Halloween is not cancelled

Calling all the Ghouls and Goblins! We can all agree that this year has already been different from any other we’ve ever experienced. I can’t even express how difficult it has been as a parent. I mean, how do you break it to your kids (I’m talking about Reese, of course) that their favorite traditions are being cancelled or altered? Let me tell you… it is heartbreaking. I remember as a child my favorite time of year was always centered around the holidays, it didn’t matter which one- I was obsessed! Every holiday is filled with a distinct magic that makes you believe in what you are celebrating. So for me, the hardest part is seeing the magic die out. No matter how hard you try with the current situation, the excitement around the holiday season is also filled with fear and devastation on the changes happening around us.

So the question is, how do we keep the magic alive? By creating new traditions focused on what your family finds enjoyable! Because let me tell you, Halloween is definitely not cancelled. Don’t fear. I’ve got you covered! So grab a costume and a notepad, because here are some fun ideas to jot down that will keep your family in the spooky spirit!

1. Plan a movie night.

            Everybody loves a traditional movie night, but making it Halloween themed ensures that it will be much more memorable. Grab all the pillows and blankets you own and create a special space for the kids to enjoy. Spicing it up a little will guarantee excitement! Add cool spooky decorations, some string lights (a must), anything glow in the dark, delicious snacks (duh) and you’ve got yourself the perfect home-movie atmosphere! As a matter of fact, this is the perfect time to make the famous, Herron Monster Mix! Okay, it’s not really famous, but in our household it is! It’s a must and I have to say, it makes my heart happy that my kids still always remind me that I need to make it (like I’m ever going to forget😋) It’s nice to see that those traditions stick, you know? 

Anyway, back to movies…depending upon age groups, I suggest starting off with the classics like Hocus Pocus, Monster House, The Haunted Mansion, or Halloweentown. If you and the fam are into more of a scare, my personal favorite is the Scream series.

2. Carve those pumpkins!

            It certainly is not Halloween without pumpkin carving. Get those little artists-to-be carving up a few masterpieces for your front yard. Although there won’t be any activity happening outdoors, it’s important to keep the tradition alive. For extra fun- make it a competition, post your family’s creations on Facebook or Instagram and let your friends vote! Maybe whoever wins gets to choose the first movie. 😉 We had fun carving our pumpkins this year! We invited everyone to participate by voting on their faves without knowing who’s was who’s! See the caption on the image below to see who’s was voted favorite!

3. Have a Halloween scavenger hunt.

            Just because trick-or-treating throughout the neighborhood might be cancelled, doesn’t mean working for that candy has to be over. Kids love scavenger hunts, and one that ends in an enormous basket of Halloween candy? All the better. Jazz it up and have them decorating their own baskets or bags for the hunt, because who doesn’t love a designed treat bag? Make the game easier for the little ones with only a hunt around the house (candy in plain sight), or tricky for the older ones with a list of riddles in hidden envelopes. Hmmm, this reminds me of our birthday cupcake tradition…but that’s for another blog post. 😋

4. Dance Party!

            Turn on those scary tunes, grab a partner and get ready to bust a move. If planned, a virtual dance party can be a fun way for your kids and their friends to celebrate together. Costumes required! You could even include a costume contest for all in home or virtual guests. He did the mash; he did the monster mash! The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash. 🎶 (Hopefully you know that those are song lyrics or else you’re probably super confused, haha!)

5. Candy Grams

            If you feel comfortable, a great way to take part in trick-or-treating without actually going trick-or-treating is to coordinate a candy-drop program. Stick to your social circles and close friend groups to stay safe, and have your kids put together a basket for their friends! Drop it off on their porches Halloween night, follow your communities’ social distancing guidelines and help keep the tradition alive. Got this idea from a friend and thinks it’s such a fabulous one!

6. Enter if you dare.

            For those of us who love Halloween a tad more than the others, this one is for you. Turn a tiny portion of your home into a Haunted House. If your kids love being spooked, try blindfolding them and having them feel or taste-test scary items. Jello for brains, plain cooked spaghetti for worms, peeled grapes in juice as eyeballs, maybe even some bobbing for apples… the list is endless. Did I ever mention that, growing up, Zach’s favorite holiday was always Halloween? The boys both looked forward to Halloween, so we always went all out. They took the day off from school and spent the day with Josh decorating our front yard! Every year got a bit spookier than the last! We’re talking fog machines, creepy music, bodies popping out of the ground, the works. Our neighborhood actually began to expect big things from us so the pressure was on! 🙂

     7. Halloween drive-thru experience.

              Many communities and cities are providing some fun, family-friendly, drive-thru adventures! If you live in the LA area, we did actually just go to one last week called HauntoweenLA. It was an open-to-all-ages interactive, drive-thru experience which included pumpkin “picking”, “door-to-door” trick-or-treating, installations, video ops, and more…all from the comfort and safety of your car! It was actually pretty impressive and it made our night! We’re actually attending a different one next weekend so, we’re pretty excited about all of the fun opportunities!

P.S don’t forget the decorations and costumes! Kids are all about visuals and dressing up! Halloween thrives on the graphics, keeping the spirit of it alive is one part celebrating and one part decorating. The holiday is nowhere near cancelled, so make it a year that they will never forget. Still celebrating will ensure it to be a holiday like none other and you will be mummy of the year 😉 Have a ‘fang’tastic Halloween!🎃

xoxo,
~m