Village of Algonquin sets trick-or-treat hours for Oct. 31

The Village of Algonquin suggested hours for trick-or-treating will remain on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for those choosing to participate. Halloween is an important tradition in Algonquin, which, like many other events this year, will be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, they encourage individuals to take extra precautions as well as review the associated risks and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov and the Illinois Department of Public Health at dph.illinois.gov.

In addition, the village is offering the following suggestions to help promote a safe 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 not to ring the doorbell if a light is not on.

• Consider using a motion activated noise maker to notify you when trick-or-treaters are at the door, such as a motion activated Halloween decoration, rather than having trick-or-treaters ring the doorbell, which can be a high touch-point.

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

• Avoid close contact with others by leaving candy on your porch or even socially-distanced on your lawn (see below for a list of ideas).

• 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.

• Individuals should use hand sanitizer regularly throughout the trick-or-treat hours.

• Do not trick-or-treat in groups with others; trick-or-treat as a household.

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

• Please refrain from distributing coins or cash.

• Please do not distribute homemade treats or fresh fruits.

• Mark a safe distance from your door using chalk and ask children to stand behind the line before you open the door to pass out candy.

With these necessary precautions, everyone can enjoy a safe and spooky Halloween celebration.

Visit www.algonquin.org.