Each year millions of kids get dressed up and excited to go knock on doors and get candy, but what’s going to happen amid a pandemic? Are parents going to let their children go out door to door, or are they going to keep their children inside? 

While the CDC and Connecticut health department recommend no trick-or-treating, the city of Hartford says they are not canceling Halloween and is advising people to still go trick-or-treating. The only suggestions, other than staying home, have been to keep a distance of 6 feet and to wear a mask with no mouth or nose holes. 

Still, with the state, CDC, and towns disagreeing on this issue, this doesn’t send a united front on what to do on Halloween. While this debate on whether to go out is still being discussed, new apps have been launched, including apps that allow you to virtually trick-or-treat. For example, Treat Town (an app created by Mars Wrigley), allows each house that takes part in this program to purchase candy credits that their trick-or-treaters can redeem for real candy in stores like Walmart, Target, and CVS. 

Another great thing about this app is that it is open for the entire month of October, allowing trick-or-treating all month long. You no longer have to worry about how far away you will travel to trick-or-treat – you can trick-or-treat at a multitude of neighborhoods, no matter how far away they are because you “travel” to each house by “opening their doors” on your phone. 

And, anyone under the age of 18 can collect candy from houses, so you no longer have to feel you are too old to go trick-or-treating because this app will allow you to do so without ever having to leave your house. 

Finally, the best part of this app is that it’s entirely free to sign up; the only costs are associated with purchasing the candy for your trick-or-treaters if you do so. Ultimately, no matter if you go out to trick-or-treating, or virtually collect candy and redeem it in stores, this year will be like no other.