Halloween may have looked different this year in Dartmouth, but the spirit of the candy-grabbing and costume-wearing holiday sure was not.

Candy chutes, bags hung from clotheslines, and an abundance of ninja costumes — these were just some of the ways residents made the most of the spooky season despite new restrictions. 

Earlier this month, the town approved new guidelines to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus including limiting trick-or-treating to eight graders and below, along with limiting cohorts to immediate family.

Most of all, town officials urged residents to find ways to minimize repetitive in-person exposure — something many households took advantage of.

“It’s so nice we can do something,” Village Drive resident Sheryl Cory said. “The kids are always so happy on Halloween.” 

Cory had her candy wrapped in individual bags and placed on a tray for pick-up, noting that “no human hands will touch this candy until it’s back at home.” 

Meanwhile, Cotton Candy Lane residents Rob and Kari Gesualdo had a candy chute set up so they could pass down treats while seeing all of the kids' costumes from the comfort of their porch. 

“We figured it’s a nice enough night that we can do this so they don’t have to constantly ring the doorbell,” Kari said. 

Neighbor Ashley Alfaite said she appreciated they ways in which her neighbors tried to ensure a safe trick-or-treat and that the town didn’t cancel the holiday. 

“We did not want to take this from them,” she said.

Alfaite’s 7-year-old son, Noah said he was “very excited” to be out and adding to the family’s stockpile of sweets, noting how trick-or-treating was something he was looking forward to all day.

“We set the timer for eight hours after I woke up,” he added.

Chase Pires, 6, said he didn’t mind having to wear a mask this Halloween, adding that it paired very well with his ninja costume.

“I just wanted to be a ninja,” he said. “My Halloween was good.”