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<\/a>Even the pumpkins are reacting to 2020!<\/p><\/div>\n
Sometimes when I\u2019m writing about a holiday, I look back over my previous columns on the topic, for inspiration. But Halloween in 2020 is a totally different animal. There\u2019s no other year I can compare this one to.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a spooky holiday to begin with, and no year has been spookier than 2020, so maybe this one is just status quo.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Please heed this red circle this year!<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s a shame that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, when no one can, nor should<\/em>, be going out! But, on the bright side, that lack of being able to celebrate on the exact day and night gives us the ability to observe it all week, even more than ever.<\/p>\n So, everyone, please stay at home this week-end, and, actually, for all<\/em> the upcoming 2020 holidays. There’s nothing worse than having regrets, and wishing you had listened to the experts and not endangered yourself and your family is one of the worst ones you’ll ever have!<\/p>\n So many ways to celebrate Halloween without going out this year!<\/p><\/div>\n So please, please, please do not put yourself and others, especially the little ones, in harm\u2019s way for the sake of trick-or-treating or partying this year! There\u2019s a plethora of Halloween-related activities we can all do to have fun, while still staying safe. Yes, it won\u2019t be the way most of us would like it to be, but it\u2019s so much better to be safe than sorry. There will always be another Halloween next year, knock on wood. Just please safeguard yourself and your loved ones to make sure that you\u2019ll be around for it!<\/p>\n Here are several fabulous ideas to ensure you have a Happy Halloween from tonight through the end of the month, including ways to make it special at home.<\/p>\n Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Raymond Kabbaz\u2019 Animation Fest.<\/p><\/div>\n ~ This one is tonight only<\/em>, and will be a fun way to kick-off the festivities, especially for you animation fans. Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Raymond Kabbaz\u2019 is celebrating International Animation Day by bringing us their Animation Fest<\/em> at 8:00pm tonight, October 28, 2020. It\u2019s being presented on-line, of course, so everyone in the world can share in the entertainment. There will be a septet of award-winning pieces from France, Belgium, and Portugal, all in French with English subtitles. (But for me, the visuals<\/em> are king in animation, anyway, not the words! And I\u2019ll be happy to practice my French!) There will be a variety of animation techniques on display, which I can\u2019t wait to see. To view the trailer, and to purchase the most affordable tickets I\u2019ve ever heard of, click here: www.trkanimationfest.eventive.org\/welcome<\/a><\/p>\n The Brett Loudermilk Halloween Special.<\/p><\/div>\n ~ This season\u2019s America\u2019s Got Talent<\/em> semi-finalist, the hilarious Brett Loudermilk, is kicking the week-end off right with not one, but two<\/em> live shows that you can watch on-line! The Brett Loudermilk Halloween<\/em> Special<\/em> runs tomorrow night, (Thursday, October 29th,) and Friday, the 30th, and will ensure that your holiday week-end starts off in a really fun, and funny, way. He\u2019s a comedic sword swallower, and we never know just what will come out of his mouth! (See what I did there?) He\u2019ll be joined by fellow AGT<\/em> alum, the creative Puddles Pity Party, along with Gilbert Gottfried as Dracula. There will be some other surprise guests, as well. Here\u2019s the link for very affordable tickets and all the other info: www.stellartickets.com<\/a><\/p>\n Bob Baker\u2019s Marionettes’ Hallowe\u2019en SpOoKtAcUlAr.<\/p><\/div>\n ~ Bob Baker\u2019s Marionettes are back on PlayhouseLive with their Hallowe\u2019en SpOoKtAcUlAr<\/em>. And for this one, you have until November 18th to stream it! Kids and grown-ups alike will enjoy seeing the almost-one-hundred puppet characters, including the Purple People Eater, Dracula, and the Invisible Man. And closed captioning will be available in both English and Spanish. For all of the information about PlayhouseLive, go here: www.playhouselive.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n ~ If you\u2019re uber-cautious, as I<\/em> am, there are plenty of spooky virtual<\/em> experiences, like the ones above. There are on-line shows, Zoom experiences, and even a few radio ones. The latter can be the scariest\u2014just shut all the lights, and hold flashlights under your chin for the others to see. If you can listen in a tent in the backyard, all the better!<\/p>\n ~ If you have kids, (or just sugarholic grown-ups around,) do a candy search around the house. (Mr. X actually does that every<\/em> night. He begs me to hide it from him, since he doesn\u2019t want to eat sugar, and then he winds-up desperate to find it!)<\/p>\n So many Halloween treats!<\/p><\/div>\n ~ There are several drive-in movies this season, featuring scary films this week-end. You just have to check around for the ones in your area.<\/p>\n ~ Speaking of local fun, many cities around the country are having drive-thru attractions, like the ones we usually walk through. There are haunted \u201chouses,\u201d exotic pumpkin patches, and the like.<\/p>\n ~ Make Halloween-themed treats and decorations. It\u2019s fun to do with kids, and actually, with just a couple of grown-ups, too!<\/p>\n ~ Have your kids still don costumes, (and you do it, too,) and have a Zoom \u201cparty\u201d with their friends. I really do think it can be tons of fun. They can also compare candy, decorations, and take turns telling scary or jokes. (I was an elementary school teacher, so I really do know of what I speak!)<\/p>\n My favorite Halloween ever! Clockwise from front left: Alex Hazel, TJ Jones, Ronnie Hazel, Jr., Karen Salkin, and Collin Louro. The boys told the grown-ups where we trick-or-treated that I was their sister, Wandita! Oysh. Photo by Arianna Jones.<\/p><\/div>\n ~ Drive around to see all the decorated houses in your town, dressed in costumes yourselves. Just don’t forget to put your masks on, (your PPE ones, in addition to your scary ones,) if you have the windows open. (Here are a few in Los Angeles: a Disney-inspired extravaganza at 1505 N. Valley St. in Burbank; a Beetlejuice-themed design on the 14000 block of Valley Vista in Sherman Oaks; one that was recommended to me on Crescenda and Saltair in Brentwood; and a nighttime-and-week-end-only one at Chapman and Magnolia in Riverside.)<\/p>\n Just part of the fabulous Holiday Fantasies Come To Life display in Burbank. We visited at dusk, but I hear it’s even more spectacular at night! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n ~ Spend the time to send out e-cards, making each one personal<\/em>, instead of just a group email.<\/p>\n And just a reminder…not everyone<\/em> celebrates Halloween, so it\u2019s never imperative<\/em> to do so, especially this year. Once kids are around twelve, they’re usually done with it all, anyway. As late teens, they may get into the holiday again, but for parties only, not trick-or-treating. So if your little ones miss one year of going to the homes of strangers for mystery treats, so be it. I grew up in Brooklyn, and kids always<\/em> missed something around this time of year there because of getting sick. So just deal with it, people!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>