The pandemic has cancelled a variety of events this year, but it can’t cancel holidays. Nevertheless, Halloween celebrations and trick-or-treating will undoubtedly look different than in previous years. Agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, have put out recommendations about how to keep you and your family safe during this holiday celebration.
“We hope residents remain vigilant in our fight against COVID-19 and wear a face mask, practice proper social distancing, wash their hands, and adhere to gathering capacities as issued by our local health department,” says Mt. Pleasant City Manager Nancy Ridley. “We also encourage everyone to pay attention to Center for Disease Control and Michigan Department of Health Human Services recommendations regarding Halloween activities.”
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Prestige Centre Assisted Living and Memory Care will host an outdoor Halloween Parade Oct. 31 at 1:30 p.m.Local community members and organizations have put together a variety of creative, socially distant events this year as they work to keep the spooky spirit going while being mindful of current concerns and restrictions. Here are five, but not nearly all, of those local events in Isabella County.
Prestige Centre Halloween Parade
Located at 5785 E. Broadway Rd., Prestige Centre Assisted Living and Memory Care will host an outdoor Halloween Parade Oct. 31 at 1:30 p.m. Community members are encouraged to attend, and participants will be restricted to 50 people or less as a health precaution.
“Halloween is a fun tradition for many of our residents, so we want to still see kiddos dressed for the occasion,” Prestige Centre Life Enrichment Coordinator Carrie Persky says. “We want to share some smiles and laughter. We haven’t had a lot of that since March.”
Social distancing will be enforced by a line of spray-painted x’s on Prestige Centre’s lawn and residents will watch costumes parade by while sitting in a designated area outside the facility. At the end, parade-goers will be handed a bag of candy to take home.
Persky requests interested parties call (989) 773-9421 or email enrichment@prestigecentremi.com to reserve a spot in the parade.
My 1043’s Boo Bash
Local radio station My 1043 is bringing its annual Boo Bash to Isabella County Fairgrounds. For those familiar with Boo Bashes in the past, health concerns have forced the cancellation of this year’s affiliated Spooky Skate. However, the main event is still on from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 31.
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Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has released recommendations for Halloween celebrations and activities.My 1043 Operations Manager and On-Air Personality Shawn Powers says this year’s celebration is, “Trick or treating, safe style.”
Local businesses will be placed around the fairground in a manner allowing attendees to drive from booth to booth without leaving their vehicle.
“Each booth will be set up with a six-foot chute to send the candy down as to keep socially distant, each vendor will be wearing gloves as to not touch the candy, and everyone will be wearing masks,” Powers says. “Hand sanitizer will be provided, as well.”
Forms will be available for each participant to vote on “Best Booooo-th.” Families of all ages are welcome.
Art Reach Take-and-Make Craft
If you just can’t wait until the 31st to celebrate Halloween, stop by Art Reach of Mid Michigan in Downtown Mt. Pleasant. On Oct. 30 from 1-4 p.m. or 5-8 p.m., the business will provide a Take-and-Make craft for community members to complete at home.
Created in part with Central Michigan University journalism students, Art Reach of Mid Michigan’s craft contains all the necessary tools creators will need to craft a black cat.
Art Reach of Mid Michigan Executive Director, Amy Powell, says the craft came to mind after Mt. Pleasant’s annual Pumpkin Promenade was cancelled.
“We often work with students in the journalism courses for Pumpkin Promenade. When we engaged with the student group [this year], we were suspecting the Promenade wouldn’t happen because of the nature of the event,” Powell says. “We asked them to create a project we could put into kits and make available for free, then take home to do safely since we couldn’t do in-person.”
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Homeowner Taylor Baumann’s haunted yard has become a popular attraction in Mt. Pleasant. Photo Courtesy of Taylor Baumann. The kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and only while supplies last.
A Haunting on McDonald
Homeowner Taylor Baumann goes all out for Halloween. His haunted yard has become a popular attraction in Mt. Pleasant since he and his fiancée moved into town from Rosebush two years ago.
“That’s when the haunted yard on Lansing St. shut down,” Baumann said. “I’ve known [the owner] since I was a child so I asked her what should I do and she donated a lot of stuff to me and words of wisdom and I kind of ran with it.”
Now, the Baumann home at 2116 McDonald Rd. can be seen by all – and for free. Donations are accepted and most proceeds are donated to Special Olympics Michigan.
When it comes to precautions for coronavirus concerns, Baumann says he made sure his plan was greenlit by law enforcement and the health department before creating this year’s attraction. Social distancing and masks are required for both volunteers and attendees.
Decorations feature a circus maze and witch’s lair. Hours are 6-9 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday. Spooking will begin early the week leading up to Halloween, with the yard operating Wednesday, Oct. 28 and Thursday, Oct. 29 from 6-8:30 p.m. and continuing its normal hours through Halloween.
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HisHouse Christian Church will host a Trunk or Treat event Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.Trunk or Treat at HisHouse
HisHouse Christian Church, at 211 W. Broomfield St. will host a Trunk or Treat event Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m. HisHouse Events Intern Abby Fishbaugh said the event is meant as a substitute for trick-or-treating if parents feel uncomfortable going door-to-door this year.
All candy available at this event will be pre-packaged and all volunteers will wear masks and gloves. Every trunk-or-treat attendee will be asked to maintain six feet between themselves and others, and will required to wear a mask unless they are under the age of five or have a medical condition that prevents them from doing so.
“We will have hand sanitizing stations set up for everyone to use,” Fishbaugh said. “These stations will be automatic, so people using them won’t be touching the same pump over and over again.”