COBWEBS, pretend shallow graves and a dog wearing a pumpkin outfit were on show in one Dennington street as families around Warrnambool celebrated Halloween with a difference.
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Children dressed as demons, skeletons and witches went all out to mark the spooky anniversary in a COVID-safe way on Saturday night.
Neighborhoods put together a Halloween in Warrnambool Facebook page that gave a full list of streets where scary decorations were on show.
Courtney Purcell decorated her Dennington house this year for her children Brooklyn and Julian and their friends to see.
"This year we went so big because the kids have not been able to anything all year," Ms Purcell said.
She said the boys' father was from the US, where trick-or-treating was a longstanding popular tradition.
The event is celebrated on All Hallows' eve, which traces its history to Europe.
"It's to keep the multicultural traditions going over here," Ms Purcell said.
Her son Brooklyn and friend Amiyus Cunningham, both 9, said they enjoyed haunting the neighbourhood,
"I get to be creative and dress up as different things," Brooklyn said.
Amiyus said the best part was receiving candy, particularly maltesers.
The family organised trick-or-treating in a COIVID-safe way, where neighbours did not enter the premises and 1.5-metre distances were marked out on the footpath to collect candy placed on the letter box.
A full list of DHHS COVID-Safe Halloween guidelines is online:
This Halloween there are some actions you can take to keep your friends, family and community safe, while still enjoying yourself.
- If you have any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) get tested and stay at home. By staying at home this Halloween, you help to keep your friends, family and community safe.
- Wear a face mask with your costume, but remember that a costume mask that is part of your Halloween costume is not a substitute for a face mask. Consider making your own mask and decorating it.
- Keep at least 1.5 metres between yourself and people you don't live with. This means no hugging or kissing when greeting people. Don't share food or drinks.
Handing out lollies or candy
- Don't use communal bowls for lollies or candy. Putting lollies in a shared bowl will mean everyone is touching the same food and surfaces which isn't safe.
- Instead, put individually wrapped lollies or candy in bags for non-contact collection.
- Place bags on your fence, at your front gate or outside your home for collection.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing the bags or individually wrapped lollies or candy.
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Jackson Graham
Jackson is a reporter for The Standard.
Jackson is a reporter for The Standard.
