The Biden administration will not be holding the annual trick-or-treat event at the White House this year.
The president and First Lady traditionally hand out candy to children to celebrate the holiday.
Joe and Jill Biden will be travelling internationally during the end of October, so the White House will only be illuminated in orange.
“On the evening of October 31, 2021, the north facade of the White House will be illuminated in orange in celebration of Halloween. The President and First Lady will be traveling internationally during the last days of October … and will not be hosting a specific event at the White House,” Michael LaRosa, a spokesman for the first lady, tweeted Wednesday.
“The First Family encourages families and children to celebrate Halloween with trick or treating outdoors in their neighborhoods or other outdoor venues,” he added.
The Hill reports that the president and first lady are scheduled to depart Thursday for a trip to Europe that includes stops in Rome for a Group of 20 (G-20) summit and Glasgow for a United Nations summit on climate change.
Last year, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump handed out candy to trick-or-treaters, with some extra precautions due to COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has encouraged families to trick-or-treat this year and/or attend outdoor celebrations.
“I would say put on those costumes, stay outside, and enjoy your trick-or-treating,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said during an appearance on Fox News.
“I wouldn’t gather in large settings outside and do screaming like you are seeing in those football games, if you are unvaccinated, those kids that are unvaccinated,” Walensky added. “But if you are spread out doing your trick-or-treating, that should be very safe for your children.“
