City of Woodstock sets trick-or-treating guidelines for Halloween

The City of Woodstock has received a number of questions regarding the events surrounding this year's Halloween celebration. As of Sept. 30, 2020, the state of Illinois issued their guidelines as follows:

Anyone participating in trick-or-treating should maintain social distance and wear proper face coverings; consider leaving individual candies spaced apart outside; trick-or-treat only with household members and wash hands before eating candy.

Unfortunately, after many attempts to figure out a way to safely host the annual Trick or Treating on the Square and Costume Contest, it was decided, for the protection of our residents, to cancel the event.

Neighborhood trick-or-treating will continue on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. If you would like to participate in passing out candy, please turn on your porch light during the recommended trick-or-treat hours. We then ask parents to please teach your children not to approach a house unless the porch light is on.

The city offers the following suggestions to help promote a safe Halloween experience for all:

• Do not participate in trick-or-treating if you are feeling unwell, if someone in your house is unwell, if you are awaiting COVID-19 test results, if you have recently returned from travel to a hotspot state, or if you know that you have been exposed to COVID-19.

• Turn on your porch lamp or outdoor lights to show that your home is welcoming trick-or-treaters. Not all families may feel comfortable participating in trick-or-treating this year; teach children to only approach a house if a light is on.

• Face coverings should be worn by all participants over the age of two, including individuals passing out treats.

• If you would prefer to answer the door to greet children individually, pass out candy instead of inviting children to take a treat from a communal bowl. Ask children to tell you their choice of a treat, rather than taking it themselves.

• Use hand sanitizer regularly throughout the trick-or-treat hours.

• Maintain a safe distance from other trick-or-treating groups, and do not approach a house until the previous group has left.

• Use printable posters at www.woodstockil.gov to mark your house accordingly.