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Safer Halloween Fun: You've Been Boo'd!

Boo'ing! your friends and neighbors is a safe way to have some Halloween fun

By Brigette Schroeder, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Yorkville - Geneva - St. Charles, Ill. September 23, 2020

Have you been Boo'd!?

If not, start the fun yourself!

Boo'ing! your friends and neighbors is a really great way to get the whole community involved in a little bit of Halloween happiness — especially this year when we need to be creative to find safer Halloween fun.

Not sure what Boo'ing! is? It's a great way to spread Halloween cheer!

Here's how to do it:

  1. Gather a few Halloween goodies like candy, pencils, or stickers. 
  2. Put your goodies in a cute bag or container.
  3. Print out the two signs below and add them to your bag.
  4. Decide who to Boo! 

Now is the really fun part: The best part about Boo'ing! is that it's a total surprise! Put your gift on your friend's or neighbor's doorstep, ring the bell, and then RUN!

As we found out when someone Boo'd! us, one of the most fun parts of being Boo'd! is trying to figure out who chose you! It is awesome to get that special delivery, but it's also tons of fun to go Boo! someone else. It is a family-family activity that does not take a lot of time or resources, but yields awesome family time and a tradition that can last a lifetime for your kids to pass on to their kids and grandkids.

To make Boo'ing! easier for you, we've included two FREE printables! One spells out the directions so your friend or neighbor can pay it forward. The other is a sign to hang in a window once you've been Boo'd!

Simply click on the images below to print:


Boo'ing! has become an awesome neighborhood tradition for us and something my girls look forward to every year. If you're looking for different ways to celebrate Halloween in 2020, this might be just the idea you were WITCHING for!

Happy Boo'ing!

  • Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard). If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags.

Please note: The Centers for Disease Control released recommendations after this article was originally published in regards to celebrating Halloween. The CDC indicated "one-way trick-or-treating" while continuing to social distance to be of "moderate risk" in terms of COVID exposure. The CDC also recommended washing hands for at least 20 seconds before preparing bags. 

Brigette Schroeder is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Yorkville - Geneva - St. Charles, Ill.