Halloween is the time of year in which being scared is the name of the game. However, in the unprecedented time that is 2020, many Americans have been afraid all year. 

As many celebrations have been cancelled, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the spookiest time of the year, even amid the global pandemic.

Trick-or-Treating.

The biggest thing on everyone’s mind when it comes to Halloween is of course trick-or- treating. Thankfully, here in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, the kids can still celebrate come Oct. 31. Trick-or-treating will remain mostly intact, apart from taking more precautions with social distancing as well as how the candy will be distributed. Nevertheless, kids all over the county have plenty to look forward to once trick-or-treat night arrives.

But for all the big kids and adults out there still in need of some solid entertainment this Halloween, there is still plenty to be done indoors as well as outdoors. 

Watch seasonal favorites.

The obvious solution for getting a spooky fix is sitting down in front of the TV and watching some seasonal favorites or even some newer releases.

“Freeform” is known for its delivery of the “31 Nights of Halloween,” which always involves a nightly showing of “Hocus Pocus.”

Looking for a more grown-up taste? AMC theaters are hosting “Fear Fest,” which delivers more traditional horror films like John Carpenter’s, “Halloween” or “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”

Being the movie aficionado that I am, I also have my seasonal recommendations. In terms of horror films, consider “Hell House LLC” and “The Houses October Built.”

For more educational purposes, check out “Haunters: The Art of the Scare,” a documentary about all the great haunted attractions all across the country. For those looking for more light-hearted affairs, you can’t go wrong with “Halloweentown” or “Beetlejuice.”

Outdoor activities involving friends.

For those looking to get outdoors and interact with friends, there are still plenty of yearly favorites, just with modifications.

Try carving pumpkins, virtual costume parties/contests or decorating. Here on campus, groups like the Activities Program Board (APB) are working toward planning fun Halloween events. 

Whether you are the kind of person who celebrates with costumes and candies, or turns off the porch lights, puts on a scary movie and listens to the trick or treaters outside for that perfect Halloween atmosphere, there is no denying that celebration can still be had even in these darkest of times. 

Halloween, like everything else nowadays, is something that can adapt to these circumstances, and while it might not be the traditional way of celebrating, the Halloween spirit never dies. After all, it is the holiday that makes masks feel normal.

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