We’re reaching the end of the year, and this holiday season is going to be unlike any we’ve experienced in recent history. While we should be preparing for large gatherings with friends, we’re still trying to figure out how to keep ourselves safe when grocery shopping. COVID-19 has done a number on us, that’s for sure.

Still, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy end-of-year celebrations in 2020. Here are five tips for preparing an exciting but low-risk Halloween this year.

Organize in Advance

We’ve all seen what retail stores look like in the few days before a holiday or event. It’s chaos. With COVID-19 a genuine threat, it’s worth being more prepared. That way, you can avoid the crowd and keep yourself safe.

Purchase your cookware and ingredients in the weeks or months before you need them. By the time Halloween rolls around, it’s a case of spending a day or two at home preparing for the event without having to face the crowds.

Buy Online

Visiting large retail stores to carefully select your Halloween candy and decorations is all part of the experience. However, there’s now more to lose than gain by venturing out into large shopping centers – namely, your health.

Where possible, do your Halloween shopping online. You can still buy everything you need from the comfort of your home. The best part is, more and more local businesses are setting up websites to handle online orders. So, you can still support local retailers and small businesses.

Social Distanced Candy Giving

In the past, you may have thought nothing of giving candy to children who knock on your door on Halloween. This year, though, it’s worth operating a little differently. After all, we are being asked to remain at a safe distance from people outside of our immediate families.

In saying that, you can still give wrapped candy to children whose parents have allowed them to go trick or treating. The CDC recommends setting up an outdoor treat station, wearing a mask, washing your hands before handling treats, and avoiding direct contact with trick-or-treaters.

Make it a Family Affair

If you have previously been involved in street parties and large gatherings, consider celebrating Halloween 2020 in a more conservative and intimate way. Your family can still have fun, but safe fun.

Carve pumpkins at home, make Halloween treats, or go for walks on your local streets to admire everyone’s decorations. The CDC even states that you can visit pumpkin patches, orchards, and corn mazes. However, the same recommendations still apply – wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and stay six feet away from people outside your household.

Try Digital Gatherings

If we can take anything positive out of the pandemic, it’s that we’re in the best age for it to happen – the digital age. We can communicate with our loved ones through screens and still work and receive an education from home.

If Halloween has always been a big deal with your extended family, then consider a digital gathering. It can be safer than bringing the family together from all over the country. Decorate your home, prepare delicious Halloween treats, and create costumes. Get everyone you invite to the digital get-together to do the same. You can then enjoy all your favorite Halloween games and activities, just through a screen rather than in person.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will all be different this year. However, that doesn’t mean they have to be any less fun. Think outside the square with activities and purchases, and your family can start a new fun and safe Halloween tradition.