GOSHEN COUNTY – From Fort Laramie all the way to LaGrange, the real-life horror movie that is pandemic didn’t stop Halloween in Goshen County. 

Princesses, superheroes, goblins, ghouls, puppies and dinosaurs alike all had a craving for candy, apparently, and they came to Torrington to satisfy it. Torrington Police Department and Torrington Volunteer Fire Department hosted the 19th annual Safety Treat Night and Trunk or Treat on Main Street Friday night.

Those distributing candy wore face masks and dropped treats into opened bags to mitigate contact and the spread of COVID-19. The City of Torrington donated face shields for them to wear, according to the Goshen County Chamber of Commerce, but just a few took advantage of them.

Goshen County Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator Heather Saul said the department applied for and was granted an exception from the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). 

“As long as people are wearing their masks when they’re giving candy and as long as they don’t have people digging into the bag you could do it in a safe manner,” Saul said. “Especially when you go from house to house.”

Some businesses got creative in distributing candy safely, including Visionary Broadband who had a table with handprints drawn on it in black marker. On the handprints, adults placed the candy for little hands to grab and put into their buckets.

First Baptist Church representatives slid their candy down purple tubes into kids’ buckets. 

Some trick or treaters and their parents opted to wear face coverings, others did not. Social distancing was difficult at the height of the evening, as hundreds of candy seekers made their way through the line of candy distributors. 

Still, according to Saul, the longer people are in a group without wearing masks, the more likely it is that the coronavirus could spread. 

“Just be aware of your surroundings,” she said. “Be vigilant and safe. We’re seeing such a huge uptick in cases.”

At Lincoln Elementary School’s trunk or treat put on by the parents’ association, dressed up parents masked up and passed out candy to kindergarteners, first graders and second graders early Friday morning. 

Trunks held candy, skeletons and in some cases, little superheroes or monsters too young to join in on the fun. 

The towns of Yoder, Fort Laramie and LaGrange, and Lifeway Church in Torrington also held trunk or treat events. 

Next up, Thanksgiving turkey.