During a normal year, Mary Alice Stull would walk her two kids from their home in the St. Claude area to Faubourg Marigny for Halloween, where houses are known for being especially festooned with frightening decor.
But this year, with many neighborhoods certain to be dark due to widespread power outages, Stull’s five-year-old daughter, who plans to dress as a fairy, will stay home and use a flashlight to search for hidden candy. It’s not quite the same, but her daughter is still excited.
It's party time for colorful skeletons at the Phoenix Bar Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in New Orleans. The year has been more trick than treat, and the early homage to Halloween's ghouls, goblins and skeletons warms the spirit.
“When you’re a mom, you pull out whatever tricks you can,” Stull, 32, said. “Halloween is something we have done as a family. ... The fact that we can’t do it right now. ... I’m trying to do as much as I can to keep it alive.”
Even though Stull is doing her best, the latest complications wrought by Hurricane Zeta have worn on her. Just ask how's she making out in 2020 -- or, for that matter, just about any parent juggling hurricane season, virtual school, the coronavirus pandemic and Halloween expectations.
“Do you want the fake answer or the truth?” she said. “I’m very tired.”
Even before Hurricane Zeta took out the power at Rouquette Lodge in Mandeville, it was hard for April Lucia’s dad to stay connected. COVID-19 …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said traditional trick or treating is not safe this year. The agency recommends protective face masks, hand sanitizer, social distancing and individually bagged treats to decrease the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.
Felipe Fischer places Halloween decorations at his home Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in New Orleans. The year has been more trick than treat, and a vigorous homage to ghouls, goblins and skeletons warms the spirit.
Some community groups have pivoted to drive-thru trunk-or-treats and treat bags to avoid large crowds that could spread the coronavirus. But dark streets and downed trees in many across the New Orleans area have upended those plans. And although parents are trying to come up with alternate activities, the lack of electricity makes it complicated.
“We can’t shower, wash clothes. We can’t cook,” said Brittany Lisenby, 34, an Algiers mother of three with a fourth on the way. “The only restaurant open is Brother’s Chicken, so I think we’re going to get that until we’re sick of it.”
Before Hurricane Zeta plunged much of the New Orleans area into darkness and made some streets unsafe for foot traffic, kids were going to show off costumes at school parades and attend socially distanced events put on by local businesses and churches. Now that many of those places lack power, parents are scouring social media and refreshing the Entergy maps to see what activities might be safe - and where.
Jeff Thomas pets his dog Sophie as his neighbor Ricki Lou says hello at his Bywater home in New Orleans, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. For the last 7 years, Jeff Thomas, a self-titled "scaredy cat" who loves haunted houses, has decorated his front porch with eerie masks, mannequins and dolls. Every year, his Halloween decorations evolve and recycle. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
Lisenby, who runs a small moving company, has been checking an Irish Channel neighborhood's Facebook page, where there is a map of participating houses that appear to have power. And although she’s trying to keep her kids -- ages 13, 8 and 5 -- happy, she has other things on her mind.
“I think we’ll get a hotel room tonight, but rent is due,” Lisenby said. “And all kinds of other bills. It’s hard to determine which is more important.”
For kids, the most important thing is simple: candy and costumes.
“If she has three mini-bags of M&Ms and gets to dress up as a kitty, she’s happy as a clam,” said Candace Ray, a 41-year-old therapist who plans to take her 4-year-old to a small trunk-or-treat put on by a preschool.
“Normally we have a block party, a police detail and a DJ,” said Ray, who lives in Metairie. “This year we couldn't get a permit.”
So Ray will plop a bowl of candy on her porch, because she still doesn’t have power for porch lights to let kids know she’s participating. The trunk-or-treat is timed and socially distanced, with wristbands required.
With almost every power pole down on her street in Metairie, Ashleigh Pilgrim, 33, has taken to scouting other streets that might be safe for her 5- and 9-year-old. She has a contingency plan to go to a socially distanced fall festival at Metairie Baptist Church during the day.
The trick-or-treaters might be sparse this year and there may not be many parties to dress up for, but New Orleanians are still getting into t…
“If the night is a big old flop, at least we got something done,” said Pilgrim, whose kids plan to dress as a hedgehog and werewolf. “I told them we’re going to do our best, take them out and see where it goes. As long as they're in their costumes running around, they're going to be fine.”
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Power outages, coronavirus dash Halloween plans for many - NOLA.com
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