Halloween is usually a scarily good time of year for many, but we are encouraging you  to celebrate it safely this year, to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Wiltshire is in Tier 1 (medium) under new national rules announced last week. This means that measures such as the rule of six, working from home where possible and 10pm closing for leisure and hospitality sectors remain in force.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year and it’s likely that people will want to celebrate. In order to tackle the spread of the virus, we are urging you to do Halloween a little differently this year and plan low risk fun activities within your household to protect your family, friends and neighbours as much as possible.

While large gatherings and parties, either indoors or outdoors are not possible this year there are still plenty of ways to celebrate safely while still having lots of fun.

Residents are reminded that traditional Halloween celebrations are likely to spread COVID-19 and should be avoided:

• Trick or treating where treats are handed out and children go door to door.
• Crowded costume parties held indoors or outdoors, or any gathering where there are more than six people.
• Do not substitute your facemask with a Halloween mask as this will not keep you safe.
• Current social distancing guidelines still need to be followed during the Halloween festivities:
• Keep to the rule of six and remember hands, face, space.
• Maintain physical distance from people you don’t live with. Remember to stay two metres apart.
• If you’re hosting an activity, it is safer to hold it outdoors.
• If you have COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19, have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 you must self-isolate.

Some ideas of things to do this year:

• Attend a Halloween trail – West Lavington & Littleton Panell are holding their very own trail between Saturday 24th October and Saturday 31st October. Donations for taking part in the trail are in aid of Dauntsey Academy Primary School and you could win a fantastic gift hamper!
• Decorate a Halloween poster – download, decorate and display one of our Halloween posters or complete our Halloween word search.
• Carve or decorate a pumpkin – to light up your doorstep or in your window.
• Scavenger hunt – give your children a list of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.
• Indoor trick or treating – buy your child’s favourite sweets and let them trick-or-treat door to door within your house or let them walk through the neighbourhood so they can show off their costume, then come home to a special treat or toy.
• Have a spooky feast – make some spooky snacks with your children to create a stunning spread.
• Watch a scary movie with the family – make a night of it by preparing some popcorn and sweets and setting a spooky scene.
• Host a virtual party
• A dance party – where your friends can learn the “Monster Mash” choreography or do the “Time Warp” all together. Or play some Halloween themed games and while listening to music.
• A Halloween costume party – put on a costume and invite all your friends to a Halloween virtual party or quiz.
• Put on a Halloween playlist – no matter how small your Halloween party, it won’t be complete without some spooky tunes. Blast your favourites and have a dance party or play a game of freeze dance.
• Paint your kids’ faces – use some spooky colours to paint your child’s face or let your children take turns painting each others’ faces!
• Make a mask – Make a Halloween themed face mask/covering
• Mix a spooky cocktail – No Halloween is complete without a custom witch’s brew cocktail or mocktail.

There are lots of things you can do this Halloween to stay safe and protect yourself and others from Coronavirus. Have fun!