Purcellville, VA, October 15, 2020—Many of the traditional Fall and Halloween festivities, such as trick-or-treating, have been deemed high risk for spreading COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Health. With these restrictions in mind, the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Division has developed fun alternatives to help our community enjoy the season. Check the Fall Festivities page in the Events and Activities section of the Town website for details.
Outdoor Movie Night, October 30
On October 30, the last of the Town’s three outdoor movies will be shown in Dillon’s Woods. The movie is “Hotel Transylvania.” Attendees are encouraged to come in costume for a contest. Winners of the costume contest will receive two $10 vouchers to be used at any of the businesses in Town participating in the voucher program. Candy will also be given to attendees. Space is limited and reservations are required in advance. Please be sure to have a face covering and maintain proper social distance. For more information and the link to reserve a space, visit the Events and Activities page of the Town website.
Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt, October 25 – October 31
To give families something fun to do and support local businesses, we are having a pumpkin scavenger hunt. Businesses that want to participate sign up online. These businesses will receive small pumpkins to place inside or outside their establishments. Businesses in Purcellville that would like to participate complete the online application by October 20. From October 25 through October 31, families can search for the pumpkins throughout town. A list of the participating businesses will be provided on the Town’s website and on the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Facebook page on October 25 so people know where to search. When they find a pumpkin, they take it home with them, snap a picture, and get the code written on the pumpkin, then complete the online form with picture and the code. One $10 voucher to be used at any of the businesses participating in the voucher program will be given out for each pumpkin found and registered.
Virtual Costume Contest, October 25 – October 31
Show off your best Halloween costume online! On October 25, there will be a post on the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Facebook page asking residents to post a picture of themselves, their kids, the family, or their pet in a Halloween costume. Costumes submitted for the contest must be in good taste and appropriate for a family audience. Costumes should not focus on religious, political campaigning, ideological, or controversial themes or issues. To join in the fun, post a picture in the comments section of the post. The three pictures that receive the most likes by October 31 will receive two $10 vouchers to use at any business participating in the voucher program.
Spooky Driving Tour, October 25 – October 31
Many folks in Town go all out to decorate their homes for Halloween. We are going to create a map of homes decorated for Halloween so people can drive or walk to see the spooky homes. Decorations must be in good taste and appropriate for a family audience. Decorations should not focus on religious, political campaigning, ideological, or controversial themes or issues. To have your home listed on the map, complete the online application by October 22.
The Town does not regulate trick-or-treating, however the Town recommends that residents follow the guidance put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Loudoun County Health Department for Fall and Halloween festivities this year to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. These health agencies do not recommend door-to-door trick-or-treating because it is considered high risk for COVID-19 transmission for both the trick-or-treater and for the person handing out candy.
The activities below are considered high risk by the CDC and VDH and are not recommended:
- Traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door.
- Trick-or-treating at houses where individuals are not wearing a mask and where 6 feet of physical distance is not maintained between individuals.
- Trunk-or-treating where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots.
- Crowded costume parties held indoors and any events where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
- Indoor haunted houses where people may be crowded together and screaming.
- Hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household.
- Rural fall festivals outside your community.
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors.
- Traveling to and from areas outside your community, particularly to and from areas with community spread of COVID-19, to attend fall festivals and holiday activities.
Please join the Town of Purcellville in these safer ways to enjoy the season.
