Happy ghosts hop out of a pile of pumpkins and smile in an open lot at 12th and C streets in west Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)

Happy ghosts hop out of a pile of pumpkins and smile in an open lot at 12th and C streets in west Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)

Halloween celebrations not scared of COVID-19

But precautions to be taken

Halloween’s annual celebration of fantasy and sweet treats will get out of the house Saturday on the North Olympic Peninsula, but with precautions taken against the spread of COVID-19.

The tradition of downtown trick-or-treating has been called off this year in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend because of the pandemic, although alternatives are available, while Forks will mark Halloween with its annual trick-or-treat at some 30 businesses.

Health officials have said that door-to-door trick-or-treating can be safe during the pandemic — in which cases have been increasing in the U.S. lately — if guidelines are followed.

Officials urge trick-or-treaters to travel in household groups, practice social distancing and not to gather in parties or crowds over five people. They caution that masks should be used and that plastic Halloween costume masks are no substitute for cloth or surgical face masks.

The Halloween decorations at 832 W. Eighth St. in Port Angeles greet passers-by as the upcoming holiday approaches.

The Halloween decorations at 832 W. Eighth St. in Port Angeles greet passers-by as the upcoming holiday approaches.

Trick-or-treaters should wash their hands before and after collecting treats and use hand sanitizer.

Those who give out treats are urged to limit candy to individually wrapped bags. If possible, place treats on a table in the driveway or yard to avoid crowds at front doors. To see trick-or-treaters, people can sit in chair in their driveways, garages, yards or porches, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from the treat table.

And, as always, no one who is feeling sick should interact with others. Anyone who has been exposed to a person with the virus also should stay away from others and get a COVID-19 test, health officials said.

An activity planned throughout Clallam County is the North Olympic Library System (NOLS) Trivia Nights on Zoom.

The first is at 6:30 p.m. Friday and has a Halloween theme.

People can dress up in Halloween finery and participate on Zoom individually or with teams, playing through text, video chat, phone or “perhaps even yelling out your window with your neighbor,” library officials said.

NOLS oversees libraries in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay.

Register at nols.org/trivia-night to receive the Zoom link and information for team play.

Here is a list by town of events planned for Halloween.

PORT ANGELES

• YMCA trick or Treat

PORT ANGELES — The YMCA of Port Angeles will offer trick-or-treating from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

Participants are urged to dress up in Halloween costumes and pick up goody bags with treats and crafts that can be taken home to enjoy.

This event at 302 S. Francis St., is family-friendly, free, and open to all ages, the YMCA said.

Facial coverings and socially distancing are required.

For more information, email Jeanine Thayer, member services coordinator, at jeanine@olympicpeninsulaymca.org.

• Trick or Treat Trail

PORT ANGELES — A drive-through a Trick-or-Treat Trail adventure is planned for the Extreme Sports Park, 2917 W. Edgewood Drive, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Children and parents can enjoy the holiday while in costume from the warmth, comfort and safety of their vehicles.

Themed tents will serve as cruise-by stations for trick-or-treating. Children may see characters from famous movies or even a ramblin’ cowboy.

The event is free and is sponsored by ESP and area businesses.

Donations of candy or monetary donations to purchase candy for the event are sought.

For more information, call or text Kelie Morrison at 360-460-2601 or Jessica Johnson at 360-461-0426.

SEQUIM

• Drive-thru Trick or Treat

SEQUIM — The YMCA of Sequim will host a Drive-Thru Trick or Treat event from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Trick or treaters can drive through the parking lot at 675 N. Fifth Ave., with their families to see spooky decorations and pick up healthy treats and small prizes.

Trick or treaters also can walk the route on the sidewalk and then exit along the south property line away from vehicles.

Facial coverings are required when approaching YMCA staff and social-distancing is to be practiced.

For more information, please email Gail Sumpter at gail@olympicpeninsulaymca.org.

JOYCE

• Trunk-or-Treat

JOYCE — A Trunk-or-Treat is planned at Crescent School in Joyce from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The socially-distanced event will have trick-or-treating from trunk to trunk in a family-festive atmosphere, organizers said.

FORKS

• Downtown event

FORKS — West and Business and Professional Association and Forks Chamber of Commerce member businesses will offer merchant trick-or-treating Saturday.

Businesses have decided upon different times for the trick-or-treating, either during business hours or from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For more information, see the chamber website at forkswa.com.

• Fire department

JOYCE — The Forks Fire department will host trick-or-treating starting at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The fire hall is at 11 Spartan Ave.

• Church event

FORKS — The Forks Assembly of God plans will have a Drive-Thru Truck-or-Treat from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m Saturday.

The drive-thru will be in the church parking lot at 81 Huckleberry Lane.

PORT TOWNSEND

• Costume contest

PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Main Street Program will host a virtual costume contest for children in grades K-6.

The deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday.

Winners will be posted on the organization’s social media site.

To participate, parents can submit photos of their children in costume (one each) to admin@ptmainstreet.org.

Parents also are asked to include this information for notification purposes: Parent or guardian’s full name; child’s first name; costume description; email address and mailing address.

Submissions also can be shared to social media using #pthalloweenfun.

Those providing photos are giving the organization permission to share them on social media.

For more information, see ptmainstreet.org, or call Mari F. Mullen, executive director, at 360-385-7911.

• Halloween Storytelling

PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Toastmasters will host free virtual Halloween Storytelling from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday.

Christopher Summitt will present the story of “Haunted Battlefield — Little Big Horn 1985.”

Summitt was the ranger historian at Custer Battlefield in the 1980s during the era of the archaeological surveys.

He was involved with research, official correspondence with other historians, and telling the story of the battle at Little Big Horn.

Little Big Horn has a reputation as one of the most haunted sites in the west.

As Summitt puts it, “the dead are not quiet there.”

Impromptu stories also are planned.

For more information, go to Jeffco.ToastmastersClubs.org.

More in Entertainment

Sequim photographer Randy Tomaras points to a photo featured in his two-volume course “It Is NOT the Camera.” Tomaras’ home studio will be featured in the Strait from the Artists Studio Tour today and Sunday. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim artist looks for life outside of frame

Photographer will be part of Strait from the Artists tour

Sue Ritter Milling’s quilt, “Ole,” is part of the exhibit “Find Your Story” opening at Bayside Gallery on Sunday.
Bayside Gallery to host reception for ‘Find Your Story’

The Bayside Gallery will host a reception for the… Continue reading

Caitlin Warbelow will perform Tuesday evening at Rainshadow Recording on Fort Worden.
Warbelow, Ranney to perform at Rainshadow Recording studio

Caitlin Warbelow will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Warbelow,… Continue reading

Carol Marshall - "Crowned Crane"
Harbor Art Gallery to host reception on Saturday

Harbor Art Gallery will host a reception for its… Continue reading

The Black Ends to perform at Quilcene Lantern

The Black Ends will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday. The… Continue reading

Magical Strings to open Concerts in the Woods season

Concerts in the Woods will begin its 2024 schedule with… Continue reading

Stage productions highlight weekend events

Stage productions, bands and art shows will be on the Peninsula this… Continue reading

Cast members, from left, Stephen Browning, Christie Lang, Glenn Gilbert, Jim Gormly and Kelly McNees rehearse for the Port Ludlow Players’ production of “”Its a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.”
Ludlow Village Players to stage radio play

The Ludlow Village Players will stage a production of… Continue reading

Studio Bob to host drink and draw event

Studio Bob will host Drink and Draw at 7… Continue reading

Saltfire Theatre to stage ‘An Empty Plate’ in Port Townsend

Saltfire Theatre will stage its sixth production, “An Empty… Continue reading

Deborah Anne Harrison of Deborah Anne Harrison Designs will open her studio to the public this weekend during the third Strait from the Artists Studio Tour.
Strait from the Artists Tour set this weekend

The third Strait from the Artists Tour will be open from 10… Continue reading

Kyle Bartholick-LeMaire (Sweeney Todd) and Angela Poynter (Mrs. Lovett) join the company for “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” at a rehearsal for “Sweeney Todd.” The show runs through Saturday at Sequim High School. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Ghostlight to stage ‘Sweeney Todd’ at Sequim High

Musical dark comedy runs Thursday through Saturday at auditorium