It’s that time of year when we don our homes with spider webs, pumpkins, headstones and skeleton bones. While trick-or-treating may be on the table for many families, we have ideas for those maybe too old to trick-or-treat or for those who want to stay socially distanced (1). And don’t worry! You can still put on a fun costume, regardless of whether you’re going out or staying in.
Here’s 6 unique ideas for celebrating spooky season:
Have a scary movie night
Get into the spirit of the season with a scary movie night, or even a scary movie marathon. Whip up some fun snacks and settle in for a frightening time watching your favorite scary movies. Or, for younger kids, try introducing them to a Halloween Classic, Halloween Town! Weather permitting, another way to spice up your movie night is to screen the movie on a portable projector. Use either a bed sheet or the side of your house for an outdoor movie experience. You can also use a blank wall inside as the perfect screen for your projector as well. But, what is a movie without some great snacks? Check out these snack ideas to serve up for the family here.
Carve pumpkins and roast the seeds
Pumpkin carving is a fun tradition for Halloween but with sustainability and planting-forward on a lot of peoples mind, try using the parts of the pumpkin most would normally throw away. Save the seeds when you hollow out the pumpkin. The seeds can be cleaned off and roasted along with other nuts and spices to make a delicious snack for later. Try this recipe for a chile peanut pumpkin seed snack mix here. You can also use the pulp of the pumpkin to make pumpkin puree or pumpkin popsicles, which are both nutritious treats for dogs. The American Kennel Club provides easy to make pumpkin treat recipes here.
Create low or no-contact trick-or-treat station
To help keep everyone socially distant, there are a number of ways to still have candy for the kids without close-up interactions. Consider a candy table or candy stand with individual treats laid out instead of in a big bowl. Or do a candy drop on your neighbors’ doorsteps so the kids don’t have to go door-to-door. Find more ideas here.
Make spooky treats with the kids
Spend a little time together in the kitchen with the kids and whip up some spooky treats. From easy witches’ brooms to zombie eyeballs, we’ve scared up some fun and funky treats to create for the family. Find them on our Pinterest board here
Decorate sugar skulls for Dia de los Muertos
Sugar skulls are a traditional decoration for Day of the Dead celebrations. They are fun to make, and kids will have fun decorating them. Here’s a great source for molds and kits to make your own sugar skulls for Dia de los Muertos.
Put together a reverse trick-or-treat by donating to an organization or food bank
Make spooky season more meaningful this year by donating to a community organization or food bank. Consider putting out a community drop box for neighbors to donate shelf-stable foods, like peanut butter. Here’s some tips on giving back.