Carson City celebrates Halloween with BOO-nanza on Thursday, trick or treating Friday at Children's Museum

Celebrating Halloween in Carson City is really unlike any other place because the holiday sometimes lands on the same day as many Nevada Day festivities are underway. To have a more organized and safe Halloween for children, Carson City will again host its "BOOnanza" celebration this Thursday, and the Children's Museum will host a safe trick or treating event Friday.

The Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space department invites the community to the 4th annual Halloween "Boo-nanza" festival Thursday, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Centennial Park Loop. Due to COVID-19, this year’s BOOnanza will be a drive-through event.

More than 35 local businesses and organizations will decorate booth spaces and pass out candy as attendees slowly drive through, providing a fun, family-friendly, and safe way to trick-or-treat.

Vendors will be passing out candy while wearing masks and gloves and adhering to social distancing guidelines. Decorate your car for a chance to win the “Best Car Costume” prize which will be announced on social media following the event. This year’s event is made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Southwest Gas.

The event will be held at Centennial Park Loop around the upper ball fields. Centennial Park is located on Centennial Park Dr., off of Arrowhead Dr. (north of the Eagle Valley Golf Course).

For additional information or questions, please contact Dan Earp, Recreation Superintendent at djearp@carson.org or (775)283-7422. For more information on this and other community events, please visit carson.org/parksandrec.

Other activities around Carson City include:
— Children's Museum of Northern Nevada Annual Safe Trick-or-Treat this Friday. The Children's Museum of Northern Nevada and Redemption Church Carson City will be hosting the Museum's annual Safe Trick-or-Treat event. The entire Museum gets a spooky twist to it and kids are able to go to each exhibit and trick-or-treat! This year the Museum has worked tirelessly to make the event safe due to Covid-19.

For this event, everyone is required to wear a mask and social distance of at least 6 feet. The Museum and the Church will have volunteers and staff able to maintain these guidelines as well. Each exhibit will be a "stop" for the kids to trick-or-treat, and when they are receiving their candy it will be handled by nitrile non-latex gloves safely to minimalize as much contact as possible.

This event is FREE to everyone who wants to participate in a safe and fun event! It is on October 30,2020 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada which is located at 813 N. Carson Street in Carson City. Put on your costumes and enjoy the celebration.

— Crazy Cat Dog Grooming in Carson City to host safe trick or treat this Saturday, Oct. 31 from 2 to 8 p.m. This is a safe trick or treat event for the community. There will be a professional photographer on site for Halloween photos. All social distancing guidelines will be followed. Kids and pets welcome.
Crazy Cat Dog Grooming is located at 4630 US Highway 50 E, Ste 12 Carson City. For more information, follow them on Facebook page here.

— The Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department will host a special Full Moon Hike this Saturday, October 31st, at Silver Saddle Ranch. Come experience a full moon costume adventure that can only happen once in a Blue Moon.

Meet at Silver Saddle Ranch dressed in your best Halloween Costume. We will walk to the Carson River and back to ranch in a 2 mile loop. The trail is considered Easy according to the IMBA Trail Rating System.

Come prepared dressed for the weather. Wear appropriate footwear and remember to bring a flashlight and plenty of water. Best COVID-19 practices will be in place with social distancing and required face masks.

Registration is required online at www.carson.org/ccpr or by clicking one of the three links below. Space is limited, so only register if you plan on attending. Sign up for one of three groups: 6:00pm, 6:15pm, and 6:30pm. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early for the check in process.

Minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs are welcome but must remain on a six foot leash. Face masks are required at all times.

For more information, contact Park Ranger Tyler Kerver at (775) 283-7307 or tkerver@carson.org.

Group 1: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ccpr/Activity_Search/6188
Group 2: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ccpr/Activity_Search/6189
Group 3: http://apm.activecommunities.com/ccpr/Activity_Search/6190

Trick or treating in Carson City is being recognized on Friday, Oct. 30, a day before Saturday's Nevada Day festivities, which fall on Halloween. In other counties outside of Carson City, trick or treating is being celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Halloween Safety
Due to COVID-19 concerns, many are opting out of doing traditional home trick or treating visits, while others will continue the practice.

The CDC has listed several safety measures to follow when trick or treating. Traditional Halloween activities are fun, but some can increase the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 or influenza. Plan alternate ways to participate in Halloween.

Make trick-or-treating safer
— Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters.
— Give out treats outdoors, if possible.
— Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take.
— Wash hands before handling treats.

Wear a mask
— Make your cloth mask part of your costume.
— A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask.
— Do NOT wear a costume mask over a cloth mask. It can make breathing more difficult.
— Masks should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing

Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you
— Indoors and outdoors, you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you are in close contact with others for a long time.

Wash your hands
— Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it after touching objects or other people.
— Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
— Parents: supervise young children using hand sanitizer.
— Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home and before you eat any treats.
Go here for more safety information tips from the CDC.

Traffic Safety
Pedestrians should cross the street legally, making eye contact with drivers and waiting for drivers to stop before crossing. Pedestrians should also make themselves visible, whether wearing a reflective costume on Friday in Carson City or Halloween Day elsewhere in other counties.

Drivers should always watch for pedestrians and yield when necessary. This is particularly true on Halloween night, when young trick-or-treaters are out in force. Drivers are also reminded to never drive impaired. Please make sure your children do not ride with anyone impaired by drugs or alcohol. Those planning to drink should choose a designated sober driver in advance.

Motorists
— Use caution while behind the wheel.
— Slow down and be alert in residential areas.
— Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
— Drive sober or get pulled over.
— Always designate a sober driver and plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night if you plan on celebrating Halloween with alcohol or other intoxicants.
— Use your community’s sober ride program or take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
— If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement or NHP.

Pedestrians
— Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.
— Keep kids safe.
— Children out at night and under the age of 12 should have adult supervision.
— Kids should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
— Choose face paint when possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
— Decorate costumes with reflective tape and have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights.
— Remember, everyone is a pedestrian at some time.
— Always cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
— Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.

If we overlooked any activities let us know. Go here and tell us the who, what, where and when of any planned event.