While things have been progressing and opening throughout New Jersey, one thing has been on many October-loving minds: Halloween. And in Hoboken, there are several need-to-know updates.
The City of Hoboken released a press release from Mayor Bhalla via Nixle alert on September 30th regarding the Halloween holiday and how it’d be handled in Hoboken — canceling the annual Ragamuffin parade.
“As we enter October, I know that Halloween has been a topic of discussion among our residents and children. As with many other activities over the past seven months, the challenge is – how do we balance a day that has traditionally been a favorite of our children (and adults), with the fact that we remain in a pandemic? It is a topic that my family has been grappling with as well, especially with my two children,” he stated.
Trick-or-Treating is Still Allowed — But Streets Won’t Close on October 31st
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently came out with guidelines regarding trick-or-treating and other Halloween related activities. These include avoiding door-to-door trick-or-treating, or trunk-or-treats, given the challenges of social distancing and the potential spread of COVID-19. Given these CDC guidelines, the most common question I am receiving is if trick-or-treating is going to be prohibited in Hoboken? The short answer is no,” Mayor Bhalla explained.
“I believe this is a choice parents and families will be making with the most up to date information on the pandemic and infection rates available that we provide on a weekly basis, among other factors. However, taking into account the CDC’s recommendations, I am encouraging families and children to consider alternatives to trick-or-treating.”
The press release stated that there will be no street closures and the prohibition of block parties on Saturday, October 31. Open streets will also be postponed, according to Hoboken, on Saturday, October 31.
On Canceling the Parade
“Given the challenges of Halloween taking place during the pandemic, we are also taking precautions to keep residents as safe as possible and reducing scenarios where COVID-19 is more likely to spread,” the City’s Nixle alert stated. “Unfortunately, the parade – which is one of the most well-attended parades we have in Hoboken – is naturally likely to result in congregation, especially among our children,” Mayor Bhalla continued.
He also noted that parents can allow their children to trick-or-treat but recommended the following:
– Wear a face mask, which can be incorporated into a costume or outfit
– Trick-or-treat with family members or household contacts only
– Trick-or-treat only in your local block or neighborhood – please avoid areas there that traditionally get crowded during Halloween if you do not live there
– Wait for others to complete gathering candy at a door or stoop before asking for candy, to maintain appropriate social distancing
– Coordinate with members of your block or building to host trick-or-treating during off-peak hours for children on the block, such as early in the morning on Saturday
– If residents in households or apartments do not want to participate in handing out candy to children, which is completely understandable, we recommend shutting your lights off with a note on your gate or door.
Mayor Bhalla also shared that the City of Hoboken will be hosting a Halloween-based drive-in Movies Under the Stars on Thursday, October 29, Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31. The times and movies to be shown will be announced in the near future.
Hoboken will also be hosting a virtual costume contest for children, where photos of costumes can be submitted electronically, with winning costumes to be announced on or around Halloween on the City of Hoboken Facebook page.
