community |
WILL COVID-19 HAUNT THIS YEAR’S
HALLOWEEN? How a few extra precautions and some new ideas can make for a fun holiday. | BY TRICIA O’CONNOR
H
alloween is only weeks away and Mary Baron is already feeling spooked. “Halloween is a huge event in our neighborhood,” says the single mother from Estero. “It will be a big deal if nothing happens.” Mary, and her 9-year-old daughter, Sophia, look forward to the massive neighborhood event their community, Bella Terra, throws each year. This year, with Halloween falling on a Saturday night, the spooktacular holiday is supposed to be especially fun for ghosts, goblins and ghouls. “Bella Terra is the ultimate
trick-or-treating place. We go all out. People even have to register ahead of time to bring friends in to trick-or-treat because we have so many people,” Mary says. But COVID-19 is haunting Halloween plans for families, neighborhoods and city event planners alike. Lee County has already put on hold several Halloween events, including the Lakes Park Fall Festival (including the Halloween Express train), North Fort Myers Fall Festival and the Boca Grande Halloween Carnival, says Betsy Clayton, the communi-
cations director for Lee County government. “All Lee County Parks & Recreation fall events that were previously scheduled are currently on hold due to the pandemic,” she said in August. “We do not know if they will be canceled or able to operate at this time.” At the same time, the pandemic hadn’t yet scared off Collier County’s plans (though as with any event, if case numbers rise, plans could change). Collier
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » OCTOBER 2020 » 31
