On Thursday, Nextdoor announced the return of its annual treat map with new features to help neighbors safely celebrate Halloween during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Treat Map, Nextdoor’s most popular seasonal feature, unlocks an interactive local guide for the #1 neighborhood holiday. In partnership with Party City, neighbors can turn to this year’s Treat Map to share plans to decorate or dress up, and get in the spirit with a new augmented reality experience.
A recent nationwide Nextdoor poll found that 73% of neighbors say they’re looking for an alternative to traditional Trick-or-Treating this year. While holiday celebrations may look a bit different, Halloween can still be a treat for the whole neighborhood with Nextdoor’s Treat Map. In compliance with the CDC’s guidelines to help protect communities from COVID-19, neighbors can add their home to the Treat Map to share which lower risk festivities they are participating in including haunted decor, pumpkin projects, or a costume wave parade. Neighbors can then explore the map to see how locals are celebrating and plan a festive Halloween night sight-seeing route.
For an added treat, Nextdoor teamed up exclusively with Party City to launch a fun augmented reality experience. Using a smartphone camera through the Nextdoor app, families can go to the Treat Map to find and bring to life Halloween-themed “Virtual Visitors” in their homes, neighborhoods, and local Party City stores. Once neighbors find the Virtual Visitors, they can snap a photo and share their discoveries to their Nextdoor newsfeed as new characters are released throughout the Halloween season. Nextdoor members can locate Party City stores near them on the Treat Map to unlock all of the characters while stocking up on haunted decorations and costumes.
“We’re excited to partner with Nextdoor for our favorite holiday, as we believe that it should be easy for families to find safe ways to celebrate this year,” said Party City Chief Marketing and Experience Officer Julie Roehm. “While Halloween will look a little different, the always popular Treat Map and new AR experience offer fun, convenient ways to create unforgettable moments this spooky season.”
The Treat Map is available nationwide in the United States through October. Tap into your Nextdoor app or visit Nextdoor.com/Halloween to join the fun and celebrate safely.
