Halloween not as scary as 2020

By Nancy Black

“Pretzels?!?” my children exclaimed with disgust. “What kind of kid wants pretzels for Halloween?!?” They were furious with me for buying a big box of individually wrapped, Halloween decorated, pretzel bags. I thought the cute, little pumpkin pretzels were a healthy alternative to the pounds and pounds of rich chocolate and pure sugar treats normally associated with the holiday. My children assured me they were not.

I recently saw a cool idea for this year’s Halloween treats. They were little packets of seeds to give out to trick or treaters. Some were pumpkin seeds so you could grow your own pumpkins for next year. Others were for regional wildflowers. And one even came with spooky instructions:

Plant at midnight

Grow in the moonlight

Water well

And then cast your spell

Giving out pretzels?! And seeds?! What kind of evil witch am I? 

Halloween is going to be very different this year. Everything has been very different this year. But that doesn’t mean it still can’t be fun. Since local health officials warn against traditional trick or treating by going door-to-door, a number of local museums and attractions are creating events to take place in COVID-safe environments.

The Meadows Museum is hosting a Trick or Treat Spooktacular on Oct. 18 from 3-5 p.m. The museum promises “Spooktacular art” along with activities for young and older patrons. 

Labyrinth Walk Coffee House invites ghouls and goblins every Saturday night in October for, what they call, a “frightfully fun event,” which includes a haunted forest. Masks are mandatory, social distancing is practiced and the opportunity to scream is included. There’s even a cemetery next door, so the ghosts may be real.

And the AT&T Performing Arts Center has a special Halloween treat in store. The venue will present “The Addams Family” movie on Oct. 23 in its outdoor venue, Strauss Square in the Dallas Arts District, with reduced-capacity, socially distanced seating.

One of my favorite pre-COVID October traditions was to attend the Dia de los Muertos exhibit at the Bath House Cultural Center. It’s a yearly tradition to celebrate deceased loved ones and the art is always amazing. But, because of renovations at the Bath House, the show is not happening this year. The Latino Cultural Center’s Day of the Dead celebration is still planned, though. Their festival is on Oct. 30. Families are invited to enjoy vendors, music, sugar skull kits and an Aztec dance performance on the outdoor plaza. The event is free and open to the public with ticket reservation.

There are a number of other safe options to have fun on Halloween even during these troubling times. Visit artandseek.org for more fun ideas. And save me a mini Snickers bar, please.