Celebrate Halloween safely

Halloween may look a little different this year, but it can still be a lot of fun. Follow public health advice and measures from public health experts, and make good decisions based on your own unique situation.

To have a safe and happy Halloween, you should:

  • avoid gatherings with people outside of your household
  • stay home if you are feeling ill, even if you have mild symptoms, or if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19
  • turn off your porch light and don’t hand out treats if you are sick, even with mild symptoms, or self-isolating
  • stay within your public health unit region

Check with your local municipality or public health unit for any additional advice or restrictions that may be in place.

If you live in a public health unit region in Stage 3, consider getting a poster to help let your neighbours know whether you are handing out treats.

If you live in Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York Region

Given the high transmission of COVID-19 in Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York Region, traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is not recommended. Consider alternative ways to celebrate instead, such as:

  • encouraging kids to dress up and participate in virtual activities and parties
  • organizing a candy hunt with people living in your household
  • carving pumpkins
  • having a movie night or sharing scary stories
  • decorating front lawns

If you live outside of Ottawa, Peel, Toronto or York Region

If you live outside the modified Stage 2 public health unit regions and are going to go out to trick-or-treat:

  • only go out with members of your household
  • only trick-or-treat outside
  • both trick-or-treaters and people handing out candy should wear a face covering — a costume mask is not a substitute and should not be worn over a face covering because it may make it difficult to breathe
  • do not congregate or linger at doorsteps and remember to line up two metres apart if you are waiting
  • avoid high-touch surfaces and objects, such as railings and doorbells
  • whether you are collecting or handing out treats, wash your hands often and thoroughly, or use hand sanitizer

If you are giving out treats, do not leave them in a bucket or bowl for children to grab. Consider using tongs or other similar tools to hand out treats.

Print a poster to tell trick or treaters if you are giving out treats

Consider printing one of these posters to let your neighbours know whether you are handing out treats.


If you will be giving out treats and live in a public health unit region in Stage 3. print poster here

If you won’t be handing out treats this year or live in a public health unit region in modified Stage 2 (Ottawa, Peel, Toronto or York Region). print poster here.