Jamie McCann has been decorating his home in Crescent Heights for Halloween for 10 years. ( Tiffany Goodwein/ CHATNEWSToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Hatters mark Halloween amid COVID-19

Oct 31, 2020 | 10:04 PM

MEDICNE HAT, AB- As the day turned to night, ghosts, goblins, witches and all sorts of characters strolled up and down streets,all on the hunt for some sweet candy on Halloween

In Southridge, perched atop of the stairs and on the balcony is Tracy Schwarz.

“Happy Halloween,” she says to the trick-or treaters, as she grabs a fist full of Candy.

One by one the candy goes down a PVC pipe and spits out onto the ground.

The children’s faces fill with glee as they eagerly try to scoop the candy into their bags.

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“ They think it is the most amazing thing. It is so much fun and it is so much fun shooting it down to them too, because it is kind of like Christmas and Halloween all mixed into one,” said Schwarz

For Schwarz, a new grandmother to three-month-old Everlee, she decided to go all out with decorations in order to do something special for the kids whose 2020 has been marked with social distancing, sanitization and other pandemic precautions.

“ When it came to canceling Halloween, which is probably the best holiday to keep social distancing. I just didn’t have the heart to say no to the children so Everlee kind of pushed that along,” she said .

Over in Crescent Heights, peering over the homes on twelfth street is a massive ghost figure glowing in the night sky. The ghost along with the other spooky decorations belonging to Jamie McCann.

“ This year we have a table set up so we don’t have to actually physically give the kids their candy bags. So they just come up and they come to the table with their bags on it,” McCann said.

McCann began decorating his home along with his four children 10 years ago, collecting blow up decorations and other spooky figurines.

Like Schwartz, McCann wanted to make sure this Halloween, in particular, was special for the kids.

“I think with COVID-19 a lot has been taken from them since March, their freedom just to talk to friends. I have a 12-year-old daughter she has a friend down the street and they would talk through the fence down the ally. A lot has been taken from them and I am happy they can do this.” McCan said.

Across the city on Markwick drive, neighbors and family members are helping each other decorate and get ready for the Halloween festivities.

“ I love the feeling that it gives me. We make lots of scary dishes for food and it brings our family together, and gives us a chance to be creative,” said Cheryl Lassiter.

But like many people celebrating Halloween, precautions are taken.

“ We have our treats outside on the table so the kids can just pick up their drinks and go. We won’t be going up to the doorsteps or course we will be staying back so that we don’t make the people giving us the treats feel like we are going to give them anything and also to protect ourselves,” she said,

As for the kids participating in the festivities, the precautions don’t seem to be diminishing the fun.

“Not really because as long as we get to go and celebrate then it is all good with me,” said trick-or- treater Kenzie Lane.