With Halloween right around the corner, a long tradition of the White House hosting a spooky-themed event may be broken, according to Michael LaRosa, the press secretary of United States First Lady Jill Biden.

While President Joe Biden flew off to Europe, along with FLOTUS Jill Biden, for a critical diplomatic tour covering the COP26, G20 summits along breakout bilateral meets, the White House event has been called off.

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LaRosa said that even though the first family would not be present in Washington DC for the October 31 holiday, the top executive building of the United States will be covered in orange light to get into the Halloween spirit.

He wrote on Twitter, “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.”

FLOTUS’ press secretary added, “The First Family encourages families and children to celebrate Halloween with trick or treating outdoors in their neighborhoods or other outdoor venues.”

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The Bidens have anyway not hosted any large gatherings in the White House after taking office, most of which were scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic and surge in cases due to the Delta variant.

In 2020, despite the pandemic raging in the United States, former United States President Donald Trump and then- FLOTUS Melania Trump hosted a trick or treat party in the White House’s south lawn.

Meanwhile, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says outdoor activities are safer for the holidays, and to avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.

If you attend a party inside, the agency says people who aren’t vaccinated — including children who aren’t yet eligible for the shots — should wear a well-fitting mask, not just a Halloween costume mask. In areas with high COVID-19 transmission rates, even the fully vaccinated should wear masks inside.