WI Health Officials Not Recommending Trick-Or-Treating

Karen Pilarski
Updated ·3 min read

WISCONSIN, WI—Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommend against going house to house trick-or-treating amid the pandemic. The website said in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, "large gatherings and close contact with people outside of your household increase your risk. So, this year, find new ways to celebrate that don’t involve big in-person parties or traditional trick-or-treating," the website said.

DHS has also said these events should not take place:

  • Large outdoor gatherings such as parties, festivals, and parades.

  • Even though being outside decreases the risk, being in close contact with people you don’t live with increases the risk of spreading and contracting the virus.

  • Indoor parties and celebrations.

  • Costume contests and parties are not recommended, no matter where they might be held.

  • Happy hours or socializing at bars.

  • Going house-to-house and having in-person contact is not recommended.

What communities are saying

Wauwatosa has not made a decision yet. Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride tells Patch, "We haven't discussed this yet. When a decision is reached, I'm sure the DHS recommendation will be among the factors considered."

The Town of Brookfield, City of Brookfield, New Berlin and City of Waukesha have set their Trick-or-Treating dates.

"After thoughtful consideration, the City of New Berlin will be proceeding with Trick or Treat while taking appropriate precautions," New Berlin Mayor Dave Ament told Patch.

City of Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly said the recommendation doesn't change the city's plans to hold Trick-or-Treating on Oct. 31. He told Patch it is safe given people are not staying at the houses long to get candy. Reilly added he hopes parents put masks on their children.

Anyone wishing to trick or treat is asked to respect that if a porch light is on, the home is participating. If a light is not on, the home is not participating.

Reilly said last year was difficult in a different way. While it wasn't the pandemic, Waukesha was hit with a blizzard.

"I got a lot of complaints from people saying I should have cancelled," Reilly said.

Residents were either not going to be home or they couldn't shovel in time.

This year he has heard from residents upset or happy over the Halloween decision. Reilly said kids are only little for so long and should enjoy the fun of trick-or-treating.

"I think it will be safe," he said


Other fun ideas

The DHS said people can still enjoy the holidays by celebrating with fewer people and incorporating virtual events.

  • Hold virtual costume contests and parties. Dress up. Get online with friends and other families to celebrate and rate each other’s costumes.

  • Decorate where you live. Get the kids involved in making decorations. Bake Halloween-themed treats. Watch scary movies with your family, household, or as a group online.

  • Leave individual grab bags (or paper cups) filled with goodies outside your door for children to take. If you can, watch and wave to trick-or-treaters through a window.

  • Leave Halloween treats outside the door where friends and loved ones live for a contact-free way of celebrating.

  • Instead of the usual close contact in a confined space, visit (or create!) a drive-through haunted house experience.


This article originally appeared on the Across Wisconsin Patch