Businesses get creative to celebrate Halloween safely this year

Halloween is still a go this year, butwith COVID-19 restrictionsin place, some businesses around the region are getting creative with how people can still mark the occasion safely.

Bingemansand the National Service Dogs areamong somebusinesses who will be hosting atrick or treat drive-thru on Oct. 31.

Families will be able to drivearound todifferent stations across the Bingemans'campgrounds. Volunteers at each station will handout treats and candy following public health guidelines. Registration is full for this event.

The National Service Dogs will host their trick or treat drive thru at theLowe's Home Improvement Store parking lot on Conestoga Boulevard in Cambridge from 2 to 4 p.m.

Explore Waterloo Region also has a list of alternative Halloween activities on its website.Those include a spooky walk through the Doon Heritage Village, a trick or treat scavenger hunt at TheMuseum in downtown Kitcheneror a Halloween drive-in movie night at On the Grand.

Families can also head to uptown Waterloo on Halloween and trick or treat door-to-door at businesses along King and Regina Streets, as well as on Princess, Erb and Dupont Streets.

Participating businesses will be handing out candy following public health guidelines. Organizers with the city's BIA haveuploaded a map with participating businesses on their website.

Kitchener also has a list of alternative Halloween activities on its website, including tips on DIYactivities and how to stay safe.

Families can headto any community centre in Kitchener, withthe exception of the WilliamsburgCommunity Centre, from Oct.29 to Oct.31 andtake photos at the spooky outdoorHalloween displays and take home a bag of treats.

Other celebrations include several events at the Kitchener Market and a downtownKitchener Halloween art walk and scavenger hunt.

Trick or treatstill allowed

Waterloo region's actingmedical officer of health, Dr. Hsui-Li Wang, said during a media briefing on Oct.13 thattrick or treating is "not forbidden", but recommendsresidents stick to low risk activities, such aspumpkin decorating within a household orhosting virtual costume parties.

"Things could change ... from now until Halloween," she said."I might make stronger recommendations. But at this time, I'm asking people to consider lower risk activities only."

Her advice for families who are planning to trick or treat this year: Keep physically distant from people outside your household and wear a face mask. For people handing out candy, Wang recommends people get creative, using items like a candy chute, tongs oreven a hockey stick to get candy into bags.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said Halloween can still happenas long as people follow the rules.

She said families can creatively use different fabrics toturn a day-to-day face maskinto part of a costume. She also recommends for families to stick topre-packaged treats andto have hand sanitizer readily available.

Do you know about a Halloween event we missed? Email us the details.