There is no doubt that 2020 has caused disruptions in our holiday celebration plans. However, staying healthy and safe is more important than putting yourself, your family, or your friends at risk by having parties or going trick-or-treating. From using your mask to accessorize your costume to playing spooky games with your family, there’s plenty of ways to do Halloween 2020-style. Check out these 3 ideas for having an enchanted Halloween celebration from home!
When it comes to Halloween in college, many people start planning their Halloween festivities far in advance. Unfortunately, throwing parties or going out to large Halloween events is not ideal and can increase your risk of catching COVID-19, which is way scarier than any haunted house! Luckily, there are so many alternatives you can use to help you create an experience which can be fun for people of all ages. I’ve come up with 3 ideas for how you can stay home this Halloween while still making it one to remember!
1. Accessorize with a mask
Many people would agree that the best part about Halloween is the costumes. Some come up with multiple ideas ahead of time, while others wait until October 30th to start looking for a last-minute costume. This year, with the local regulations requiring a mask during any and all social interactions, incorporating a mask into your costume can be a fun way to stay safe while still looking spectacular! Whether you go for a cute, fun costume or choose a scary look, a mask can help complete your ensemble as an essential COVID-19 Halloween accessory. After getting some inspiration from my Instagram feed and various websites that sell costumes, I came up with some costumes that look great with a mask.
Healthcare hero:
Dress up in a friend or family member, or your own scrubs and be a modern-day superhero who fights viruses and keeps our loved ones safe! This costume may be great for any nursing students or people who use them as part of their daily job and have been too busy keeping others healthy to shop for a costume. Not all costumes have to be scary or comical – this one proves that Halloween can also be about honoring those we love and appreciate by dressing up as them!
Disinfecting ninja:
Why be a crime fighting ninja when you can be one that keeps surfaces and homes safe from spreading germs? This costume is fun and you can follow your family around while disinfecting everything they touch. (this will definitely annoy them, but hey, it’s all in the spirit of Halloween!)
Toilet paper mummy:
Ok, this costume is obviously not practical and your household might get mad at you for using toilet paper when it is often in short supply. However, the process of being wrapped in toilet paper is enjoyable and will be sure to make you laugh. It is also super easy to hide a mask! Be sure to save your toilet paper afterward and ask your house-mates first!
These costumes are some easy ideas that might not require you to go out and shop for a costume and they are still fun to wear! Some other ideas include drawing on your mask as part of a costume, such as a funny mustache or a scary character from a horror film. Though it may be exciting to go to different stores or shop online for costumes, it is completely possible to use items from your own home to create costumes and experiences to remember for years to come.
2. Halloween Murder Mystery Game
Having a big Halloween party would normally be an exciting thing to plan with your friends, neighbors, and family, but this year, you can try something different! For those of us who are more introverted and keep their circle close for celebrations, this game is perfect for you to play any year and can be used for other celebrations as well. Get together with your roommates or your household and play your own “Murder Mystery” game in 6 simple steps:
- Pick one person – either you or a selected friend/family member to be the writer of your short murder mystery tale.
- Have the writer write sections of the story or “clues” on small pieces of paper and hide them around the house or yard inside different objects. (hollow pumpkins, baskets, cups, etc)
- Color-code each piece of paper using either different colored stock paper or by just coloring different colored dots on the papers with markers. This way each player knows they need to find one clue in each color.
- Tell your players that they must race to find one of each colored paper to complete the murder mystery story. Collecting one of each color will ensure each player has found all the story pieces.
- Once the players have one of each color, they must then race to put the story in the correct order and bring it to the writer to verify their answer.
- The first player to arrange the story in the correct order and solve the mystery is the WINNER! You can award them a collection of candy or pick any other prize you know your players would want.
This game can essentially be any story, but a “who-done-it” or “murder mystery” can be a fun way to keep Halloween scary and it can be fun to incorporate your family and friends as characters in the story! You could also get creative with decorating your hiding spots for your story clues, such as buying some creepy cloth to hang and playing scary music.
3. Secret Candy Surprises
This idea is perfect for those of us who have a friend in quarantine or a family member who is high-risk and cannot spend Halloween with you. Creating a personalized goodie-bag or spooky care package can make someone’s Halloween feel special, even when they feel like they are missing out on the fun. If you know someone’s favorite Halloween movie or their favorite kinds of candy, you can create a homemade experience for them by secretly dropping it off in front of their house or their dorm room door. This is a sweet way to show them that you are thinking of them and they will be surprised by the mysterious bundle of Halloween-themed goodies!
Organizing fun at-home Halloween activities can be an exciting way to celebrate one of the best holidays while creating special memories. It is important to stay positive and make the best out of your situation, no matter how you choose to celebrate the spooky season.
I hope these ideas get you ready to plan your own Halloween evening and give you something to look forward to during such a unique year. Always remember that streaming or renting a scary Halloween movie is also a classic festive way to get in the haunted spirit, either alone or with a movie buddy!
There is no “right” way to celebrate Halloween – or any holiday!
Stay safe and remember that URI has resources that are here to help us all get adjusted to our shifting routines.
Make sure to follow your resident’s hall on Instagram to see what festive activities they have planned for this week on campus. For example, @hutchpeck is hosting a Ram Jam Saturday Night Concert IV and @barlowhalluri is hosting a trick or treat event this week. In addition, URI Events has activities listed coming up this week such as, the Blue Moon Stroll, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Paint Your Own Pumpkin, Movies At Edwards.
Show me what costumes you have come up with or share what fun stories you create in the comment section or tag us on our Instagram page!
Happy Halloween!
Jessica
author: Jess T.
Hi everyone! I’m Jessica T., a senior here at URI majoring in Communications. After moving to Rhode Island from Southern Connecticut, I’ve now lived in Warwick for almost three years. Becoming a part of the Campus Recreation team has given me the opportunity to write blogs that enable myself and other students to relate and connect despite having limited time on campus. I have always loved writing and hope to have my work positively impact the lives of others! I also enjoy activities such as barre, sewing, and hiking. Rhode Island has become home for me and has brought me so many special experiences, especially during my time in college. The URI community is so welcoming and is always changing, so I am excited to represent our school through this blog!