As with everything this year, Halloween will be a little bit different. A lot of the usual gatherings at schools are cancelled for kids and the idea of going to every house on the block to trick or treat doesn’t feel like the safest thing to do right now. So how can you still make it a fun occasion for the whole family? Here are a few ways to keep up the fun and festive Halloween spirit this year.
Decorate your home like never before
Go over the top with Halloween decor this year! Since trick or treating and large social gatherings are canceled, this is the year to make up for it by creating a festive environment with decorations. Make your house look like a full-on party! Outside of a few pumpkins and gourds, I never really decorated for Halloween, but this year, it’s all my daughter can talk about. She literally screams with joy and fake fear when she sees every single spiderweb or skeleton on a house. I think she’s looking forward to something to celebrate right along with the rest of us. And I’m here for it.
I’ll be decorating our backyard with Halloween balloon garland, spiders, pumpkins and other Halloween inspired decor. We may just leave it up until Thanksgiving.
Make festive holiday-inspired treats
This is a good time to peruse Pinterest for festive Halloween treats. Make the day even more special with pumpkin flavored and decorated cupcakes and have a fun spiked and spooky drink for the adults.
Have a Halloween-themed or scary movie night
I do not love scary movies, or the feeling of being scared in general lol. But I am willing to indulge in a few scary movies this year. I’m always nostalgic for the Scream series of the 90s that were more comical than horror to me. That may be a good one to bring back into the movie rotation right now. For something that younger kids and adults can enjoy together, a replay of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is something to surely get everyone in the Halloween spirit.
Have a neighborhood parade
The highlight of Halloween is showing off your costume, amirite? I don’t think little kids (or adults) should have to miss their moment because we can’t fully gather or hop from door to door. Organizing a neighborhood parade can be a fun way to safely get folks out of their houses to prance around the hood to get a moment of shine in this year’s creative Halloween attire.
Play Halloween-inspired activities and games at home
I have some cool childhood memories of going to Halloween parties to play games like bobbing for apples or getting together to carve or paint pumpkins and make candy apples. There’s no reason why these traditions can’t continue in your home or with the friends within your “bubble.”
These can be fun ways to create new memories this Halloween. In such a challenging year, we should not short ourselves of the good times. We should only lean more into making ordinary and festive moments even more special.
Awesome ideas!
Thank you Shannon!