It’s October 31, Halloween, and you’re ready to party with your friends under the full moon. You put on your costume and go to the party without a mask; none of your friends are wearing one anyway. But as the night wears on, screams suddenly fill the air as an invisible intruder makes itself known. You and your friends cower, but it’s no monster–it’s COVID-19.

Halloween is tomorrow, and while it’s important to have fun and enjoy the celebration, it’s also important to be safe. If you’re going to celebrate, the ​CDC​ recommends that you do it outside and only with people from your neighborhood. Being inside with a large group of people increases the risk of infection, and by inviting your friends from other neighborhoods, that web of interaction only serves to further increase the likelihood of an outbreak.

However, if you can’t celebrate outdoors, make sure that you “avoid crowded, poorly ventilated, or fully enclosed indoor spaces” according to the CDC. Longer celebrations are higher risk because they increase exposure time, so make sure not to stay too long wherever you decide to go. Social distancing still applies, as do masks–costume masks are no substitute for cloth masks.

If you’re handing out candy this year instead of going out, there are a number of things you can do to be safe. When you meet trick-or-treaters at the door, make sure to wear a mask and wash your hands before handing out candy. Or, instead of having trick-or-treaters go up to your front door, set up a table outside your house with a bowl of candy, or tiny individual bags for each child. This way, trick-or-treating can be contactless, and both parties will be safe.

If you don’t want to party or hand out candy, there are plenty of other things you can do. Here are some fun things to do in the comfort–and safety–of your own own home. Have a Halloween movie marathon​. There are a plethora of recent horror films to choose from, including:

Us (2019) The Invisible Man (2020) It (2017) The Nun (2018) A Quiet Place (2018) Midsommar (2019) Get Out (2017)

Or, if you’re more old-school, you can watch films such as:
Psycho (1960) The Shining (1980) The Exorcist (1973) Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Scream (1996) The Sixth Sense (1999) Poltergeist (1982)

Start a pumpkin carving contest with your family​. Even if you’re not artistically inclined, you can always have fun digging out the guts of a pumpkin and using its corpse as decoration!

There are many printable tracing guides for pumpkin carving, so each individual style is your own. You can even make a competition out of it with your friends and family to see whose pumpkin turns out the best.

Set up a costume contest on Zoom with your friends​. Even if you can’t go out, stay at home in style. Show off your costume to your friends over Zoom. It’s a good way to stay connected with them and to enjoy the celebration.