LOCAL

Trick-or-Treating in the COVID-19 era

Spencer Durham
sdurham@lenconnect.com
There is still plenty of Halloween spirit in the community, even with the coronavirus pandemic still a major part of daily life. This Scott Street home in Adrian was brightly lit during the nighttime hours with "The Nightmare Before Christmas" themed yard decorations. Trick-or-treating hours in Adrian City and Adrian Township have been set for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

ADRIAN — Halloween will have a different look this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but youth in the Lenawee County area still have plenty of opportunities to load up on candy and other goodies this Halloween weekend.

National Honor Society students at Adrian High School will do their part to deliver some Halloween fun with a trunk-or-treat in the high school parking lot from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Kids can dress up for the event and be driven through 12 different stations. NHS, staff and key club members will decorate their cars in the spirit of the holiday.

“It will be very Halloween-y,” said NHS member Max Rhames.

It's the second year Adrian NHS students have hosted a Halloween event. Last year's trick-or-treat was held inside and saw a good turnout.

“It was really well received,” said Marie Lucius, high school teacher and NHS advisor. “We wanted to come up with a modified way to serve the community (this year).”

Saturday's trunk-or-treat is open to any and all children. They do not have to be Adrian Public Schools students.

Parents should enter through the southern-most entrance at the high school. They will be directed from there.

Goodies were made possible from donations by Foundation Realty, Gleaner Life Insurance and Kapnick Insurance Group.

Lucius said they expect to be busy the entire time, and are asking parents to be patient.

“We are going to go as safely and quickly as possible,” she said.

The following is a run down of other Halloween events taking place in Lenawee County, along with community times and dates of when trick-or-treating will be taking place. Information has been passed along to The Daily Telegram, or it has been sought after by The Daily Telegram:

• Both the City of Adrian and Adrian Township will have community-wide trick-or-treating hours from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.

Blissfield: Trick-or-treating hours are from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31. Because of the pandemic, annually held events such as the Halloween parade and the Blissfield Rotary Club’s bonfire and get-together in Ellis Park have been canceled this year. The Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library will not be providing hot chocolate in front of the library.

According to an Oct. 1 statement from the Blissfield Rotary Club, efforts will be made in the Blissfield community to provide some form of replacement of the canceled-parade and bonfire fun.

“What we will be doing this year is coordinating with the school and providing grade-appropriate books to each Blissfield Elementary School student, as well as gift certificates for $6 which can be redeemed for a treat at Emmy’s Kitchen or Bubblz Cafe,” the release said.

Emmy’s Kitchen is at 326 E. Adrian St., (U.S. 223), Blissfield, and Bubblz Cafe is at 417 E. Adrian St., (U.S. 223), Blissfield.

“This opportunity to serve was one that allowed for respect to social distancing strategies and, at the same time, hopefully will put some smiles on children’s faces,” the release added.

It has been the work of Rotary International for many years to eradicate polio from the world. It is in the same effort, according to the news release, that Rotary does it’s part in protecting others from the coronavirus pandemic.

“We, in good conscience, cannot promote the gathering of a large crowd in the midst of a global pandemic,” the statement said. “It is a painful decision as we all want to have a sense of normalcy, and we cherish this tradition.”

Britton: Trick-or-treating hours are from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31. According to the Village of Britton’s website, any home with its porch light lit between those two hours is welcoming youth to pick up candy. Homes that do not wish to pass out candy, must make sure their porch lights are turned off between 6 and 8 p.m.

Cambridge Township: Trick-or-treating hours are from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.

Cement City: Trick-or-treating hours are from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.

Clinton: Both Clinton Village and Clinton Township will offer trick-or-treating hours from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.

Deerfield: Trick-or-treating hours for residents in Deerfield Village and Deerfield Township are from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31. The Deerfield Township Fire Department has noted it will not be open to the public this year, and it will not be handing out giveaways and goodie bags to the youth, because of COVID-19 concerns.

Franklin Township: Trick-or-treating hours are from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.

Hudson: There will be two opportunities for trick-of-treating fun and activities in the City of Hudson, Saturday, Oct. 31.

A downtown trick-or-treat event will be held earlier in the day on Halloween, 10 a.m. to noon. Various businesses will have specials, treats and deals during those hours.

City-wide trick-or-treating will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Madison Township: This year, there will not be any special events for Halloween taking place at the Madison Township Fire Department. That’s because the celebrations will be spread out, and have been moved to Carpenter Farms and Pumpkins, LLC., 2534 U.S. 223, Adrian.

From 5 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, youth will be able to visit the pumpkin farm and they will be able to collect candy as handed out by members of the Madison Township Fire Department.

Morenci: City-wide trick-or-treating is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31. The city will not hosting any special Halloween-themed events this year.

Onsted: Trick-or-treating hours in Onsted are set for 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31. According to information on the Village of Onsted’s website, while Halloween is not a village sanctioned event, but rather a nationally recognized holiday, the village of Onsted does not have any involvement with the holiday.

“The village has no legal authority or basis to cancel Halloween or restrict the free movement of its residents,” its website states.

Residents who plan to participate in Halloween or trick-or-treat activities in Onsted, are being reminded to heed the recommendations for health and safety as passed along by the Lenawee County Health Department.

Palmyra Township: Trick-or-treating hours are from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31. The Palmyra Township Fire Department will have its door open to the community during those hours, where fire department personnel will have pre-bagged goodie bags ready for the youth to pick up.

The Palmyra Township Fire Department is at 4276 Rouget Road, Palmyra.

Raisin Township: According to Raisin Township Supervisor Dale Witt, the township has not set any times for conducting trick-or-treat hours. Generally, Witt said, the township will follow the schedule of trick-or-treating as set by Tecumseh.

Tecumseh will be holding trick-or-treating from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.

“COVID might have a lot of people reconsidering trick-or-treating this year,” Witt said. “While we have not set any dates and times for the event, we do expect individuals do what they feel is safe and necessary.”

Tecumseh: Both the City of Tecumseh and Tecumseh Township have trick-or-treat hours set for 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31. The sounding of the community horn at the fire department at 6 p.m. will begin the trick-or-treating fun. The second sounding of the horn at 8 p.m. will announce the conclusion of trick-or-treating.

Prior to the evening fun of candy hunting, the City of Tecumseh and the Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) will be teaming together to offer “Halloween on Wheels,” which is a collaborative drive-thru event at the TCA.

The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, in the parking lot of the center for the arts, 400 Maumee St., Tecumseh.

Those attending “Halloween on Wheels” are encouraged to be dressed up in costume — while remaining safe and socially distanced — in their vehicles. Attendees will be able to enjoy a drive-thru trick-or-treating event while listening to live music.

The Tecumseh Economic Development and the Tecumseh Parks and Recreation have also contributed to the upcoming Halloween afternoon event.

Jessica Sattler, the economic development director for the City of Tecumseh, said “Halloween on Wheels” is being offered to the community as a safe alternative to the traditional city-wide trick-or-treating.

“The least contact the better right now,” she said.

More than a dozen stations of candy and other goodies will be made available — and decorated — at the drive-thru event. Tecumseh fire personnel and police officers will also be on hand.

Woodstock Township: Trick-or-treating hours are from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31.

This home on Dennis Street in Adrian, is full of fun, spooky and kooky Halloween themed lawn decorations and inflatables.