Seattle ‘Trick or Street’ blocks aim to make Halloween safer

SEATTLE — As Halloween approaches, people are looking for safe ways to celebrate during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Seattle Department of Transportation is building on its Stay Healthy Streets and Blocks permits by offering free “Trick or Street" block permits to individuals in addition to non profits and community organizations.

Applying for a permit allows the temporary closure of non-arterial streets for events that follow social distancing guidelines. For Halloween, that could include a walking costume parade or a socially distanced form of trick-or-treating with nearby neighbors.

A Trick or Street block can be no more than one block, cannot include an intersection and cannot be a street where buses run.

The closed blocks are designed for the applicant and their immediate neighbors. People should stay with members of their household and make sure to maintain social distance from others.

The event should not be crowded, and cloth face masks should be worn -- health officials say a costume mask is not a substitute. Find out how to set up your own block and apply here.

The event must happen any time between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. including setup and cleanup, but can be extended to 10 p.m. if you use retroreflective materials.

Those who wish to plan a Trick or Street Block event for Oct. 31 must submit their Trick or Street Block application by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Those who already live on a Stay Healthy Street don’t need an additional permit, as their street is already closed to traffic.

Stay Healthy Streets and Blocks are now available to individuals through the end of November. Read more about how they work here.

Cox Media Group