Dee Garcia
Multimedia Editor
As Halloween approaches, trick-or-treating will look different as the local spread of the coronavirus continues. With over 62,000 people in Bexar County with a positive case as of Oct. 26, 2020, there is still a high risk of contracting the virus as families roam the streets getting candy.
Although the city of San Antonio advises families to stay at home, some trick-or-treating will still happen. A National Retail Federation report found that 44% of consumers who have children still plan to go trick-or-treating this year. However, now parents and kids have to think about keeping themselves and others protected while dressing up and enjoying the holiday.
Antoinette Richardson-Cortez, mother of 11-year-old Bryan Cortez and a resident of the Solana Ridge neighborhood on San Antonio’s Southwest side, has found a costume for her son that can protect him while he walks around. He will be going as a medieval plague doctor, which includes him wearing a mask and gloves to keep him safe.
“I’m a little concerned, but Bryan hasn’t gotten to do anything since March, so I definitely want him to have fun this Halloween, so I’ll be taking him trick or treating for a little bit,” Richardson-Cortez said.
They have also purchased a trick or treating bag that has a handle so it is easier to get candy and social distance.
Another option is finding a trunk or treat event. Instead of walking around and trying to find houses that may or may not give out treats this year, kids could receive a lot more candy in just one area of cars.
Communications senior Amanda Huizar-Barela, mother of 9-year-old Layla Barela, plans to take her daughter to a trunk or treat. Layla will be going as a dinosaur in an inflatable costume,which will help her social distance. Her mother will dress as a dinosaur trainer and wear a mask.
“I feel like we would do a lot of walking and searching trying to find houses that are passing out candy,” Huizar-Barela said. “It’ll just be easier to find a trunk or treat because we’ll still be wearing masks and the kids will still get the experience of getting candy this year.”
Both families will take precautions such as wearing masks, carrying hand sanitizer and keeping away from big crowds.
Other adults have started creating their own activities to entertain children, such as Megan Pope, lecturer of Speech Communications, who will be making a scavenger hunt and an egg hunt for her boyfriend’s 6-year-old and 11-year-old daughters and 9-year-old son.
Dr. Dolph Briscoe IV, Lecturer of History, wants to make sure his daughter, 3 and a half years old, has a fun and safe time this weekend too.
“It will be much more socially distanced, as children from her playgroup will have candy set outside their respective houses for their peers to collect on their own,” Briscoe said. “My wife and I want our daughter to have a fun Halloween, but we are determined to do so in only a safe way.”
Even if families decide not to go trick or treating, the city of San Antonio has listed other options on its website and safety guidelines to take this year.
“Just remember to be safe, have fun and be considerate of everyone this Halloween,” Richardson-Cortez said.
