Highland moving forward with Halloween activities, while focusing on safety

Halloween events may be canceled left and right this year, but some spooky fun is still taking place in Highland.

The Halloween Hustle Fun Run is going forward on the morning of Oct. 31, beginning at 7:30 a.m. for a costumes-encouraged 6.66k sponsored by Highland Parks and Recreation. The path will start near Korte Rec Center, follow Frank Watson Parkway to Highland Cemetery and end at Glik Park.

Then from noon to 5 p.m., Parks and Recreation will offer a candy trail and pumpkin-carving contest at Glik Park, called the “Mask Up for Halloween Candy Trail.” Local businesses will be set up along the trail for kids to safely collect treats.

“There will be a lot of attention for social distancing,” said Police Chief Chris Conrad at the Sept. 21 city council meeting.

As for trick-or-treating, it is going forward in Highland from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 31. However, Conrad said there are some recommendations to keep families safe in the pandemic. Among those: Trick-or-treat groups should be only household members and keep a 6-foot distance from other groups, and of course those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home.

Conrad said experts recommend that everyone wear masks, do not share masks or props, and be sure to wash and sanitize hands before and after trick or treating.

For people who want to give out candy, Conrad said they recommend avoiding a big bowl of candy as is often the practice.

“Then you have multiple people reaching into the space,” he said.

Instead, participants could put individual cups with wrapped candies in them out for the trick-or-treaters to take, he said. People can also do curbside trick-or-treating to maintain social distancing, set up a table or stand at the curb and observe from a distance, Conrad said.

The cost for the Halloween Hustle is $25, and signups are being taken online and at the Korte Rec Center.