The CDC Halloween guidelines are definitely worth checking out!

Many parents may be wondering what the deal is with Halloween this year. At the start of the year, it looked like it would be an epic October 31: Halloween falls on a Saturday, and there’s even a Blue Moon scheduled to appear. We have all the makings for a perfect spooky night, but in true 2020 fashion, there might not be a Halloween at all. 

Towns across the country have canceled trick-or-treating due to the risk of spreading COVID-19, and even though Halloween is already a socially distanced holiday and takes place outside for the most part, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released some guidelines for best practices for staying safe. Unfortunately, it qualifies traditional trick-or-treating as a “high-risk activity” along with hayrides, costume parties, and haunted houses. Total bummer! But don’t worry, there are plenty of things families can do to ensure a great time is had by all your little ghouls and goblins.

Low-risk activities include many things that you were probably going to do anyway, but now you can really double down on the fun. Carving pumpkins, decorating your house, having a trick-or-treating scavenger hunt, a Halloween movie marathon, and a virtual costume party are all enjoyable ways to celebrate Halloween safely. (We’ve also compiled a list of simple Halloween crafts the whole family can have fun with, if you need some more ideas.)

RELATED: These Halloween Crafts Are Easy and Fun for the Whole Family

If you’re planning to hit the town, be sure to mask up with a festive Halloween face mask, or even consider a costume that makes it easier to socially distance. The website Halloween2020.org provides an up-to-date list of the country’s COVID-19 risks and suggestions for fun activities based on your county’s risk level. For instance, if you live in an Orange Zone, you are at a higher risk, so it’s best to celebrate safely at home. If you live in a Green Zone, you can take part in some socially-distanced Halloween activities outside. 

However you choose to celebrate the spooky season this year, it’s best to be safe, and we found some great activities, games, and costumes that are CDC-approved for Halloween merriment. Check them out below.