Holidays are expected to be different this year, but the festivities aren’t completely canceled. With Halloween coming up we have some advice on how you can stay safe.
For those wondering about trick-or-treating, please consider the following:
- If you plan to give out treats, wear gloves and pass them out to avoid excessive touching of candy and bowl among the ghosts and goblins.
- If you expect having trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood, consider how many have come in the past and if you will need to establish 6 feet markers for possible lines.
- There are a lot of fun ways to get innovative and creative with passing out treats! Maybe try bagging candy up to avoid having kids reach (or having to pass out) multiple pieces.
- Now is the perfect time to give your facemask a Halloween themed makeover! When answering the door for trick-or-treaters, wear a mask.
- Make sure children (and adults) stay at least six feet apart from others. If you can’t keep physical distance, it’s best to avoid activities like trick-or-treating or going to a crowded pumpkin patch.
- Avoid indoor haunted houses where people may be crowded together and screaming (people spray tiny droplets when they scream).
- Wash your hands thoroughly when you get home. Carry hand sanitizer so that kids can wash their hands while trick-or-treating.
- Set aside any candy that comes from outside your household for 24 hours before allowing children to handle it. Reality check: We know that it’s too much to ask of kids to wait to eat their candy. You might purchase a small amount of candy in advance so that you can have candy on hand that your kids can eat immediately on Halloween.
Please follow safety guidelines, social distancing of six feet and practice good hand hygiene while celebrating.
Whatcom Museum, Escape from Old City Hall, Oct. 10 – 31
For those searching for spooky virtual, yet local, activities try the online Escape From Old City Hall created by the Whatcom Museum and the Bellingham Parks Department. The cost is $5 per device for a 1 – 2 hour experience discovering the secrets of this Bellingham icon.
Downtown Bellingham Scavenger Hunt, Oct. 12 – 26
This year, the City of Bellingham and Downtown Bellingham have worked together to organize Downtown Trick or Treasure!
Get your costume on and head downtown for a no-touch scavenger hunt for families and kids. Clues will be located in downtown shop windows and all you have to do is take a selfie with each sign. After submitting all the needed clues, you will receive the secret Halloween pick up location where kids will receive a treasure bag of candy and goodies.
The scavenger hunt will be happening for two weeks, October 12-26, and is expected to take 2-3 hours to complete. All goodie bags will be available for pick up on Oct. 31 at various secret locations.
Cemetery Tour Oct. 21
On Oct. 21, join Kolby LaBree of the Good Time Girls Bellinghistory Tours for a virtual tour of Bayview Cemetery featuring old footage and historical photos. Founded in 1887, the Bayview Cemetery is the only remaining cemetery in Bellingham.
Bellingham Farmers Market Pumpkin Hunt Oct. 24
Find a free pumpkin at the Bellingham Farmers Market, on October 24 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., take it home, carve it, paint it, decorate it. and post it! Submit a photo of your pumpkin to @bhamfarmersmkt or use the hashtag #fallinlovewithbfm.
Pumpkins will be tagged with a “TAKE ME HOME – courtesy of Bellingham Farmers Market” sticker and please only one pumpkin per household to allow every to have one.
Spooky Farm Stories Oct. 28
On Oct. 28, the Good Time Girls head to Woodstock Farm for a night of virtual spooky stories.
For more info on holiday activities visit our online events calendar.
Insider Tip: Check out our latest blog on the Good Time Girls “Step back in time with the Good Time Girl’s Belling-history Tours” to learn more!
Halloween GLOW Fitness Skate Oct. 30
Put on your Halloween costume and head to Lynden Skateway for their Halloween GLOW Fitness Skate! All ages are welcome!
Whatcom Trip-or-Tour Oct. 31
Join the Chambers of Commerce in Whatcom County as we collaborate on a county-wide Halloween activity! This socially distanced Trip-or-Treat experience will allow parents to get the kids out of the house and into their cars for a drive around the County.
Be sure to read and respect the rules, so that this can be as safe as possible! To add to the fun, compete in the virtual costume contest that will take place on the Ferndale Chamber’s Facebook event!
Bellingham Farmers Market Pumpkin Hunt Oct. 31
Find a free pumpkin at the Bellingham Farmers Market, on October 31 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., take it home, carve it, paint it, decorate it. and post it! Submit a photo of your pumpkin to @bhamfarmersmkt or use the hashtag #fallinlovewithbfm.
Pumpkins will be tagged with a “TAKE ME HOME – courtesy of Bellingham Farmers Market” sticker and please only one pumpkin per household to allow every to have one.
Pumpkin Patches
Bellewood Farms, in Lynden Washington, has been a Whatcom County favorite for years, especially in the fall when the air is crisp and apples are ready to be picked. Check out our blog “Fall Favorite: Harvest at Bellewood” for the inside scoop on where to get pumpkins this fall.
Under Phase 2 of Washington’s Safe Start Plan several agritourism activities are allowed. These activities include u-pick berry farms, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, animal viewing and hayrides. All employees and customers are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing when at Bellewood.
Stoney Ridge Farm, in Everson Washington, is also open to the public Fridays from noon – 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Stoney Ridge has four acres of pumpkins, u-pick apples, corn maze and farm animals! Their donut an gift store is also open.
Insider Tip: Stoney Ridge Farm is the oldest pumpkin patch in Whatcom County! This year they are celebrating their 30th year of farming and hope you mask up and come by!
