Families decide whether or not to skip trick-or-treating this Halloween due to COVID-19

SPRINGFIELD TWP., Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Halloween will look very different this year due to COVID-19. Some families are going all-out decorating, while others are choosing to skip trick-or-treating this year.

If there was ever an inflatable scary Halloween figure made, it's likely Jerry Witten has it. Virtually every square inch of his yard on Saxer Avenue in Springfield, Delaware County is covered in them much to the kids' delight.

"Yeah, the kids needed this. Truthfully, I don't know if the kids like it more, or the grown-ups like it more," said Witten.

It would seem to take one brave trick-or-treater to step up for a Snickers bar, but will there be trick-or-treaters this year? Shanta Scott says not her kids.

"The plan is we're going to Sesame Place to do the drive-thru for trick-or-treating and then we're going to Frightland (in Delaware)," said Scott of Ridley Township.

READ MORE: Family donates nearly 1,000 Halloween costumes to CHOP in memory of daughter

"These costumes are more than just halloween costumes for these kids." It's Pete Pasquarella's mission to remember his daughter in a special way each year.

A survey taken by See's Candies found that 50% of American families plan to stay in this year and watch scary movies instead. And 30% will be turning off their lights and boycott the usual candy giveaway.

For those planning to welcome trick-or-treaters, 30% will be leaving their candy in bowls outside to enable social distancing.

Another study, published in "Choices," a publication of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, depicts a similar picture, saying only 59% of households are likely to allow their children to trick-or-treat this year.

Jessica Paine, who was one of the many we spoke to shopping at the Spirit Halloween store, says she will take her daughter out to carry on the tradition.

"We're going to do our best to socially distance and stay as safe as we can, but the kids have had so much taken from them this year," said Paine.

"We're going to wear masks, we're going to go. I just think they've been through a lot this year and they deserve to go," said Nicole Antonella of Newtown Square.

Halloween will look very different this year due to COVID-19. Some families are going all out decorating, while others are choosing to skip trick-or-treating this year.

In West Mount Airy, some trick or treaters went door to door getting candy safely, either through a candy chute or picking up a pre-made bag of goodies.

"It's good to just let them be kids and forget about all the bad stuff for just a night," said Janey Garrido from West Mount Airy.

Some parents decided to trick or treat before dark to avoid potential crowds.