Boo!

It’s getting close to Halloween, and covid is still here. While normal Tri-Town holiday events have been called off, there are still ways for kids to get out and celebrate safely. 

"We are urging residents to remain vigilant if they choose to take part in any Halloween activities," Town Administrator Jay McGrail said. "Wearing a mask, physically distancing, practicing proper hand hygiene and celebrating with members of your own household are all precautions that residents are urged to take to remain safe and healthy this season."

In Mattapoisett, Selectmen are discouraging trick-or-treating and erring on the side of caution.

“Our goal, I believe, is to keep the residents as safe as possible,” Board Chair Paul Silva said at an Oct. 13 Board of Selectmen meeting. 

In lieu of traditional trick-or-treating, the Mattapoisett Lions Club will host a Halloween Family Fun Festival grab ‘n go for goodie bags on Oct. 24 from noon to 3 p.m. at Old Hammondtown School. Kids will receive a goody bag and a small pumpkin. Everyone must stay in their cars, and masks must be worn.

The Mattapoisett Police Association will also be holding a Trick-or-Treat drive through event on Halloween at Center School from 4 to 6 p.m.

In addition, Chief Mary Lyons said at an Oct. 13 Board of Selectmen meeting that officers will be around to intercept trick-or-treaters and hand them candy themselves in an effort to discourage families from trick-or-treating door-to-door. 

Families can also trick-or-treat from trunk to trunk at Old Rochester High School’s Trunk-or-Treat event hosted by the Class of 2022 on Oct. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. Advanced sign up is required. 

In Marion, Cub Scout Troop #32 is hosting a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event on Oct. 24 at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center from 1 to 4 p.m. The Sippican Lands Trust and Marion Police Department will have Halloween tables to visit starting at 1 p.m. Costumes are welcome and encouraged.

The Marion Art Center is calling on all kids, families and adults to send in photos of themselves in costume to info@marionartcenter.org. 

Those who submit entries can drive by the MAC to pick up goody bags on Halloween. These candy and art supply treat bags will be prepared and presented by one of the MAC’s famous “witches,” of course. 

Families can visit the MAC and enjoy spooky sightings all around the building, and MAC’s outdoor community message board will get a fresh coat of black paint, and anyone is invited to add a Halloween-themed message.

But before parents send their children out to play with friends in their costumes, there are some things to know.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released guidelines on how to have a safe Halloween. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also published a list of Halloween by how risky they are.