Halloween in Sandwich, 2020

An update from the Sandwich Recreation Dept.

Hi All, in keeping with the spirit of the Board’s approach to otherwise annually scheduled activities throughout this unusual year, the Board of Selectmen agreed to forego endorsement and participation in Halloween this year. The Board thoughtfully considered adaptations to normal activities – with input from public safety, resident, and state/local perspectives – and ultimately agreed community members are safer participating in home activities. We also encourage families to not travel to other communities for trick-or-treating.  Some ideas to consider include: decorating your home, scavenger hunts, pumpkin carving, and scary movies.

To support the spirit of the day Sandwich Parks and Recreation will host a Freaky Fashion Show on our Facebook page.  Please email photos of costumes and decorations to sandwichrecreation@gmail.com or tag our Facebook page: “Sandwich NH Parks & Recreation” – we will be posting emailed photos to our Facebook page.

We WILL be hosting an adapted version of our Pumpkin Wall event. On or after Wednesday 10/28 folks can place a carved Jack O’Lantern on the wall at Remick Park or on the wall in town above the tennis court.

The Sandwich Parks and Recreation will also provide “BOO BAGS” (paper bags filled with candy) for families to create a scavenger hunt at home, or simply indulge 😊.  The Parks and Recreation Department will accept Candy Donations for the BOO BAGS, but we will not be delivering candy to homes as we have in past years. We acknowledge that some families may trick-or-treat, and have provided guidelines below.  Please understand we are well aware of the difficulty of these times. 

Candy donations for BOO BAGS can be dropped off on starting Tuesday 10/20 at the Parks and Recreation office. There will be a Tupperware bin for contact-less drop-off. BOO BAGS will be available for pickup on Friday 10/30.
*Please let us know if you have allergies prior to 10/30 BOO BAG pickup.
Please Email: sandwichrecreation@gmail.com

Guidelines for Trick-or-Treating

For Houses in the Village:

• Do NOT hand out candy if you are or have recently been sick
  
• Turn off outside/porch lights if you are not participating in Halloween
• Halloween masks are not substitutes for CDC recommended face coverings
• Turn outdoor lights on if you are delivering candy
• Deliver candy from 6 feet away
• Do not use a communal bowl
• Set up a candy chute, slide, zipline, or table/pre-package candy in paper bags
• DO NOT hand candy directly to Trick-or-Treaters
• Make sure you have hand sanitizer and use it often
• Do not congregate
• Do not scream

For Trick-or-Treaters

• Do not go out if you or anyone in your household has been sick
• Do not consume candy or other food while trick-or-treating
• Wear a cloth face-covering
• Non-Cloth Halloween masks and face coverings are not appropriate substitutes
• Trick-or-Treaters should stay only with members of their household
• Maintain 6-foot distance from people not in your household
• Be patient waiting to trick-or-treat at each house
• Do not approach a house if there is another group
• Do not congregate
• Do not scream
• Carry a flashlight and hand sanitizer- use often