Mayor Neeley announces trick-or-treating options for families, advises caution for all who participate

FLINT, Michigan—Community partners are joining with Mayor Sheldon Neeley to co-host four neighborhood-based trick-or-treating options for families. Each location is instituting special safety precautions.

Mayor Neeley also is announcing that the official hours for trick-or-treating in the City of Flint are tentatively set for 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.

“Our whole world is different this year and so too is Halloween,” Mayor Neeley said. “We are pleased to be able to join forces with community partners to provide these options to families seeking safe places to trick-or-treat.”

All four neighborhood trick-or-treating options will take place on Oct. 31, 2020.

• • 5:30-7 p.m. at Berston Field House, 3300 N. Saginaw St., in partnership with state Rep. Cynthia Neeley and County Commissioner Bryant Nolden.
• • 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Latinx Technology and Community Center, 2101 Lewis St.
• • 4:30-6 p.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Highway.
• • 4:30-6 p.m. at Flint Development Center, 4121 Martin Luther King Ave.

Mayor Neeley urged all households to use the utmost caution to determine if they should participate in trick-or-treating or handing out candy this year. Those who do are advised to wear a mask and distribute treats in a way that allows for 6-foot social distancing.

Trick-or-treating hours are considered tentative because the City of Flint will continue to monitor recommendations made by county, state, and federal health officials. If the rate of infection or the state-determined Covid-19 phase for the region changes, the city’s plan for Halloween trick-or-treating also could change.

While Mayor Neeley said he hopes to preserve holiday tradition when possible, many households cannot and should not participate because of increased risk factors — and all those who do participate either by passing out candy or trick-or-treating should use extra precautions.

Dr. Lawrence Reynolds said every household should consider if the increased exposure is worth the risk to themselves, other family members and their contacts. The safest choice is to celebrate at home.

“We remain in a pandemic and we must use caution,” Dr. Reynolds said. “If you do decide to participate, please closely follow the latest guidelines and precautions.”

Both the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control have issued guidelines for trick-or-treating this year. Those recommendations include:

• • Do not participate if you are sick.
• • Wear a cloth mask that covers both the mouth and nose.
• • Wash hands often or frequently use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
• • Maintaining social distancing of at least six feet.
• • Use duct tape to mark spaces 6 feet apart for lines.
• • Distribute candy outside, not in your doorway.
• • Use a no contact method of distributing treats such as a disinfected table or candy tube.

Here are some downloadable flyers created by MDHHS with guidance on how to celebrate safely.

Information regarding COVID-19 can change rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.