Matt and Greta Francis took their little pirate Ole on a reverse trick-or-treating excursion this week, giving treats at neighbors’ doors rather than collecting them. Infant Lars is the parrot.

Nancy Edmonds Hanson

Spooky headlines about the escalating pandemic won’t scare away Halloween fun in Moorhead. For many, trick-or-treating won’t be quite the same. But Moorheaders have been making plans to keep the spirit of “Boo!” alive and well.
When we asked about plans in Facebook’s “Moorhead=Fantastic” group, Jenna Swang Pepsin’s response reflected the feelings of many: “I will be handing out treat bags that will be put together using gloves and masks. Everything will be social distanced. Kids have had enough to deal with — let’s make Halloween work for them!”
Creating a no-touch treat delivery system seems to be on the minds of many. Lynn Tkachuk, who lives at the corner of Eight Avenue and Second Street South, has always celebrated the season in a big way, and 2020 will be no exception.
Lynn lives in the house with the eight-foot spider in the front yard. Her late husband Hank built it for Halloween 16 years ago. Since then, it has been a year-round resident of their yard. Now, of course, it’s costumed in orange for this week’s holiday. But it will soon morph into a turkey and then an arachnid Santa Claus. The spider (no first name, and of ambiguous gender) also dresses as Cupid, a June bride and an Olympic athlete, and gets gussied up for St. Patrick’s Day, graduations, Cinco de Mayo, birthdays and the Fourth of July.
With her home lighted and loaded with Halloween spirit both indoors and out, Lynn has devised a distance delivery method for treats – a flexible plastic tube stretching from her front door down to the sidewalk. She’ll use touch-free tongs to insert treats; the packaged goodies then slide down and land in the hands of children.
Greta and Matt Francis took a different tack with their boys, 3-year-old Ole and 5-month-old Lars. Parents and Ole dressed up as pirates, while little Ole played the part of a parrot. The family has already gone “reverse trick-or-treating.” Ole rang the doorbell, keeping his distance, then left candy on the front steps for the residents to enjoy.
In recent years, “trunk or treat” events sponsored by churches and other organization have often taken the place of children running from door to door. The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd plans to uphold that tradition again on Saturday – but with a big twist. Instead of children harvesting treats directly from the back of cars, the church is planning a drive-through.
“We’re excited to have something safe and festive for families,” says Julie Wilson, director of children’s and family ministries. “In the past, we’ve had a carnival-type event inside, then ended it with treats handed out in the parking lot. Obviously, we couldn’t do that safely this year.”
Instead, more than 30 families and businesses will line up their cars and pickups in the parking lot. Both vehicles and their human occupants will arrive in costume. “We have a ‘Frozen’ group, a mad scientist, clowns, kitty cats, a couple superheroes – the fun characters children enjoy,” Julie reports. “Kids will slowly cruise along in their cars to see them.” She adds, “We’re encouraging the children to come in their costumes, too.” Instead of getting treats from each car, the youngsters will receive goody bags full of candy- and non-candy snacks and small treasures after traversing the line-up.
The event is scheduled from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Good Shepherd, located at the corner of 40th Avenue and 28th Street South. It’s open to all families, and there’s no charge.
Many parents chimed in about their families’ plans on Facebook.
Sarah Stone: “My kids and I will be dressing up and getting candy from “the great pumpkin” We will be having a spooky themed meal that evening, and watching scary movies. When I told my girls they were actually really excited vs. disappointed.”
Lindsey England: “I’m going to put together a basket for my kids like we do for Easter and if its nice hide things around the yard for them to find.”
Justin Boetel: “We are doing a candy hunt around the house (inside and out) kids will still be dressing up. We are still trying to keep our family and others’ safe.”
Susan Thoeming: “I’m going to have full-size candy as always. If they’re outside and I’m masked, I think I’m willing to risk it. Unless they cough on me. Then, no candy! I have the cutest neighbors. Sadly, this year I will not be offering a trick-or-drink for the adults.”
Jewell Wiosna: “We’re switching up Halloween and doing something different to keep in accordance with CDC recommendations. Staying at home. Movie night? Baby Yoda cookies? All costumed up of course! I’m confident the kids will understand and hold this Halloween in their heart as a memorable one. “
Bizzie Burslie: “We are still dressing up to walk around and wave in our neighborhood but will do a candy scavenger hunt in our own home instead of knocking on doors.”
Lindsey Mooridian: “I have friends who are doing scavenger hunts with their kiddos, or hiding candy around the house and yard like an Easter egg hunt.”
Del Rae Williams, who plans to put out bagged treats in her yard, summed up these parents’ spirit: “I don’t know how anyone could cancel Halloween … but we can make safe choices for everyone.”