Halloween 2020

Children may trick or treat on Saturday, October 31, 2020, between the hours of 3:00 – 7:00 PM. While the City is not encouraging trick or treating due to the pandemic, the following guidelines will help promote a safe experience for families and individuals that choose to participate:

• Do not participate in trick-or-treating if you are feeling unwell, if someone in your house is unwell, if you are awaiting COVID-19 test results, if you have recently returned from travel to a hotspot state, or if you know that you have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Turn on your porch lamp or outdoor lights to show that your home is welcoming trick-or-treaters. 
• Consider using a motion-activated noise maker to notify you when trick-or-treaters are at the door, such as a motion activated Halloween decoration, rather than having trick-or-treaters ring the doorbell, which can be a high touch-point.
• Face coverings should be worn by all participants over the age of two, including individuals passing out treats. 
• Avoid close contact with others by leaving candy on your porch – or even socially-distanced on your lawn (see below for a list of ideas)! Instead of manning the door, man the windows and wave at kids as they visit.
• If you would prefer to answer the door to greet children individually, pass out candy instead of inviting children to take a treat from a communal bowl. Ask children to tell you their choice of a treat, rather than taking it themselves. 
• If preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags.
• Individuals should use hand sanitizer regularly throughout the trick or treat hours.
• Do not trick-or-treat in groups with others; trick-or-treat as a household.
• Maintain a safe distance from other trick-or-treating groups, and do not approach a house until the previous group has left.
• Consider distributing treats other than candy, which parents can then sanitize before giving to kids: stickers in cellophane packaging, pencils, mini pumpkins, erasers, etc.
• Please refrain from distributing coins or cash.
• Please do not distribute homemade treats or fresh fruits.

Households choosing to participate in trick-or-treating are asked to turn on their porch or outside lights, and to display this flyer in the window. Trick-or-treaters should only visit households that are clearly participating. 

If you would like to avoid trick-or-treaters coming to your door, but would still like to participate, consider passing out treats using the following socially-distanced ideas:

• Stay outside and host a “trunk or treat”.  Instead of inviting trick-or-treaters to come to your door, decorate your car and place candy in the open trunk for children to take. An adult should remain beside the vehicle at all times for safety reasons. Note: the CDC classes a "trunk or treat" event as a higher-risk activity. 
• Create a grab-bag candy walk on your lawn: place candy inside recyclable paper lunch bags so each child can simply pick up a bag of treats.
• Hang treats from a clothesline at children’s height.
• Mark a safe distance from your door using chalk and ask children to stand behind the line before you open the door to pass out candy.

Trick-or-treating is October 31 from 3:30 PM - 7 PM. Please review these guidelines with your adventurers to ensure a safe night for everyone. 

• Don’t trick-or-treat alone; trick-or-treat in a household group. Stay in a group and communicate to an adult where you will be going.
• Teach children how to obtain help or call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost.
• Walk on the sidewalk, not in the street.
• Only cross the street at designated crosswalks.
• Look both ways. Listen and watch for cars before crossing the street.
• Don’t hide or cross the street from between parked cars.
• Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing or try to affix reflective tape on costumes or treat bags to be more visible.
• Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes. If you wear a mask, make sure that the eye-holes are large enough that your vision won’t be affected.
• Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries to light your way.
• Visit homes that have inside and outside lights on.
• Accept your treats at the door and never go into a home.
• Always have an adult inspect the candy before eating. Don’t eat candy if packaging has been opened. Remember that small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.
• Be cautious around pets that may come to the door or be outside.
• Eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and around your property.
• Always keep lit Jack O’Lanterns away from drapes, decorations or areas where children will be standing or walking.

The Illinois State Police maintains a database of registered sex offenders in Illinois. The public can access this database by going to the website. Once you are in this website, agree to the terms by clicking on “I Agree” and enter the zip code (60035), City (Highland Park) and County (Lake) for a complete listing of registered sex offenders in Highland Park. The Police encourage community assistance in reporting any suspicious or unlawful activity. Let's all enjoy a safe Halloween in Highland Park. If you have any questions, please contact School Resource Officer Amy Hyndman at 847.926.1122.

• Secure your pets indoors on Halloween night - preferably in a room away from your front door. Between the doorbell ringing, odd-looking strangers at the door and all the children’s voices, this night is no “treat” for your dog or cat.
• Keep goodies away from pets. Chocolate and raisins can be particularly dangerous.
• Have ID on your pets - many animals slip out of the house when the door is opened.

𝟏. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝟐. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝟑. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐬
𝟒. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝟓. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝟔. 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝟕. 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝟖. 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝟗. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞
𝟏𝟎. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐞 

Highland Park Public Library: Halloween Grab 'N Go Craft

Make your own spooky lantern with our Halloween grab ‘n go craft. Create, then illuminate! Pick up your kit at the Library while supplies last. 

Monday - Thursday, October 26 - 29, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 


Make an online appointment to visit the Library or call 847-432-0216.

Spooky Stories  

Bring your best scary story and join us on Zoom for a night of terror! We’ll take turns telling the spookiest, scariest, goosebumpiest tales we know. Make sure your story is no longer than five minutes. Register, if you dare, at hplibrary.org/events. 

Grades 3 - 5: Thursday, October 29, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.,
Grades 6-8: Thursday, October 29, 7 - 8 p.m.