As the threat of COVID-19 lingers, families will continue to consider safer ways to celebrate holidays, including Halloween.

Those who have been vaccinated may feel comfortable with limited trick or treat outings, perhaps to the doors of family or friends who are vaccinated.

But there are several other ideas to safely make this occasion special:

• Decorate your home for Halloween.
• Carve pumpkins with members of your household or outside with neighbors or friends using separate tools/equipment.
• Walk from house to house, admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.
• Visit an orchard or forest.
• Set up an outdoor Halloween-themed scavenger hunt with your household members.
• Hide Halloween treats in and around your house. Hold a Halloween treat hunt with household members.
• Hold an outdoor costume parade or contest in your neighborhood so everyone can show off their costumes while remaining socially distanced.
• Host an outdoor Halloween movie night with friends or neighbors, or an indoor movie night with your household members.

The Washington Department of Health also offers fun alternatives to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating.

If you will be hosting a celebration, follow CDC tips for hosting gatherings and our local state/county recommendations.