As we enter fall, everyone is getting excited for seasonal activities and celebrations, especially Halloween. However, due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Halloween in San Luis Obispo County will be different from previous years. Residents should be prepared to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. There are many activities still available throughout the county despite the pandemic, as well as many ways people can take precautions to stay healthy while enjoying the holiday.
Activities
With the Halloween season creeping up on us, people should start thinking about getting pumpkins and participating in some fun activities. For instance, going to the pumpkin patch with friends and family are great ways to create memories and to get in the Halloween spirit.
A great local pumpkin patch is Brookshire Farms in San Luis Obispo, which officially opens on October 1st. Their website, brookshirefarms.com, has all the important information regarding admission prices and hours. They carry multiple types of pumpkins, big, small, and some perfect for children. Along with pumpkin picking, Brookshire Farms also contains a variety of festive activities. Some activities include a corn maze, a night maze, hay rides, a playground, and more. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, there will not be any field trips or inflatables available.
Looking for something a little more simple? Check out Sunny Acres Pumpkin Patch. They are a small, rustic, local pumpkin patch located on Los Osos Valley Road. It is great for a quick stop by to buy your pumpkins in order to create some spooky carvings and to make memories.
Additionally, there is going to be a Boo Bash in San Luis Obispo, October 29th, 2021 at 5pm. This event is for all ages and a great place to dress up in your Halloween costume. There is going to be a haunted house, a movie, and other fun activities to get you in the Halloween spirit because just before you know it Halloween will be here on October 31st!
Costumes
As a result of the rising number of COVID cases, the mask mandate came back into effect in San Luis Obispo County on September 1, 2021. This mandate is likely to last through the fall, so SLO County residents who want to celebrate Halloween with others should consider taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing, gathering outside, and wearing a mask are effective ways to keep everyone safe and healthy. These precautions sound like measures that would take the fun out of Halloween, a holiday that revolves around parties and costumes. However, there are many ways to incorporate masks into costumes that look great and realistic!
One of the easiest ways to wear a face covering with a Halloween costume is to choose a costume that covers the face and wear a COVID-safe mask underneath. For example, costumes that use a full zombie, clown, or animal face would look just as realistic with a mask underneath as they do without. Any costume that hides the face will easily hide a face covering. However, this method is not advisable for costumes that make it difficult to breathe. Costumes with good ventilation are perfect options for anyone who does not want a paper or cloth mask to be part of their Halloween costume, but still wants to have a fun and safe night!
Another great way to wear a mask for Halloween is to create a costume that uses the mask or face covering as an accessory. Nurses or doctors are easy options, but there are many other creative ways to pull off a face covering with a fun costume. Masks can be decorated to match a costume or replace face paint. Fabric markers are a fast, fun, and easy way to decorate masks; embroidery can add texture that is very fitting for some costumes, like those that include scarecrow stitches and spider webs. Decorated masks can also be a festive accessory for people who do not enjoy dressing up for Halloween. Even just a small picture drawn in the corner of a mask can be a fun addition to any outfit!
Recipes:
Halloween Bat Treats
Ingredients:
Edible Eye Candies
Oreo cookies
Mini Reeses Cups
Frosting
Directions:
- Apply frosting to back of half broken oreo for wings
- Secure wings onto reeses cup (body)
- Put frosting on back of eyes and add in the middle of Reese’s
https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/the-ultimate-bat-halloween-party/
Peanut Butter Cookie Spiders
Ingredients:
½ cup Shortening
½ cup Peanut Butter
½ cup Brown Sugar
½ cup Sugar
1 Egg
2 tbsp Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
1¾ cup Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
½ tsp Salt
¼ cup sugar (for rolling)
48 miniature Reese’s cups (frozen)
96 Candy Eyes
½ cup Chocolate Chips
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375
- In a large bowl, beat together shortening, peanut butter, egg, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and milk.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
- Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture and beat until blended.
- Form into 1” balls
- Roll in sugar and place a couple of inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
- Gently press a frozen peanut butter cup on top of each cookie and move to a wire rack to cool.
- After placing and moving all of the cookies on the wire rack, put in place the candy eyes while the chocolate is soft.
- Place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to allow cookies to firm.
- Place chocolate chips in the corner of a zippered sandwich bag.
- Microwave for 20 seconds, knead and repeat until chocolate is melted.
- Cut a corner on the bag to allow piping and draw legs on each cookie.
- Put into the refrigerator till cool.
Strawberry Ghosts
Ingredients:
1 (16 oz) package Vanilla coating (Candiquik)
24 strawberries
Mini Chocolate Chips
Directions
- Melt Candiquik tray according to package directions.
- Place a large piece of wax or parchment paper on a flat surface.
- Dip Strawberries in the melted coating, remove and allow the excess coating to pour off onto the wax paper to form the “tail” of the ghost; slide the strawberry and set on wax paper dry.
- Before oating has set, place two chocolate chips facing outward for eyes, and one facing inward for a mouth.
http://blog.candiquik.com/strawberry-ghosts/#_a5y_p=1006168
Frankenstein Rice Krispies
Ingredients:
¾ cup butter unsalted
2 10-oz bags of mini marshmallows
½ tsp. Vanilla extract
Green food dye
9-10 cups rice krispies
½ cup melted chocolate (hair)
Candy eyes
Pocky sticks (eyebrows)
Black food gel (mouth)
Rolos or mini peanut butter cups (bolts)
Directions
- Prepare a large casserole dish by greashing it and or lining it
- Place butter and marshmallows in a large microwave for 1 minute. Continue to microwave until marshmallows have expanded to double their size. Remove and stir. Microwave longer if needed and continue to stir till smooth.
- Add vanilla extract and as much green dye to get the color you want for your Frankenstein.
- Add rice krispies and stir, pour into the prepared pan and press flat using a buttered piece of parchment or your hands. Let the pan sit till cool.
- Cut into small rectangles.
- Dip the tops into melted chocolate and add sprinkles (optional).
- Place candy eyes, stick unibrows,bolt, and mouths using black food gel (use melted chocolate as glue)
https://www.yourcupofcake.com/frankenstein-rice-krispie-treats-for-halloween/
Halloween Trail Mix
Ingredients:
Pretzels
Candy Corn
Candy Corn Pumpkins
Chex mix
Bugles Chips
M&Ms
(basically any candy or chip that you want can be added to this)
http://www.thehouseofhendrix.com/harvest-halloween-trail-mix/
