Catch the Halloween spirit with safe celebrations in Will, Grundy counties

Now that the Centers for Disease Control has removed its trick or treating guidelines in favor of “Safer Ways to Celebrate Holidays,” families might be wondering, “Is it safe to trick or treat?”

Dr. Kalisha Hill, regional chief medical officer for AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center Joliet, said trick or treating is actually one of the safest holiday activities people can do.

Hill said that’s because the event is outside, which provides plenty of ventilation, and because facemasks can be incorporated into a child’s costume. Now if kids are trick or treating inside an apartment building, the risk is greater, making facemasks crucial for reducing the risk of transmission.

“Most children are wearing masks in school now,” Hill said. “So it’s less stressful for everyone.”

But don’t put a costume mask over the facemask. That might inhibit breathing Hill said. If full coverage of the face is desired, use face painting instead, she said.

“Then you’ll be able to see if the child is in distress,” Hill said.

People who come to the door to pass our candy should also wear a facemask, Hill said.

“You often have grandparents trick or treating with their grandchildren,” Hill said. “So you want to protect the grandparents when you come out to pass out candy.”

Should they wear gloves, too? Hill didn’t think that was necessary because COVID is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets. But if kids are going to be handling and sampling the candy before they get home, they should apply hand sanitizer first.

“But don’t let them drink the hand sanitizer,” Hill said. “Some of them have fruity smells now. So you have to be careful.”

Hill said it’s also safer to trick or treat in a small group, such as the people in your household or people with whom you socialize on a regular basis. And if someone does get sick with COVID, a smaller group makes contact tracing easier, too, she said.

But don’t forget to examine the candy when you get home.

“This has been a consistent recommendation for years now,” Hill said. “Always check the candy to make sure it’s in the original wrapper. And it’s very important for parents to be present when the children are opening up their candy.”

Afterwards, don’t send the children to their room with all that candy, especially when it’s important to “encourage children to be healthy to fight childhood obesity,” Hill said.

“I have twin girls and we would open the bags together,” Hill said. “We would go through the candy and I’d let them pick out their favorite ones. The rest went back in the bucket in the closet so they could nibble on it over the course of the next six months. No one was eating large amounts of candy in a small amount of time.”

So it’s OK if Mom and Dad grab a few pieces, too?

“Oh, absolutely,” Hill said. “Mom, Dad, friends, grandparents – you name it. When they come over, you share the wealth and you share the calories.”

Is it safe for adults to attend Halloween parties at local bars?

An indoor bar that opens up into an outdoor area is much safer than a bar that is completely closed without individual tables “just masses of people standing around together,” Hill said.

“Any time you’re in an environment where you are standing in a crowded place with people of uncertain vaccine status is high risk,” Hill said.

Of course, anyone who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or booster, should certainly do so, Hill said.

Alternatives to trick or treat. All are scheduled for Saturday.

Trunk or Treat: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Channahon United Methodist Church, 24751 W Eames St., Channahon.

Fall Fest: noon to 4 p.m., First Christian Church of Wilmington, 1824 Church St., Wilmington. Hay rides (weather permitting), Wilmington High School Showcats performance, karaoke contest, cornhole tournament, costume contest for kids age 12 and younger, food, prizes, chili cook-off competition. Bring a canned good to benefit Kuzma Care Cottage and receive a mini pumpkin to paint and take home.

Trunk or Treat: 1 to 3 p.m., Lifespring Community Church, 14735 Wood Farm Road, Plainfield.

Trunk or Treat Car Show and Candy: 45 to 8 p.m., Famlies of Faith Church, 24466 W Eames St, Channahon.

Trick or treat hours:

Bolingbrook: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Channahon: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Coal City: 4 to 7 p.m.

Crest Hill: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Homer Glen: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Joliet: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Lockport: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Minooka: 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday

Morris: 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday

New Lenox: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Romeoville: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Wilmington: 4 to 7:30 p.m.