Avoid trick-or-treating, try a drive-by parade instead, city says

Halloween isn’t totally canceled this year, but it is going to be different: Pa’s Pumpkin Patch won’t reopen, Dark Harbor has been canceled and health officials are saying no trick-or-treating.

Long Beach officials are urging residents to find safer ways to celebrate the holiday that don’t involve gathering with people outside their households or sharing food. To do this, residents should avoid trick-or-treating and even trunk-or-treating because it’s hard to physically distance at doorsteps and residents shouldn’t be sharing food in a pandemic, city officials said.

Some activities to do instead:

• Online parties and contests, like costume contests and pumpkin carving contests
• Car parades with with drive-by events or contests
• Halloween movie nights, but at drive-in theaters
• Halloween-themed meals or art installations at outdoor restaurants or museums
• Decorating homes and yards with Halloween-themed decorations.

Gatherings, events and parties with non-household members, even outside, are strictly not allowed. Carnivals, festivals, live entertainment and haunted houses are also not allowed.