The idea of walking around a street and sticking unwashed hands into a candy bucket seemed normal just a year ago. But now, with the world enveloped in a global pandemic, the “old ways” are going to have to be reconsidered.
Like most things this year, Halloween is going to have to be done a little differently. Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is going along with these differences.
The time-honored tradition of Trick or Treat Street at CMU is no longer going to be held in the dorms, in which residence hall committees would put up decorations and make themes for kids to trick or treat around.
CMU sophomore elementary education major and Wingate RA Hannah Warner said that this year, there will be a modified Trick or Treat Street in the University Center.
“[Our original plan was] to have tables outside and have kids come around to the tables, but Mesa County is not allowing any Halloween activities like that,” Warner said. “[Instead] it’s reservations. It’s like a two-hour window for kids to go into each room.”
Not only will Trick or Treat Street be different this year, but so will the way students celebrate the spooky season. Instead of big parties and gatherings being thrown, students will have to make the switch to smaller group activities.
One Halloween tradition that’ll have to be modified this year are haunted houses — there won’t be any major ones to visit in Grand Junction, and with the travel restrictions still in place, the ones on the Front Range will be inaccessible.
“This year I’m planning on dressing up with some friends and hanging out,” CMU freshman and psychology major Autumn Buell said. She also has plans to watch ‘Monster House’, ‘Goosebumps’ and other old Halloween-themed tv shows or movies.
While COVID-19 regulations and social distancing rules may have interfered with some students’ Halloween traditions, CMU junior business marketing major Kayleigh Dewar still has the opportunity to keep hers going.
“My favorite Halloween tradition is our yearly puzzle that we do. It’s such a good opportunity to see the ones we don’t get to see all the time due to busy schedules and just catch up. It’s also quite entertaining to see how far we get in our puzzle making process,” Dewar said. “[I’ll also] have some fun with friends by carving pumpkins, dressing up and just having a nice night with them.”
