The Whitefish City Council on Monday placed additional restrictions on local restaurants, bars, breweries and distilleries for the Halloween weekend, in an effort to lessen the potential for the popular holiday tradition to become a COVID-19 "super spreader" event.

• No public or private gatherings larger than 10 individuals may be held unless it is possible to maintain six feet of social distance. 

• Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos may operate at no more than 75% capacity, depending on the business's ability to maintain adequate social distancing.

• Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos must limit seating to six individuals per table, and prohibit sitting or standing at bars or counters. 
• Restaurants, bars, and casinos must close their doors and have all patrons out by 11:30 p.m.; breweries and distilleries must comply with state law regarding closing times.

     Yet another popular Whitefish tradition has fallen victim to the COVID-19 crisis -- the annual "Trick or Treat Street" kids' extravaganza in downtown Whitefish.

     Though a handful of businesses are still planning to celebrate the Halloween holiday in one way or another, the vast majority of our downtown businesses will not be distributing candy to local ghosts and goblins on Saturday afternoon/evening, and many will be closed altogether.

     Businesses we talked to were concerned about the health and safety of both their employees and local school kids, and felt it unwise to promote an event that brings hundreds of local kids -- and their parents -- to the crowded sidewalks of the Central Avenue business district.

     If you're looking for an alternative to the usual downtown Halloween scene, our friends at the North Forty Resort are hosting a family-oriented event at their place from 5-8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

     The event features trick-or-treating at their cabins in a well-lit and safe environment; marshmallow roasting at firepits scattered around the resort; cookie decorating; raffle drawings for gift certificates from Sacred Waters Brewing Company; sipping cider and munching donuts!

     For more information call the North Forty Resort at 862-7740.

     Our good friends at the North Valley Food Bank are celebrating the Halloween holiday a little bit differently this year, staging a kid-friendly food drive with a goal of collecting four tons of food by this Saturday ... and they need your help!

     According to MaryBeth Morand, the Food Bank has put together "Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat" out of concern that many local children are not benefitting from school meal programs during the COVID crisis, and are turning to the Food Bank for healthy. non-perishable food.

     Donation tubs are located at Whitefish schools, grocery stores and three dozen local businesses, most of which are offering discounts, freebies or other "incentives" for folks who walk in the door with a donation for the Food Bank.  

     CLICK HERE for a list of participating businesses and the incentives they're offering, then get out there and donate!  No sweets or perishable items, but there are plenty of things the Food Bank needs to stock the shelves: applesauce cups, canned tuna, cereal, crackers, fruit cups or snacks, Goldfish, granola bars, mac & cheese, nuts, oatmeal, peanut butter, soups, toothpaste and tooth brushes ... and that's just for starters!

     For more information, call the North Valley Food Bank at 862-5863.