Candy chutes and drive-in horror films: Halloween in Chicago amid COVID-19

Trick-or-treaters didn’t let the pandemic ruin their Halloween spirit Saturday.

By Madeline Kenney

Charles Williams throws candy into a tube for Kyla Cuzelis, 2, to catch during the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce’s “Halloween on Catalpa” trick-or-treating event. With COVID-19 cases rising in Chicago, people had to wear masks and innovate socially-distant activities for Halloween.

Halloween looked a little different this year thanks to the pandemic, but the virus didn’t do much to wipe out the spooky spirit.

Drive-thru treats, homemade candy chutes and masks instead of face paint — those are just some of the ways Chicagoans got creative Saturday as they tried to make the most of the candy-grabbing and costume-wearing celebration despite a variety of restrictions with COVID-19 cases surging statewide.

After Mayor Lori Lightfoot decided not to cancel Halloween, some neighborhoods and schools hosted weekend events as a way to let families safely celebrate the holiday.

Adrianna Jose, 3, gets candy from one of the booths at the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce’s “Halloween on Catalpa” trick-or-treating event near West Catalpa Avenue and North Clark Street on Saturday.

At “Halloween on Catalpa” hosted by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, hundreds of ghosts, goblins and other characters stopped at spaced-out tents for candy and other goodies over the course of the six-hour event, including the Walzer family.

Halloween is second to only Christmas as the Walzer family’s favorite holiday. They originally planned to go to a friend’s house in the suburbs to trick-or-treat, but with cases on the rise, they opted to stay close to home.

“It doesn’t seem like a great idea right now,” said Jennifer Walzer, who lives in Rogers Park. “[We’re] probably not going to do traditional trick-or-treating... We might do a scavenger candy hunt instead.”

A kid receives candy during a drive-in trick-or-treating event organized by the Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce in Ravenswood on Saturday.

Walzer’s 6-year-old daughter, Amelia, who was dressed as a witch with a floral face mask, said this will be a Halloween to remember.

“Different than all the other Halloweens,” said Amelia.

JJ Stankevitz shared a sneak peak on Twitter as to what trick-or-treaters can expect when they stop by his Old Irving Park home.

Stankevitz created a makeshift candy chute using PVC pipes, duct tape and a leaf blower after seeing various examples on social media.

“[I] wanted to figure out one that wouldn’t take much effort to set up but would still be effective in getting trick-or-treaters their candy,” he said.

Did some quality dad work today for trick or treaters. pic.twitter.com/JrjBks5ZPx
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) October 31, 2020

Stankevitz and his wife wanted to take their 11-month-old twins on a walk around the neighborhood during Saturday afternoon’s festivities. However, they decided against it because of the coronavirus.

“Hopefully by the time our boys are old enough to go trick-or-treating, we’ll be done with the pandemic and won’t have to have candy chutes,” he said.