Although temperatures are dropping, the Halloween spirit remains high in Seattle. Despite traditional “trick or treating” being problematic during these times of coronavirus, many neighborhood residents around Seattle have made an effort to deliver an exciting night to the youth of Seattle. Many neighborhoods have sent out an email to homes detailing what the process will be this year when handing out candy in a safe way.

For Montlake, a neighborhood near Prep, the email sent by the Montlake Community Co-op Group stated that those willing to participate should do what they feel is safe, whether it is to “leave treats in a bowl on the front porch, leave them in mini treat bags, create a chute or zip line, or allow visitors to knock if they are wearing masks and keeping their distance.”

Although things will be abnormal, it will be strange to “wear a mask the whole time and stay six feet apart” said Ansel Ambuske, younger brother of Ava Ambuske ’21. Looking on the bright side, he added “I think it might be more exciting to have all the different contraptions that people make to get the candy out.”

Many neighborhoods like Montlake, Madison Park, Capitol Hill, Madrona, Queen Anne and Magnolia have also created a designated map of the neighborhood detailing which houses and locations will be helping hand out candy, that children and families can look at to maximize candy collection in the safest way possible. The methods are also indicated on the map by a specific icon connecting to a key listing different way of distribution, whether it is setting up a chute down to the street or by handing treats out face to face.

Although families have felt “tricked” all year due to the pandemic, Halloween has served as something exciting for children to look forward to. After countless weeks of online school, kids are eager to submit to their youth and celebrate the kick-off of the holiday hiatus that takes place in the coming months. Unlike other years, where children have traveled around Seattle to specific neighborhoods other from their own, local trick or treating will become the trend.

“My brother is very excited to be going around his own neighborhood for once. It’ll be a nice change from always going place to place like the other years,” Ava Ambuske ’21 said about 12 year-old Ansel, who is dressing up as a person riding an inflatable unicorn.

Even the “booing” trend of anonymously leaving bags of Halloween treats on peoples’ doorsteps has increased significantly since last year. Kids, teenagers and even adults are now secretly surprising their friends in times of isolation to cheer them up.

Halloween this year will be a strange twist on what it has once been in years before, but neighborhoods and communities within Seattle are working hard to ensure that kids will have a memorable yet safe night of trick or treating.