Halloween is probably one of the most exciting times of the year, especially for college students, because you can either go out with your friends or stay in and have a movie night. You also have the choice to dress up as whoever you want and be creative. However, this year it may be difficult to celebrate Halloween with your friends as we are currently amidst a global pandemic. This is why I took the time to research fun but COVID-19 friendly activities so you don’t have to.
- Go to a Pumpkin Patch
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This is probably one of my favorite fall activities because you have the opportunity of spending some time outdoors. With COVID-19, it feels as if we’re constantly stuck at home, and I can’t speak for everyone else, but for me, spending any time outside is probably just going to the grocery store. Going to a pumpkin patch with some close friends can be a great way of experiencing fall weather and also having some social interaction. Make sure to bring a mask and hand sanitizer.
- Host a Virtual Game Night
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I believe that this is one of the safest Halloween activities as you don’t have to maintain a certain distance when talking to your friends, nor do you need a mask. My friends and I have started to play “Among Us” over zoom, and it’s been such a fun experience. You could play a murder mystery game and make it Halloween themed!
- Have a Movie Night
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This is very similar to a virtual game night, but instead, you would be watching a movie online. There are a lot of platforms that you can use to do this, but one of my favorite ones is Scener. It’s a chrome extension that you can download beforehand, and it allows you to video call your friends while watching the movie so you guys can see each other.
- Go on a Picnic
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This is also a fall activity that you can plan with your friends and make it Halloween themed with snacks and even outfits! There are many picnic locations near the VCU campus, such as Belle Isle, Forest Hill Park or even Maymont Park. If the weather is nice one day, then I would recommend inviting a limited number of friends, baking some treats and spending the day in a park.
- Spend Time With Your Family
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I understand that this one may not be as exciting as going out to a party with your friends, but if you have younger siblings or cousins, then I am sure they are devastated as they are missing out on a Halloween tradition—trick-or-treating. Spend time with them by either having a costume contest or watching a scary movie all over Zoom. They will definitely thank you for making their Halloween memorable! If you are able to visit them, then I would bake treats and take them out on a walk to experience the autumn weather.
I hope that these ideas helped with planning Halloween this year. I know that with COVID-19, it’s difficult to spend time with your friends or go to a party because you don’t want to risk contamination, so I really recommend doing an activity with maybe two or three friends either outdoors or inviting all your friends to a zoom party. I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween this year!