Not to be a broken record but 2020 sure is looking different than years past, huh? Last year around this time I was hosting a Scares and Service Halloween Party in partnership with Smart & Final. I knew there was no way I could organize something to that scale this year. However, I still wanted to plan something fun for the kids. I also knew there had to be a way to plan a safer playdate for anyone who might still be uncomfortable. Today I’m sharing all about our Halloween Park Playdate. I even included some tips if you want to throw a gathering, 2020 style.

Halloween park playdate

I knew I wanted to keep the group somewhat manageable even though it would be outdoors. At a public park there are likely to be other kids playing on the playground to add to the chaos. I planned to have no more than 12 kids in addition to my own. It was so nice seeing the kids running around and playing together and being kids, especially after everything that has happened this year. It was also nice getting together with a group of mommas and chatting with another adult, haha.

I am really thankful to the small shops who were so generous when I reached out to them. Although I wanted to keep this Halloween playdate simple, I also wanted this to be extra special for the kiddos. The following businesses generously donated product or offered me a discount to share a little extra Halloween magic:

Popcorn pops from Popilicious Popcorn

Halloween printables from Camp Castle Playmats

Handmade Happy Haunting Crayons from Art 2 the Extreme

Rain-Boo stickers from Made By Magic

tips for a safer playdate

I am obviously not a medical professional nor do I hold a PhD. However, I do have a small amount of common sense. Here are some things I kept in mind while I was planning our Halloween playdate.

location

We’re fortunate that the weather in California in October is usually still relatively nice. I picked a public park in my county that had a lot of open space and several benches and picnic tables. The playground there is also a good size for plenty of kids to be able to play. If you don’t live somewhere where outside play is an option I would suggest keeping numbers small. Trying to open windows when possible is also a good option. If possible, consider investing in a small HEPA air filter that can be in the room with your gathering.

activities

Traditional activities at a get together for kids might include carnival style games or a piñata. For a safer playdate I figured it was best for kids to just be kids and utilize the playground equipment. I made sure to pick a park with a bathroom for handwashing.

refreshments

In keeping with the whole “simple” idea I asked people to bring a snack to share if they could, but asked for them to be individually wrapped. That way we wouldn’t have to worry about little grimy hands touching other people’s food. I supplied drinks in individual containers as well. This also helped keep the trash and cost down because we didn’t have to worry about plates or cups.

Will you be doing anything fun for Halloween this weekend? Do you think you might plan a holiday gathering this season?