The City of Westfield has announced guidance for Halloween, including trick-or-treating hours and alternatives for residents not comfortable with traditional activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I know a lot of kids look forward to Halloween and parents should decide how they want to approach it with their children,” Mayor Andy Cook said. “We are setting traditional trick-or-treat hours and are providing a few alternatives, but, at the end of the day, parents should decide what their kids do on Halloween. Regardless of what families decide to do, I hope they will take extra precautions this year.”
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Trick-or-treating hours in Westfield will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Westfield Police Department will have additional officers on duty for enhanced security. The city also recommends the below safety precautions:
- Consider trick or treating with household members instead of large groups this year.
- Be sure to mask up if you cannot keep social distance. Remember, Halloween masks don’t replace cloth masks.
- Wear reflective clothing.
- Wash hands before eating treats.
- Bring hand sanitizer and a flashlight.
- Avoid homemade treats – eat only factory-wrapped candy.
In addition, the Westfield Police Department, in cooperation with the Westfield Fire Department (WFD), will host the Boo Drive Thru from 5 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot Oak Trace Elementary, 16504 Oak Ridge Road. Police officers and other characters will be dressed up and passing out treats (individual candy/treat bags) to cars as they drive through the parking lot. Families are encouraged to dress up and join the fun from the safety of their vehicle. There will be a maximum of three treat bags per car.
Additionally, the Westfield Fire Department will have its annual Halloween Reverse Trick-or-Treating. Each fire station will pass out candy in their districts from the trucks. WFD will be rolling through various neighborhoods during trick-or-treating hours.
All police- and fire-organized events will have enhanced COVID-19 protocols. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides additional alternatives for participating in Halloween this year at this link.