Still cautious, parents feeling better about Halloween this time around in light of COVID

Bo and Kayla Finley feel like their kids are making up for lost time this Halloween.

Last year, a classmate of their oldest daughter, Karoline, 8, who attends Washington-Monroe Elementary School in Lincoln, tested positive for COVID-19 right around Halloween.

"So we didn't get to trick-or-treat and go to things last year," said Bo Finley, watching Saturday's Parent's Place Halloween parade on Jefferson Street in downtown Springfield. "We're excited to be back to normal a little bit and be about. We're going to hit (trick-or-treating) in full force, around Lincoln and Sherman, and let them get as much sugar as they can."

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Costumed kids snapped up candy at several different stations on the Old State Capitol lawn and at the Governor's Mansion Saturday afternoon prior to the parade, which featured Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Gail Noll and Damond Boatwright, president and CEO of Hospital Sisters Health System, as grand marshals and marching bands and the Ghostbusters ECTO-SP vehicle.

Parents said they are feeling more comfortable around this Halloween, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as long as they can use precautions like hand sanitizer and safe distancing. 

Kyra Hampton of Springfield, had perhaps the ultimate solution.

Hampton's sons, Jace Hampton, 9, and Gage Bowen, 6, were dressed as characters from Among Us, their favorite online video game in which Crewmates have to complete a list of tasks while fending off Impostors.

"I mean, their costumes are pretty enclosed as it is," Hampton said. "It gives them their own personal bubble."

A little fan with a battery pack on the back inflates the costumes, Hampton explained. A sleeve holds their heads in place and there are zippers where they can put their arms out.

Standing in line for candy and temporary tattoos handed out by volunteers from the Illinois State Museum Society, the brothers were just as happy bouncing off each other.

"I'm a little nervous, but I'm pretty confident things will be OK," admitted Kyra Hampton. "They're having fun and that's the most important part."

Tressa Perkins' daughter, Aubree Smith, 8, was dressed as an exotic pet doctor while her son, Parker Smith, 4, was dressed as a hotdog.

 "She wants to work on rainforest animals when she grows up," said Perkins of her daughter. "And hotdogs are Parker's favorite food."

Perkins said she was also relieved the events were outdoors "so I feel pretty safe about it. (The kids) wear their masks if they're going to be close to people."

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Kristel Golesh of Springfield said she also felt better about things for her daughter, Mia Anderson, 7, dressed as a killer clown, though Golesh liked the idea several people had last year of handing out candy via a PCV pipe to minimize contact.

"We don't have any worries," Golesh said. "It was a little scarier last year."

The Ghostbusters ECTO-SP driven by Ian Delinski was a big hit in the parade.

Delinski, his wife, Christina Delinski, and Ramon Juanso Jr. were all dressed in Ghostbusters outfits as well. They go to parades and haunted houses while raising money for charities like St. Jude's Hospital and Feed the Children, though the crew has taken part in paranormal investigations.

"The other fun is you see someone drive by on the highway really fast, realize what (the Ghostbuster vehicle) is, slow down for pictures and then drive off again," said Ian Delinski.

Bo Finley said he took his daughters Karoline and Kaydence, 5, to Spirit Halloween in Bloomington "and let them go crazy." Karoline dressed as a Zombie cheerleader while Kayden opted to be a Zombie bride.

Finley's one-year-old son was dressed as Captain America.

"We're definitely more comfortable than we were a year ago as far as trying to get things back to normal," said Kayla Finley.

Springfield has set 4:30 to 8 p.m. as its trick-or-treat hours while Lincoln and Sherman are both from 5 to 8 p.m. Officials are encouraging parents and guardians to only approach houses that have lights on.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.