Traditional Halloween festivities may be put on hold this year, but the good news is dressing up in costume is always in style. Trick-or-treating with masks (both the scary kind and the COVID kind) is happening in many towns around Bergen County. If going door to door is still a bit too scary for you this year, there’s plenty of other safe ways to still have a faBOOlous Halloween.
Trunk or Treats
Instead of going house to house, go trunk to trunk at a social distanced trunk or treat. Bethany Community Center is hosting a drive-thru trunk or treat event to keep a distance while still giving the joy of getting candy. (Bethany Community Center, 605 Pascack Rd., Township of Washington, Saturday October 31, 1-3 pm)
Farm Fun
Spend the day in the socially-distanced outdoors at Ort Farms Boo Bash. Enjoy a Halloween parade, trick or treating and cow train rides (Ort Farms, 25 Bartley Rd., Long Valley, Saturday October 31, 10 am-12 pm, 1-3 pm).
Visit Stony Hill Farms for their Trick or Treat on the Farm event. You provide the costume, they provide the bags, treats and fun (Stony Hill Farms, 15 North Rd., Chester)
Trick-or-Treating
Whether you’re going trick-or-treating this year or accepting trick-or-treaters, consider pre-packaged treat bags that you can leave out, to minimize contact with other. Treats can also be taped to Barbecue skewer sticks and placed in your yard for an Easter egg-hunt feel. If you live in a quieter area with few trick-or-treaters, or want to host trick-or-treating in your backyard, make it special with a balloon candy cup from Balloon Chica. Choose from balloon spiders, witches, ghosts and more.
Host Your Own Fun
There’s plenty of fun for your family at home this year as well. Decorate pumpkins, bob for apples and enjoy special Halloween treats from Conrad’s Confectionery, such as Chocolate Witch Hat Pops or Milk Chocolate Haunted Houses. Mindy’s Munchies is offering a mini Halloween chocolate assortment box while Colossal Candy Cookie has 10 inch Halloween-themed candy cookie with gummy eyeballs and candy pumpkins to put a smile on your child’s face.
Blue Moon Mexican Café can satisfy your feasting needs with their spooky specials. Customize your Halloween meal with bat wings, Boo Blue Margaritas, Monster Mojitos or Witches Brew Sangria, plus Halloween filled pinatas available to order. (Blue Moon Mexican Café Englewood, 23 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood; Wyckoff, 327 Franklin Ave., Wyckoff)
Play Spaces
Following all CDC guidelines, play spaces are opening up for special Halloween celebrations. Tay + Te is holding its 2nd Annual Halloween Party with games and treats, including witch hat ring toss, mummy bowling and treats at every station. (Tay + Te, 240 Pegasus Ave., Northvale, Friday October 30 11 am-12:30 pm, Saturday October 31, 10-11:30 am)
High Exposure Climbing is hosting a Spooktacular Halloween Bash to get into the spirit. Even if you’re not dressed up as a ninja, you can act like one on their ropes course, zipline and ninja bounce house, plus pumpkin carving and more fun. (High Exposure Climbing, 266 Union St., Northvale, Saturday October 31, 10 am-12 pm, 3:30-6 pm)
Virtual Boos
There are plenty of virtual events to bring Halloween into your home as well. Turtle Back Zoo is hosting a free “hauntingly good” Facebook Live to get into the spooky spirit with your favorite animals. (Friday October 30, 2 pm)
Join kid-fave Laurie Berkner for a solo virtual family concert-Halloween party with singing, dancing and interactive fun. Be sure to wear a costume and bring your dancing shoes. (Saturday October 31, 12 pm and 5 pm)
Hop online for a FREE viewing of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Shadow Puppet Film for a family-friendly shadow puppet film about the real story of Ichabod Crane.
