Oakmont students’ Halloween 2020 plans are adjusting to the new restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

Over the years, people have developed their own forms of traditions to celebrate Halloween. This could include dressing up and trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, or curling up at home watching scary movies all night.

“I used to go to the mall and trick-or-treat there,” sophomore Bernie Bernardo said. “On every Halloween, they usually have a trick-or-treat in the mall where employees of every store hand out candy to people.”

Halloween is the perfect time of year to socialize with friends and family while dressed up in fun costumes and get loads of sweets! But due to the Coronavirus, it may not be possible to partake in the usual traditions. 

Typically, junior Jolie Anderson spends her Halloween travelling with her family to New Orleans or even Disneyland to celebrate her birthday. Yet with the Coronavirus taking the world by storm, where rules of social distancing and wearing a mask have been imposed, they opted to stay home. 

“Unfortunately, this year we won’t be traveling because of the pandemic,” Anderson said. “Of course we wanted to keep up with the tradition, but my family ultimately decided it would be best to stay home this year and keep everyone safe!”

However, just because there are new restrictions for this year’s Halloween does not mean there is no way to safely celebrate this holiday season!

Although sophomore Adie Schurtez typically spends her holiday trick-or-treating and socializing with friends, she has opted to spend her time inside hoping to still enjoy Halloween safely to stop the further spread of disease. 

“This year me and my family are going to set up a projector in our backyard and watch a Halloween movie,” Schurtez said.

More Oakmont students have opted for COVID-19 safe halloween plans that limit contact with other people.

“I am hanging out with a few close friends,” Anderson said. We are going to stay inside, watch scary movies, and bake Halloween cookies! We are still going to dress up just for fun, but we won’t be going anywhere.”

Even though the world is stuck in this unprecedented time, the community is still making an effort to make the best of the situation. Adapting normal traditions to fit new guidelines, a way to keep yourself socially distant and safe from the spread of the disease is the route most are taking.

“I will be staying safe by wearing a mask and staying six feet apart from the door so that we can get our candies and stuff like that,” Bernardo said.

Throughout enjoying this Halloween, the CDC advises to remember to wear your mask, wash your hands, and stay six feet apart.