Trick or Treat: Wauwatosa neighborhoods making decision on COVID-19
The Quarry Heights Neighborhood Association has already canceled their official trick-or-treat for this year
The Quarry Heights Neighborhood Association has already canceled their official trick-or-treat for this year
The Quarry Heights Neighborhood Association has already canceled their official trick-or-treat for this year
A month and a half away from Halloween, neighborhoods are making the decision on trick-or-treat this year.
Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin
In Wauwatosa, the Quarry Heights neighborhood announced any formally sanctioned trick-or-treat is canceled because of COVID-19 concerns.
"We have deep concerns, first and foremost about safety for all, should anyone get sick during this pandemic. The uncharted waters we're in will likely lead to the Quarry Heights Neighborhood Association not hosting any further events through the pandemic. This includes no formalized Trick or Treat hosted by the QHNA," their statement said. "Folks are free to make their own choices for family and friends and neighbors as you’d like. Please note, that will be on your own and not part of any sponsored or hosted event by QHNA."
Officials with the neighborhood association declined to comment to WISN 12.
Other Wauwatosa neighborhoods like East Towne and Glenview Heights announced they will be hosting trick-or-treat this year.
Neighbors in Quarry Heights said they typically get hundreds of kids from around the area on Halloween.
"We usually shut down the street and everybody's on the street, parents and kids alike," said Greg Daiker, a father of two in the Quarry Heights neighborhood. "There's fires out, everybody is trick-or-treating, there's adult trick-or-treating which is always nice."
Daiker said the neighborhood usually decorates their homes and holds family costume competitions on Halloween.
He said his family planned on dressing up together as Ghostbusters this year.
"Honestly, it's probably the coolest thing our neighborhood does all year," Daiker said. "We didn't trick-or-treat last year because (COVID-19) was even worse so I don't know what we'll do."
Karl Rutzidis said he'll probably still celebrate this year. He builds a pirate ship in his front yard every Halloween.
"Personally, this year I'm putting the ship back up. Last year I didn't," Rutzidis said. "It's outside. It's more for the kids, even though I'm a kid at heart for Halloween."
Children's Wisconsin told WISN 12 it's repeating their advice from last year. Officials said they recommend families avoid trick-or-treating to prevent spreading COVID-19.
If they choose to participate, mask up.
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