where you don’t have to worry about them being scared, or dashing out the door, or feeling the need to protect you from witches and devils.
o Make sure that they can’t get into the treats you’ll be providing; your pets shouldn't ingest sugar, and chocolate in particular can be very harmful.