Virus changes Halloween landscape

As October begins, many are wondering how the pandemic will impact Halloween and fall festivals.

Clovis Mayor Mike Morris has a suggestion: Let the Centers for Disease Control help you decide.

“I think that the community should take the CDC recommendations and combine that with their own common sense and do what is best for them individually,” Morris told The News.

“I believe for myself and my family we won’t be doing trick-or-treating and we won’t be hosting a party or going to a party or anything like that. We’ll enjoy family activities at home, and I would encourage everyone — in light of the spread of this virus — I would encourage everyone else to consider doing the same.”

Indeed, at least one major local event has already been called off because of CDC recommendations — and a state public health order — against large gatherings.

Rhonda Ray, the coordinator at KTQM radio for Boo in the Zoo, said the city of Clovis, the zoo, and their station had decided it was not feasible to hold the event this year because of virus-related restrictions.

The biggest issue was the zoo has a max capacity of 100 people, and an average Boo in the Zoo brings in about 4,000 people inside three hours.

The zoo will still be open on Halloween during its normal hours, and will be decorated for festivities. Ray added that Boo in the Zoo is first and foremost a fundraiser for the zoo and they want to encourage people to visit and donate if they still can.

“We’ll be back next year bigger and better than ever,” Ray said.

Portales Mayor Ron Jackson said he supports people doing traditional trick-or-treating this year if that is what people want to do, but recognizes that some community events have been canceled due to health and safety concerns.

“I know that we’ve canceled our festivities that the chamber of commerce usually puts on, the Safe Halloween Trick-or-Treating,” Mayor Jackson said. “We’ve just got to follow the CDC guidelines for the state.”

The CDC has ranked many Halloween activities from low to high risk to help guide the public on how to celebrate while reducing a spread of the virus.

These guidelines will no doubt set the precedent for other 2020 holidays like Día de los Muertos, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. According to the Centers for Disease Control:

Low-risk activities include carving pumpkins with your family, a Halloween movie night with the people you live with, or outdoor scavenger hunts where children spot Halloween themed items in their neighborhoods from a distance.

Outdoor costume parties where guests are socially distanced with masks, and visiting pumpkin patches where hand sanitizer and masks are in use are both examples of moderate risk activities.

Traditional trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treats, indoor costume parties, and indoor haunted houses are all deemed as high-risk by the CDC.

Trick-or-treating is not necessarily lost to the pandemic this year. Guidelines for conducting moderate risk trick-or-treating include preparing small goodie bags of candy for children and setting them out at the end of a driveway or yard. Homeowners can watch over the candy and greet trick-or-treaters while socially distancing outside as well.

This way of trick-or-treating reduces risk because the children will not being going door-to-door or reaching into the same large candy bowl. Those with underlying health conditions are encouraged to limit in-person interaction as even trick-or-treating like this is still considered a moderate risk.

Locally, many churches are still deciding whether they should hold their annual trunk-or-treats this year. Central Baptist officials in Clovis said they will not be hosting their larger event, but will still try to put on a small in-house activity for members.

So far, events that will be held include a drive-though trunk-or-treat in Portales. This would be the first year for this event, hosted by The Notorious Performance Car Club. Organizers said it’s already generated a lot of interest from the community.

The event is set to be held at the east entrance to Rotary Park in Portales from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31. Organizers have said all candy will be bagged, and those passing it out will be wearing gloves and masks while also practicing social distancing. The event is becoming so popular, members said, they are asking for local businesses to volunteer with them and help pass out candy.

The city of Clovis Fire Department announced on Thursday it will open Stations 1-5 for trick-or-treating on Halloween from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. CFD officials stated personnel will be taking health and safety precautions while passing out candy.

Third and Kilgore Church of Christ in Portales decided on Sunday it will host a drive through trick-or-treat event 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Halloween. The "Drive-Through Halloween Express" will take place in the church parking lot, and drivers will be directed through the church’s breezeway where bags of goodies will be handed out.