By Rick Palsgrove
Managing Editor
Trick-or-treat will take place in Canal Winchester, but other familiar Halloween festivities will not due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
According to Mayor Mike Ebert, trick-or-treat will be held Thursday, Oct. 29 from 5:30- 7:30 p.m.
“As always, make sure you are going to homes of people you know, and for this year maybe not go to as many homes as you normally would,” said Ebert. “Trick-or-treaters should wear a mask and keep a safe distance of six feet or more from others.”
State guidelines/recommendations
The Ohio Department of Health issued guidelines and recommendations regarding Halloween festivities this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which include: cancelling or avoiding hayrides and haunted houses; not holding large Halloween parties; wearing protective face masks and practicing social distancing of at least six feet; using hand sanitizer often; avoid activities like bobbing for apples; and select outdoor events or those that allow staying in your vehicle.
The Ohio Department of Health also recommends people be cautious regarding trick-or-treating. It suggests holding drive through trick-or-treating events, holding drive by costume contests, leaving treats for friends and neighbors, decorating your home and hiding treats for your kids, and holding costume contests and pumpkin carry-offs virtually online.
If trick-or-treating door-to-door the department states parents should limit the number of houses visited, wiping off candy wrappers with sanitizer when you arrive home, allow kids to only eat factory wrapped treats and avoid homemade treats by strangers, and if your child is at greater risk for COVID contact your doctor before participating in Halloween activities. Community members could consider leaving treats on doorsteps or on an outside table.
Precautions: wear a mask if near others, carry hand sanitizer for use during trick-or-treating, limit the number of people in a group, limit those in a group to family members, those passing out candy should wear a mask.
For the full list of guidelines pertaining to Halloween, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/celebrating-halloween.pdf.
Cancelled Canal Winchester Halloween events
•According to Larry Flowers of the Canal Winchester Area Historical Society, the traditional Historic Ghost Tour will not be held this year because of the pandemic. Plans are for it to return in October 2021.
The popular Historic Ghost Tour features historic Canal Winchester locations with costumed historical characters who depict people from the town’s past.
•The annual VFW 10523 Halloween Community Party will not be held this year. The event is normally held at the Community Center, located at 22 S. Trine St., but the center has been closed for social gatherings since March because of the pandemic.
Ebert met with a representative of VFW 10523 and said, “There doesn’t appear at this time to be much hope for the party. The party normally brings in 50 to 75 kids plus their parents in a normal year. If we were to get that many, we would be required to turn away about half of the kids. Turning them away would be a very bad feeling for the us, the kids and their parents.”
Running Scared 5K will be virtual
The fourth annual Running Scared 5K will be virtual online this year. Run a 5K between Oct. 23 and Oct. 31 then share the results with race organizers.
The Halloween inspired race, sponsored by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, traditionally features runners who wear a variety of creative Halloween costumes.
Visit runningscared5k.com for information on the race.
