Halloween is listed as a favorite holiday for many people. Kids and adults alike look forward to the night of mischief and mayhem all year long, and revel in the costumes, candy and general merrymaking. But for various reasons, some people may not be able to celebrate Halloween this year.

Whether you have to work or travel, have a loved one in the hospital, or for any other reason, you may not be able to partake in the normal festivities that October 31 brings. But you can still celebrate Halloween, even if you have to be creative about it. Here are some ways to still get in your tricks and treats this year.

If you’re traveling…

• Bring a scary book, audio book or movie to watch on a portable player.
• Paint each other’s faces (even if all you’ve got is eyeliner), if you know your fellow passenger(s).
• See if you can get your aisle to start up a rendition of “Monster Mash” or “Thriller.”

If you’re working…

• Dress up if the boss will let you. If it’s completely out of the question, wear orange and black socks, or Halloween earrings.
• Decorate your office space if possible. Add a tiny gourd or pumpkin and paint its face—give it a bit off fuzz for hair, too. Put up a creepy spider web, a little skeleton, whatever makes you feel festive.
• Put out a candy dish to share with coworkers. See if they’d like to go trick-or-treating, cubicle by cubicle. If they don’t have candy, demand paper clips.
• Play spooky pranks on one other, such as adding plastic bugs to ice cubes, chairs or filing cabinets.

If you or a loved one is in the hospital…

• Now you (or your loved one) needs cheering up more than ever! See about getting a spooky candygram, a Halloween movie (you may not want to go too scary, depending on your condition—go for something like The Nightmare Before Christmas or It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown), or some treats if you can.
• Having a child in the hospital during Halloween is very rough. See if you can take him or her trick-or-treating within the children’s ward, if they are offering it and if it’s safe. If it’s not, see about getting a performer—maybe a relative who can dress up as a magician or a clown? Let him or her dress up if possible, and bring friends who are dressed up to visit. Play games, watch a Halloween cartoon, and provide treats.