The coronavirus pandemic has changed how people will handle Halloween celebrations and trick-or-treating this year, but there are still plenty of activities in Harford County this spooky season for both children and adults to enjoy the next two weekends.
Health officials are reminding residents that they still need to practice social distancing and wear masks that cover the nose and mouth when attending in-person events to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Trick-or-treating in downtown Bel Air, Oct. 24
Local businesses, in partnership with the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, will host trick-or-treating from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 on Main and Bond streets. Because of the pandemic, the event is pared down from past years, said Meg Gardner, project coordinator for the Alliance.
“There won’t be a pre-party with craft station for kids to decorate a candy bag, etc., instead we just publicized that attendees should look for the trick-or-treat poster in the window of businesses that who’re participating,” Gardner said.
Most businesses plan to have a table or a designated employee handing out candy or treats outside to avoid unnecessary traffic coming inside.
The Just Having Fun singers will perform on the steps of the courthouse from 1 to 2 p.m.
Halloween festival at The Grove, Oct. 24
Harford County will host a free Halloween festival at its new agribusiness incubator, The Grove, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. It will include a pet costume contest at 1 p.m., a kids costume parade and contest at 2 p.m., as well as live music, food trucks and local farm vendors.
In lieu of trick-or-treating, kids in the contest will receive candy in pre-wrapped bags and all kids will have the opportunity to make Halloween-themed crafts.
Classic rock guitarist Benny Clough will provide the entertainment. Adults can enjoy products from local breweries and wineries.
The Grove, located at 3519 Conowingo Road in Street, includes eight indoor and outdoor stalls where local farmers, artists and food processors can sell their products directly to consumers. Go to facebook.com/TheGroveatHarford for more information.
Brews and Boos at Ripken Stadium, Oct. 24
The Aberdeen IronBirds will host a Brews and Boos Fall Festival from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.
Activities include kids pumpkin painting and Halloween costume contest, cornhole, catch on the field and festive music.
Tickets are $30 for adults and include two drinks (beer, cocktails, soft drinks or water), one food item (hot dog, burger or chicken tenders), a $10 merchandise voucher and an IronBirds ball cap. Kids’ tickets (16 and younger) are $15 and include two non-alcoholic drinks, one food item and a pumpkin and painting kit.
Adult entry only tickets are $10 and kids entry only tickets are $5. Go to milb.com/aberdeen for tickets.
Ladew Virtual Garden Glow, Oct. 24
Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton will present its third annual Garden Glow with a socially distant twist, and will go live on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 8 p.m. at ladewgardens.com.
The online showcase features jack-o’-lanterns created by artists, celebrities, dignitaries, local businesses, friends and neighbors of Ladew. The festive virtual display will also have fun educational content for children including creatures of the night and a look at Irvine Nature Center’s in-house owl.
“Garden Glow has become a great community celebration of Fall and Ladew,” said Executive Director Emily Emerick. “Going virtual this year was an easy decision as this format allows many more people to participate, especially those from afar.”
For those unable to tune in Oct. 24, the spectacle will remain up on the Ladew website through Nov. 30. It is free for all to enjoy, but viewers are encouraged to make a donation or consider becoming a member of Ladew.
Drive-thru trick-or-treat at HCC, Oct. 30
Harford Community College will host a socially distant, child-friendly drive-thru trick-or-treat on its Bel Air campus from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
Participants will remain in their cars and candy will be distributed during the free event; they are encouraged to dress in costume and decorate their vehicle. Attendees are also asked to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the HCC Food Pantry.
Vehicles should enter at Entrance 6 (off Route 22 near the Wawa). A candy distribution route map and scavenger hunt information will be provided upon arrival.
WHFC Radio, 91.1 FM, will play kid-friendly Halloween music throughout event to help set the mood.
Celebrate Halloween in Havre de Grace, Oct. 30
The Havre de Grace Visitors Center will host a costume contest and downtown businesses will participate in trick-or-treating Friday, Oct. 30.
Stop by the visitor’s center, located at 450 Pennington Ave., to have your costume judged from 4 to 7 p.m., and pick up a list of businesses participating in trick-or-treating, starting at 4 p.m.
Be sure to follow social distancing practices while trick-or-treating. Participating businesses will also have a sign in their window.
At 6 p.m., The State Theatre will present a showing of the Disney movie “Hocus Pocus” at The Seaplane Base, 321 St. John St. Tickets are $5.
Festival Virtual Halloween Costume Contest, Oct. 31
The 32nd annual Festival at Bel Air Halloween Costume Contest has gone virtual this year and will take place for free, using Zoom, on Halloween.
“This year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to continue to contest, but needed to make it safe,” said Michael Blum, coordinator of the contest. “Most people have a smart phone with a camera or a webcam at home, and that’s all they need. It’s totally free, and should be a ton of fun!”
To register, go to free-costume-contest.live/festival before 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. A private Zoom link for the contest will be emailed to all registrants. The Zoom contest begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
Entrants can be solo, or family groups — all ages and pets are welcome, too. All registered participants receive valuable coupons from merchants in the Festival at Bel Air Shopping Center and 10 finalists receive a special gift package. Zoom will allow entrants and participants to vote for winners, with grand prize winners taking home $150, $100 and $75 gift certificates to Festival merchants.
For more information, go to the Festival Facebook page at facebook.com/FestivalBelAir.
Carve and candy at HdG Decoy Museum, Oct. 31
Carve or paint a pumpkin with a decoy carver during the carve-and-candy event at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, at 215 Giles St., on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Three sessions will be held from 11 a.m to noon, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. In addition to pumpkin carving, each session also includes touring the museum to look for the hidden rubber ducks for candy.
Social distancing, masks and handwashing will be practiced. Registration for the event is required. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/carve-and-candy-tickets-122288414941.
‘Casper’ movie night at Ripken Stadium, Oct. 31
The Aberdeen IronBirds will show the movie “Casper” at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.
Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and tickets start at $5, with tickets available at $10 with a choice of a popcorn or candy bag and soda can/water bottle included in purchase.
Children ages 3 and younger do not require a ticket, but the event is pre-sale only at milb.com/aberdeen. Tickets will not be sold on the day of the movie at the stadium and the event will be capped at 250 guests.
Lawn chairs are not permitted in the ballpark, but guests are welcome to bring beach towels or blankets to sit on the field or sit socially distanced in the stadium seating. No food or drink is permitted to be brought into the stadium.
Legends of the Fog, multiple nights through Oct. 31
Legends of the Fog, a popular haunted attraction off Carsins Run Road in Aberdeen, has gone exclusively drive-thru this year because of the pandemic.
The Escape the Fog drive-through show is open Oct. 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 and 31. Visitors will remain in their vehicles throughout the course, which typically takes about 20 minutes, and features more than 100 actors in its multiple haunted scenes.
“We had three walking attractions — we kind of brought all of our assets out from inside the houses and brought them into the outdoor, everything we could — and we’re now driving where people once walked,” co-owner Patrick Barberry said.
Legends of the Fog also includes an interactive audio track that visitors can open on their smartphone browser and connect to their vehicle’s audio system.
Guests will be required to purchase tickets exclusively online, which cost $25 per vehicle and its driver, plus $15 for each passenger. Passenger tickets can be purchased later, but a driver ticket needs to be purchased in advance to ensure a time and a spot in line. Tickets can be purchased at legendsofthefog.com.
