Friday October 23, 2020 | COLWOOD, BC
by Mary Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
It was going to be a fun upbeat community-festive Halloween in Colwood again this year — with a family-friendly event in a local park and a bonfire behind the fire hall. But the COVID-19 pandemic doused the flames on all that this year.
Pandemic safety protocols in BC as stated by the Provincial Health Officer and BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC) include social distancing (specifically physical distancing at 2 metres apart), wearing face masks, and frequent hand washing. And also — in the case of holding events — keeping groups small (under 50 if a large gathering, or “stick to six” now that we’re in the second wave of the COVID-19 infectious pandemic).
COVID-safe Halloween guidelines for BC were worked on for a few weeks by BC CDC and released at the beginning of October.
No Pumpkin Fest:
The annual Pumpkin Fest at Meadow Park (a three-hour daytime event set for October 24) was cancelled by the city, saying “as we stay apart to keep each other safe during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Normally for this event hundreds of costumed kids come with their families to Meadow Park in Colwood’s Royal Bay neighbourhood for Halloween fun at Pumpkin Fest. Kids take treasure maps to guide them through a number of games activities throughout the park. They decorate cookies, get their faces painted, dance live and take part in games like Monster Bowling, Ghoulish Golf, Creepy Connect Four and Monster Muncher.
“This year, enjoy your Halloween in safe, happy, small groups and we hope to bring Pumpkin Fest back for 2021,” is the Colwood municipality’s messaging around this cancellation.
Skipping the bonfire this year:
The annual bonfire behind the Colwood Fire Hall is also off the table this year. It’s usually also another opportunity for mayor, council, staff and firefighters to mingle with the public who drop by for treats and to be fascinated by the large controlled fire.
“The annual Halloween Bonfire at the Colwood Fire Hall has beencancelledfor 2020, as we stay apart to keep each other safe during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says the city. “Enjoy your Halloween in safe, happy, small groups.”
