NCLM Volume 70, Issue 4, 2020

SOUTHERN CITY QUARTER 4 2020 32 BEN BROWN NCLM Communications & Multimedia Strategist Trick-or-Treating in the Pandemic HALLOWEEN IS A BIG DEAL TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. HOW TO PROCEED IN 2020 OFFERED NO EASY SOLUTIONS. “We know how much people love Halloween and believe that by being inventive you can still have a fun evening,” Hemminger said. Ideas included virtual costume gatherings online. Knowing of course that some ghosts, vampires, and Tiger Kings would defy the cautions and set out for public celebration, Hemminger emphasized the importance of washing hands, wearing masks— not the Halloween kind—and maintaining safe distances from one another. Other municipalities across North Carolina similarly canceled the usual big gatherings. Yadkinville called off its downtown Hallow- een fun. Davidson pulled the plug on its Halloween March, where costumed kids line up and trick-or-treat with downtown busi- nesses. Maiden canceled its popular street festivities, too. But generally around the state, basic trick-or-treating was left to residents to decide for themselves. Of course that came with highly suggested guidelines from local governments and health agencies. In Durham, Mayor Steve Schewel, donning a pointy witch hat, took to the podium at a press conference to set the tone. He said he Sure, local government and Halloween have crossed paths before: extra oversight from police, facilitating community events like trunk-or-treat, or even setting policy on the hours of trick-or- treating. Sometimes town councils even pass ordinances to move it to a night other than Halloween proper (like the nearest Satur- day), which never fails to get a reaction. Fiddling with tradition can be scary. But 2020 gave us an entirely different beast—one that speaks to the desire for community gathering and the fine line municipal- ities walk towards that end during a pandemic. In towns across the state, Halloween was not a passing discussion, but rather a high-priority item without a simple solution. On October 29, the state recorded its then-highest-ever total of new COVID-19 cases. Hospitalization rates remain alarming. How, then, to proceed with an event marked by strangers of unknown health status visiting every residential door? “It’s important for everyone to know that Halloween will be differ- ent in Chapel Hill,” said Mayor Pam Hemminger in a video mes- sage to residents of the college town that loves to party in huge numbers on a closed-to-traffic Franklin Street every October 31. Not this year. The town announced it was canceling the traditional street closure and urged against other large gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. continues on page 34 Photo Credit: Ben Brown. On October 29, the state recorded its then-highest-ever total of new COVID-19 cases. Hospitalization rates remain alarming. How, then, to proceed with an event marked by strangers of unknown health status visiting every residential door ?