The Town of Normal and City of Bloomington said Thursday that families are discouraged from door-to-door trick-or-treating this year because of COVID-19. But local officials also offered guidance if families choose to do it anyway.
“We strongly recommend families social distance and choose alternative ways to celebrate Halloween this year,” Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner said in a statement. “We recognize some families are going to participate and we want them to do this as safely as possible.”
The city and town released a full list of safety tips, including:
- Mask up. Halloween masks are not a substitute for cloth masks.
- Avoid close contact with others by leaving candy on your porch, or socially distanced on lawns or walkways.
- Trick or treat as a household; do not go in large groups.
- Do NOT distribute homemade treats or fresh fruit.
For those choosing to celebrate in person, the trick-or-treat hours will be 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
“We urge the public to follow all safety guidelines and, if choosing to trick-or-treat, obey the established hours and be respectful of each other,” said interim Bloomington Police Chief Greg Scott.
Residents who do not wish to participate can put a “No Trick-or-Treat” sign on front doors to alert families not to knock or ring the doorbell.
The Illinois Department of Public Health released its Halloween guidelines on Wednesday.
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