Halloween in Greater Morristown: Tricks and treats in a pandemic

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By Nicholas Voltaggio

Boo! 

Did that scare you?

No? Well, that’s not altogether surprising. It’s hard to imagine anything spookier than these past few months.

Maybe you think you’ve had enough horror for one lifetime, and it would be hard to blame you. But don’t give up on this Halloween quite yet. True to form, Morristown has some tricks (and treats) up its sleeve for this peculiar holiday that are bound to deliver both fright and delight.

For many this year, the most dramatic change will be the absence of Morristown’s classic downtown trick-or-treat event, in which participating businesses typically distribute candy to eager, costumed kids.

Nevertheless, the Morristown Partnership and the Town of Morristown are committed to bringing holiday fun to all – through a special event called The Great Morristown Pumpkin Hunt.

Starting on Oct. 19, 2020, participants will be given a list of clues, guiding them to landmarks and points of interests around Morristown, where they will find numbered pumpkins. Families who submit their participation form by Nov. 2 will be entered in prize drawings. Contact the Morristown Partnership office at (973) 455-1133 or email here with questions.

The Morris County Sheriff’s Office also is jumping in on the Halloween fun, benefiting some charitable causes along the way. The office, led by Sheriff James Gannon, is joining with the nonprofit Halos for Angels for a Halloween decorating contest.

Morris County Sheriff James Gannon at Halos For Angels 2019 Haunted House. Some demons in the background are Sheriff and Correctional Police Officers who played parts in the Haunted House. Photo: Sheriff’s Office.

Applicants can submit photos of their scariest creations online by Oct. 19, with the top three entries earning cash prizes. Additionally, the decorator who earns the most votes will earn the chance to spend a day at the Sheriff’s office. Since its founding in 2010, Halos for Angels has offered support to more than 120 local families undergoing crisis or tragedy.

Another highlight of this Halloween season is the Super Hero Halloween Virtual Half Marathon. Participants can run 13.1 miles on the course, and upload their results between Oct. 17-31. The event is costume-optional, so feel free to suit up for your run, maybe as Wonder Woman or The Flash. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers.

The County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph invites the public to participate in a Virtual Haunted House Halloween Scavenger Hunt on Oct. 28 at 7:30 pm.

Explore Philadelphia’s creepy Eastern Penitentiary, discover a Hollywood Hotel where celebrity ghosts haven’t checked out, and prowl ghostly corridors of the White House, among other chills. Space is limited; reserve a spot with family and friends here.

At a press briefing earlier this month, Gov. Phil Murphy addressed public concerns about COVID-era Halloween carousing.

“Yes, Halloween is on,” Murphy assured citizens. But he emphasized this in no way invalidates guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey  Department of Health.

Masks that cover the nose and mouth (a real one, not Darth Vader) should be worn at all times. To the greatest extent possible, events should be kept outdoors, with Murphy citing evidence that transmission of viral particles increases dramatically indoors.

The state health department also has outlined procedures for the safe execution of beloved Halloween traditions. The Governor explained that guidance for hay rides, corn mazes, and the like is now available. Murphy also addressed the question of trick-or-treating, offering advice on best practices.

“Instead of placing treats directly in the bags of trick-or-treaters or filling communal bowls that multiple hands will reach into, treats (should) be arranged in such a way that they can be quickly and safely accessed without multiple pieces being touched,” he urged.

State officials also have suggested socially-distanced “trunk-or-treating,” in which candy-seekers can move from car trunk to car trunk rather than from house to house. Those choosing this option are also encouraged to wear masks at all times, and limit the number of participating cars to those that can safely fit in the space available.

The Department of Health is encouraging individuals to consider handing out goodies in shifts, to minimize crowding.

In short, “you may wish to dress as a knucklehead this Halloween, but we don’t want anyone to act like one,” Murphy said.

As has been the case so often this year, this Halloween is a story of tradition and convention meeting unprecedented adversity.

Personally, I am reevaluating my annual practice of a Halloween movie night for friends. How can we balance safety and our need for camaraderie and celebration?

Few can predict precisely what happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object, but one thing has become abundantly clear: Members of this community refuse to let their spirits fade.

They are journeying, eagerly, into uncharted waters with the wind in their sails, finding inventive ways to keep people safe while bringing the community together in joy and festivity.

And there’s nothing scary about that.

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