Dear Residents:

“Trick or Treating” is permitted in Englishtown this Halloween 2020.  The Englishtown Borough Council, Police Department and Fire Department want to stress:

We care about your family and want you to feel as safe as possible.  Please follow these simple guidelines to help keep everyone safe this Halloween:

• Giving candy to children is STRICTLY OPTIONAL.  If you choose to give candy, please display this helpful sign below so that everyone knows you are participating. (Click HERE for PDF)  (Click HERE for JPEG)

• WE REGRETFULLY ANNOUNCE THERE WILL BE NO HALLOWEEN PARTY AT THE ENGLISHTOWN FIRE HOUSE IN 2020 DUE TO THE COVID-19 SITUATION.

   

  FOR OFFICIAL STATE OF NEW JERSEY HALLOWEEN/COVID-19 GUIDELINES CLICK HERE (OR READ BELOW).

The N.J. Department of Health strongly encourages everyone to wear a face covering that covers both the nose and mouth. Costume masks do not count as they do not provide the necessary level of protection.

The N.J. Department also strongly recommends all Halloween activities be held outdoors, as the biggest threats for viral spread exists indoors. All Halloween activities must adhere to the limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings.

Indoor gatherings must be limited to 25 people or 25% of a room’s capacity – whichever number is lower – and all attendees must wear face coverings and stay six feet apart. Outdoor gatherings must be limited to 500 people and social distancing must be practiced

Trick-or-Treating

Those who plan to trick-or-treat should limit their groups to current household members, consider staying local, and limit the number of houses on their route.

For those putting out treats:

• Best Option: Instead of placing treats directly in the bags of trick-or-treaters or filling communal bowls that multiple hands reach into, individually packaged candy should be arranged in a way that they can be easily grabbed without multiple pieces being touched.

• You can also leave a treat bowl on a porch or table or in a place where it may be easily accessed while adhering to social distancing requirements

• If you are handing out candy, please limit interaction or contact with trick-or-treaters, wear a face covering when individuals come to the door, and regularly wash hands.

• Any candy given out should be commercially packaged and non-perishable.

• Consider coordinating with neighbors to develop a system, such as signs or on/off porch lights, for distinguishing houses participating in trick-or-treating from those that do not wish to participate.

For outdoor “trunk-or-treating” (when children go car to car instead of house to house):

• Wear a face covering.

• Limit the number of participating cars to ensure adequate space for social distancing and help minimize crowds.

• Ensure the outdoor area has sufficient space per car to avoid overcrowding and to allow adequate space for social distancing.

• Follow the outdoor gatherings limitations in effect at the time.

• Design the event in a long line, rather than a circle, to ensure social and physical distancing to discourage crowding.

• Consider having assigned times or multiple shifts to minimize crowding during the event.

For more information and safety tips, refer to the Department of Health’s Halloween Celebration Guidance.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING TO “NORMAL” AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!