Halloween events planned around Malvern
With Halloween just weeks away several events are planned for the community in Malvern. But this year's spookiest, scariest fun holiday will be celebrated differently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Malvern Mayor Brenda J. Weldon has emphasized to the public to continue following safety guidelines and protocol procedures enforced by Gov. Asa Hutchinson of wearing face coverings and social distancing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
For several months Weldon has encouraged everyone to follow Hutchinson's guidelines and wear masks and practice social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak. Although Halloween is not cancelled this year, Weldon noted it is very important that everyone find ways to stay safe and parents keep their children safe as well.
Traditionally, the Malvern Police Department has hosted a haunted house, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19. Instead, Weldon mentioned the Malvern Police Department with the Malvern Fire Department and LifeNet, EMS will host a drive-through Halloween event and hand out candy for the public at the new police station located on 110 N Main St. October 31. The event is from 5:30 until 7 p.m.
Other Halloween events taking place in Malvern on Saturday, Oct. 31 include— Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church hosting a trunk or treat from 6 until 8 p.m.; Malvern Cruise Nite hosting its first trunk or treat from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at the old bowling alley lot, located at 1400 E
Ave. in Malvern; and the Malvern-Hot Spring County Library is hosting a trick or treat from 10 a.m. until noon. The public can stop by the library for a special treat and a chance to take a picture in front of the Great Pumpkin Patch backdrop.
For a pre-Halloween night event Oct. 30, Salt Life Church is hosting a trunk or treat from 4 until 7 p.m. at 26188 Hwy. 67. Arbor Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center will also be hosting a drive-through trick or treat event beginning at 4:30 Oct. 30 at the center.
The Arkansas Department of Health has released specific Halloween guidelines to follow during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ADH is aware that many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, which is the cause of COVID-19.
To help secure the health and safety, the AHD has provided alternative ways the public can participate in Halloween activities.
ADH strongly encourages everyone to take the precautions of their safety guidelines seriously to protect yourself, loved ones and others from the spread of COVID-19 for everyone who decides on how they will celebrate Halloween.
The ADH noted, “If you have COVID-19, think you might have it, or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-ortreaters. “
The following are protocol procedures for Halloween Guidance During COVID-19 Pandemic provided the ADH: Masks
• A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
• Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
Treat guidance •Parents should limit the number of houses children visit
• Only let children eat factory-wrapped candy that has been wiped off with a sanitary wipe
Lower risk activities These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives. Keep socially distant and wear your cloth masks, not a Halloween mask alone.
•Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
•Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
•Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a scavenger huntstyle trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home Moderate risk activities •Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where indi
vidually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard).—If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags.
•Having a small group (no more than 10 people), outdoor, open-air costume party or parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart.
•Having a trunk-or-treat event where masks are worn and social distancing can be assured (i.e. in a large parking lot where treats can be funneled through a PVC pipe or placed in treat bags for participants to pick up instead of handed out directly).
•Going to an open-air, oneway, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart.—If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
•Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is enforced, and
people are able to maintain social distancing.
Higher risk activities Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:
•Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door.
•Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in