The rules and issues around the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve and information changes consistently. Please take note of when our content was written and always go to the sources we’ve provided for the most current guidance.

We got the official word…trick or treating can happen this year in BC! The key is to be socially distant, stick to small groups, and stay local. 

The following Halloween celebration recommendations and tips are taken from the BC CDC: 

  1. Skip the parties this year. Indoor gatherings, of any size, are riskier and increase the chances of COVID-19 exposure. Instead, think about watching a scary movie or creating a new family tradition.
  2. Trick or treat in small groups. Stay apart from your friends and don’t share your candy. 
  3. Try wearing a mask or face covering as part of your costume. Costume masks over non-medical masks may make it hard to breathe, so don’t do that. 
  4. Get creative in making space and how you hand out treats. Be more outside than inside when giving out treats and wear a mask. Don’t use a shared bowl – consider using tongs or zombie arms and check out some of the fun videos online for making a candy slide! Perhaps avoid smoke machines in your “haunted” front yard. 
  5. You don’t have to participate. If you feel worried about children coming to your door, or if you’ve simply never been a fan of Halloween, turn off your porch light.

Don’t forget to wash your hands, and be careful with hand sanitizer and open flames as it’s very flammable. And finally, if you are sick, please stay home.

There’s more to know! Read more about Halloween on the BC CDC website. 

Share your creative ideas for trick or treating this year in the comments. Stay safe! 

Where do we fit in?

Yes, we are a provincial regulator and are responsible for some very specific transactions in BC. We aren’t experts on COVID-19. We won’t – and shouldn’t – ever give medical or legal advice. But we are in a unique circumstance right now and we want to help people navigate the current reality. We don’t have all the answers, but we will do our best to share information from reliable sources, put it in ways that are easy to digest and understand, provide referrals and help you navigate this situation.

About Consumer Protection BC

We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.