Carmel issues Halloween 2020 guidance in light of COVID-19

September 2020

Halloween and the tradition of trick-or-treating will be permitted to take place on Saturday, October 31 with the suggested hours between 5-8 p.m. in the City of Carmel. To ensure the health and safety of residents, the City of Carmel is issuing the following guidance.

While the City of Carmel does not control how its residents celebrate Halloween or the trick-or-treat tradition that goes along with it, we would like to recommend that parents, children and homeowners take extra precautions this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is recommended that all trick-or-treaters and their chaperones wear a mask if they are not able to maintain safe physical distancing. Please have your mask on when you approach a door. And only approach houses where the porch lights are on, indicating a home that is handing out treats.

Homeowners, if you are sick or are hesitant to have visitors at your home, please keep your porch light off and avoid answering the door during trick or treat hours. If you are welcoming trick or treaters and planning to hand out candy, we recommend you wear your own facemask when you answer your door.

Trick-or-treaters should only consume pre-packaged candy and other treats. Homemade treats should not be handed out or consumed.

Additionally, here are some safety tips from the Carmel Police Department:

Adults should always accompany their children and carry a flashlight at night, staying within their own neighborhood and known homes. Watch for traffic before crossing any street. Avoid costumes that are long, which could cause tripping or costumes that have hard plastic or wood props like swords that could be a hazard. It is also important to inspect candy before allowing children to have it; dispose of any candy that is unwrapped.

Finally, the federal Centers for Disease Control has issued a number of recommendations on ways to celebrate Halloween, pointing out high-risk, low-risk and moderate activities designed to keep everyone safe. You can see those recommendations here.