Central Coast prepares for Halloween with COVID-19 restrictions in mind

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) This Halloween, Central Coast families said they are taking it easy.

"We're going to do a scavenger hunt around the house with candy and little pumpkins," said Diana Jensen in Monterey.

"We'll probably just stay home and eat our own candy," said Savannah Barnes in Monterey.

Many are ditching the "tricks" and sticking to the "treats." Their own treats, that is. The California Department of Public Health is asking everyone to pass on the tradition of door-to-door trick-or-treating and opt for something more low-key.

Health officials said large parties and interactions outside your household will increase the risk of COVID-19 spread. This is the last thing local health officials want as Monterey County continues to stay stuck in the most restrictive tier for reopening businesses.

The City of Monterey will continue to enforce their mandatory mask order through the weekend. The last holiday weekend, police sad they contacted hundreds who chose not to comply.

"We would really request that people are not out-and-about as much as they would be on other Halloweens, just like this entire year," said Monterey Police Chief, Dave Hober.

In South Monterey County, the City of Gonzales is giving people an alternative to their usual festivities. On Friday, city officials packed snack bags for a free drive-in movie night on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Centennial Park.

"People are going to go trick-or-treating if there's nothing else to offer. It's really important that we have a safe event that people can attend and also feel like they are celebrating the holiday in a way that's meaningful for them," said City of Gonzales Recreation Coordinator, Sara Papineau-Brandt.

Keep in mind, you don't have to give up all your spooky traditions. Some said they will still be dressing up for the fun of it. "We're all going to be zombies. I think it's very appropriate for this time of year," said Jensen.