Santa Cruz’ Halloween traditions on hold, though options remain

The City of Santa Cruz and the Downtown Association have announced that Downtown Santa Cruz will not be home to its regular Halloween festivities this year. Businesses and restaurants will be open, but there will be no shop-to-shop Trick-or-Treating.

Pacific Avenue will remain open to traffic on Halloween, unlike past years when it has been blocked for pedestrian use.

On the Wharf, businesses and restaurants will also remain open, but no trick-or-treating will be offered.

Residents can participate in Pumpkin Bingo by visiting businesses over the 13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf promotion. You can reserve a to-go Pumpkin Bingo kit online HERE.

Residents are encouraged to focus on low-risk activities such as decorating and limiting activities to the people you live with, and virtual costume parties or contests. Halloween gatherings, events or parties with non-household members are not permitted unless they are conducted in compliance with local and State Health Orders.

In San Jose, the un-dead life is a bit more familiar, though with strict health measures.

Dead Time Dreams is presenting an open-air Frightwalk at their location at 2501 Tully Rd, and Winchester Mystery House offers its Hallowe’en self-guided Flashlight Tour through the halls of the haunted mansion, featuring tales of its former inhabitants. Tour hosts will be stationed throughout the house.

If you just have to experience an old fashioned Haunted Attraction, you can make the trip to the  Screampark Museum of Horrors in Sacramento where the Voodoo Bayou, Midnight Asylum, and House of Undead walkthroughs will chill your blood. Visit the website for their full COVID safety measures.