Is there something strange in the neighborhood? It’s probably just the Halloween season coming right around the corner! Everyone will be looking forward to the fun Halloween activities this season. Not to mention the horror-inspired meals and seasonal treats that would make you a ravenous zombie!
We have compiled below a list of things to do for the Halloween season. From trick or treating with the kids to escaping a corn maze, you will surely add something to your bucket list!
How many of these can you complete before the stroke of midnight on Halloween?
“And for those of you who want to take up the challenge: complete our Fall Bucket List: or 40 Autumn Activities & Fun Things to Do
1. Bake Halloween Cookies
Who says kids only love candies during Halloween? Cookies are a delicious alternative to what the kids typically get when they trick-or-treat. And it’s not just the kids, this can also be a delectable treat for the young at heart (like us!).
Don’t know how to bake cookies? Start with Betty Crocker’s Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. If you want to take things up a notch, you can also make Halloween-themed cookies!
2. Bob For Apples
Bobbing for apples is a game that can be played all year-round but is a very popular thing to do for Halloween. It is a fun Halloween game that only needs apples and some large buckets filled with water.
For those unfamiliar with the game, the goal is to grab an apple from the water-filled bucket using only your mouth. Another version of the game is hanging an apple tied to a string and then trying to grab it with only your mouth as well.
3. Carve a Pumpkin
Another tradition during Halloween and autumn season is carving a pumpkin or creating a jack-o-lantern. Because it is messy fun, kids especially like slicing a pumpkin open and scraping out the flesh and seeds. There are tons of tutorials on the internet or on Youtube that will help you in carving one.
You can also do more aside from carving the actual pumpkin. You can collect the pumpkin seeds and make yourself a roasted pumpkin seed snack!
Don’t know what design to carve? House Beautiful has compiled a list of 52 ideas that are sure to impress your neighbors. Don’t forget to have an expert pumpkin carving kit handy. If pumpkin carving seems too messy or dangerous, try a virtual alternative – carve an online pumpkin.
PS: this bucket list idea is also on our Fall Bucket List: 40 Autumn Activities & Fun Things to Do!
4. Create a Candy Wreath
As with all special occasions like birthdays or Christmas, making a wreath is a great idea—and a Halloween-themed candy one would not only be cute, but delicious too. It is also inexpensive (free even) and easy to do, even if you are not that artsy.
If you have kids, this is also a fun activity to do with them. You can add all sorts of Halloween-y stuff for your candy wreath like ghosts, spiders, you name it! Just make sure not to eat all of the candy while making it 🙂
Here’s some cute DIY candy wreath ideas:
Candy Corn Wreath
Edible Halloween Candy Wreath Craft
5. Dance to Thriller
You may have heard of Michael Jackson’s 1982 hit song Thriller, one of the popular songs being played during Halloween to this day—watch the video here. The dance steps are equally as popular, spawning thousands of videos on Youtube around the world.
To make your Halloween even more thrilling, why not bust a move and dance to the beat of Thriller? The hardest part about this one is not learning the steps, but not dancing to it once the song starts!
6. Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte
A pumpkin spice latte is a fun take on a classic coffee drink perfect for Halloween. Most of you may think of buying one from Starbucks, but you can actually make one in the comfort of your own home! You can do it with your friends and imagine you’re an expert barista. Plus, the smell of pumpkin spice will make your kitchen an instant hit for everyone in the house.
There are lots of homemade recipes that can be found on the Internet, but here are a few that are easy to follow:
7. Sip Hot Apple Cider
As the leaves start to change and fall down, another way of celebrating the autumn season is by sipping apple cider! Most people drink it hot so that you can feel the warmth going down your stomach. It is also advisable to drink it before eating a meal as it can upset your tummy when you are full.
Whether it is store-bought or homemade, you will love drinking apple cider while watching the autumn view!
Here are two recipes for you to try: Hot Apple Cider and Holiday Spiced Cider
8. Eat Candy Corn
Candy corn is one of the popular (if not the most popular) candies during Halloween. It got its name because it resembles a corn kernel with its color and shape.
As for the taste and texture, I’ll let you be the judge of that once you’ve tried it 😉 People have mixed opinions about candy corn: you’ll either love it or hate it. Regardless of that, don’t let those opinions stop you from eating one!
Order a Brach’s Classic Candy Corn before they run out.
9. Escape from a Corn Maze
This can be a fun and scary experience if you’ve never been in one, especially if you are a fan of horror films. But fear not, there won’t be a psycho killer chasing you around!
Some farms make corn mazes to attract visitors and generate extra income. Aside from trying to escape the maze, there are also petting zoos, hayrides, and other fun activities that you can do.
You can check the official corn mazes in your area or state. Are you up for the challenge?
10. Get Spooked at a Haunted Houses
You may have heard stories or rumors around your neighborhood about an abandoned house being haunted. In the spirit of Halloween, let me dare you to visit one, most especially at night! Even if you are skeptical about the paranormal, it would definitely be an experience worth doing.
If that is too much for you, you can instead visit a haunted house attraction in a carnival or fair near you. Just don’t forget to bring a bag of courage with you!
For extra bucket list points, see how many of the 50 Scariest Haunted Houses in the US you can check off the list.
11. Go on a Hayride
If you already went to a corn maze, chances are you were given a hayride to the entrance. Hayrides are one of the activities you can do on a farm aside from corn mazes during the fall season. Hayrides consist of a wagon being pulled by a tractor or horse.
Some farms also incorporate Halloween-themed haunted hayrides. Visitors will encounter actors dressed in popular spooky characters like the Headless Horseman and other special effects as you go around.
12. Go to a Halloween Festival or Parade
Have you ever been to a Halloween Festival or Parade? There is nothing like a fun neighborhood gathering to get into the Halloween spirit, right? There are actually many Halloween festivals that provide not just a nice scare but also a great spectacle.
A few of the biggest ones are the Village Halloween Parade, Salem Witches Halloween Ball, and Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. You can even take up a notch and visit one of the considered most haunted places in the world, The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor in Longbeach, California!
13. Go Trick or Treating
Ah yes, the one thing to do for Halloween that people of all ages are looking forward to. I mean, who doesn’t love filling their bags with sweet treats? Trick or treating has been a part of American culture since the 1920s.
Thinking you’re too old for trick or treating but still want to experience it? If you have kids in your house, then it’s best to accompany them around the neighborhood. You can also be the one giving the treats instead!
14. Have a Halloween Crafting Session
Aside from activities like trick or treating, you wouldn’t want to miss the chance to decorate for the Halloween season. It will also be a fun bonding experience if you do it with your family or friends!
Now, there are loads of things that you can do for your crafting session, like paper ghosts or cobweb yarns. You’ll never run out of ideas with how many DIY tutorials you can find online, especially on Youtube.
Check out these best Halloween crafts:
15. Make a Halloween Mask
Halloween is the perfect day to be weird or scary (while keeping it fun for everyone, of course). Lots of different stores will be selling masks and other costumes for the season, especially the classics like Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers.
To make it more personal and memorable, you can make your own Halloween mask instead! You will only need inexpensive materials as well, like colored paper and colored pencils. Just don’t forget to have fun in the process too.
Fun homemade mask tutorials:
16. Make Caramel Apples
Caramel apples are a staple treat for the autumn season. Not only is it one of Halloween’s guilty pleasures, but it is also cheap and easy to make at home! You can also sprinkle it with different toppings like nuts, chocolate sprinkles, marshmallows, even Nutella.
Do you need some help in making caramel apples? Below are some great recipes for making this sweet fall snack:
17. Bake a Pumpkin Pie
Aside from being used as a jack-o-lantern during Halloween, pumpkins are healthy and delicious as well. One popular dessert served during the fall season is pumpkin pies.
Your parents or grandparents would probably have their own way of making pumpkin pies, so it’s high time you learned it if you haven’t done so. This would be a good bonding experience as well as keeping the family recipe alive!
You can also start it yourself by learning from these pumpkin pie recipes:
18. Make Some Wicked Halloween Decorations
Halloween is the best excuse to have a good time. Whether it is organizing a Halloween party or making your place have a witchy feel for the trick or treaters, decorating should be a part of your to-do list.
Lucky for you, you don’t have to be crammed up with decorating. There are a lot of easy DIY decors that can be found on the internet that you can follow. You can make your own spider web-designed table, pumpkin vase, or even create your own Halloween garland!
19. Make Your Own Halloween Costume
Celebrating Halloween will not be complete without getting yourself dressed in a costume. From skeletons to vampires, the list goes on. There are plenty of chances to get creative, so make sure it is one to be remembered!
You don’t have to stick with the traditional scary ones as well. You can dress up and be anything: a student or wizard from Hogwarts, be one of the Avengers, or even John Wick. What matters the most is having fun!
Here some of the best Halloween costume ideas:
20. Make/Play a Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Going on Easter egg hunts has been an Easter activities tradition during the season. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t have one for the scary season!
You can enjoy an exciting and challenging activity for Halloween by going on scavenger hunts. What’s great about this one is everyone can join.
Now, if you have a knack for setting up clues or hiding objects in plain sight, then you can organize your own scavenger hunt as well! But, if you need some help check out Billetto’s 13 Epic Scavenger Hunt Ideas (+Tips & Tools).
21. Plan a Halloween Movie Marathon
Do you know of a scary movie that you want to watch but are too afraid to watch alone? Share the scare by planning a Halloween movie marathon with your family or friends. You can also ask them for other horror movies that they want to add to the list. Don’t forget to bring snacks as well!
With applications like Netflix or Amazon Prime, you’ll have a wide variety of horror films to choose from. Or just choose from this list: 65 Greatest Horror Movies of the 21st Century
22. Play a Game of Halloween Bingo
If you want to take a break from trick or treating, you can still enjoy Halloween inside your home by playing a game of Halloween Bingo. With different variations of the game and lots of possible patterns to make, everybody will have a chance to scream Bingo!
You can pick up Halloween-themed bingo cards at your local store or you can make one yourself. You can also check out our very own printable Halloween bingo cards!
23. Pull a Harmless Halloween Prank
‘Tis the season to be scary, which is why conducting a harmless prank for Halloween is essential. The sky is the limit when generating your master plan. But going the traditional route like using onions instead of apples for your “caramel apples” is not a bad idea as well.
Here is a list of harmless Halloween pranks to inspire you in pulling off the scare of their lives:
24. Read Some Halloween Books
Let your imagination conjure up scary monsters or frightening scenes by reading a good horror book. With a rich library of terrifying stories under the horror genre like Stephen King’s classic titled The Shining, you’ll definitely find something that would keep you awake till morning!
You can dim the lights and play some creepy music for a more eerie vibe while reading. Just don’t mind the faint whispers you’ll be hearing every now and then 🙂
25. Roast Pumpkin Seeds
From decorations to dishes, pumpkins have a lot of utility as a vegetable. Aside from the pumpkin’s flesh, you can collect the seeds and make yourself a roasted pumpkin seed snack!
This healthy snack is packed with protein and nutrients like zinc and iron that are good for the body.
26. Set a Spooky Table
Dine at home Addam’s Family-style by making a spooky dinner table. It can be as simple as putting on a black table cloth, some gothic candle holders (like this one), and you are all set! You can also add some extra pieces from your Halloween crafting session to decorate the table.
You can also cook up some Halloween-inspired meals, like spaghetti with “eyeballs” or monster sandwiches, to match your dining table’s design. And of course, don’t forget to dress up!
27. Spook Your Neighbors
Be the one to spread the Halloween season in your neighborhood by giving them some good old spook or scare! This can be in the form of a harmless prank, telling scary stories, or giving them a fright from your yard or house decorations.
If you are planning to go the yard decoration route, be sure not to make it too scary now. You wouldn’t want to keep the trick or treaters away from your home!
28. Swap Scary Stories
This brings me back to the 90s, of a TV show called Are You Afraid Of The Dark? where a group of teenagers gather around a campfire while sharing scary stories.
You can tell a scary story based on your own experience or one that was shared with you. It can be something that you may have just heard around. You can up the fear factor by turning off the lights and having just a flashlight or candle open.
29. Throw a Halloween Party
Throwing a party is one of the best ways to welcome and experience Halloween. Preparing one could be difficult, especially if it is your first time. Aside from the food and invitations, there should also be fun activities to make it a party to remember.
Here is a great guide that can help you find inspiration and ideas for activities if you are planning to throw a Halloween party (for kids and adults):
30. Trunk or Treat
This is another variation of the traditional trick or treating. And no, you won’t be stuffed inside a trunk if you don’t give any treats 😉
Trunk or treating involves a group of people/parents gathering in a location, usually a parking lot or school. They will then open the trunks of their cars and decorate them with Halloween designs and baskets of goodies.
Some say this is a safer alternative to trick or treating since the kids are gathered in one spot only. But nevertheless, it is just as fun!
31. Try Out a Creepy-Crawly Hairdo
They say that the hair is one’s crowning glory. And what better way to show it off this Halloween season than transforming it into something creepy!
From something simple like going full-on Sadako/Samara from The Ring to wearing a wig filled with creepy barbie doll heads like this one, there is no limit to what you can do with your hair (or wig for that matter).
But having a creepy hairdo will only take you so far, so make sure to wear it confidently and proudly!
32. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Scenic rows of pumpkins and other fun activities await you when visiting a pumpkin patch this fall season. You’ll be hitting a lot of birds with one stone on this one. Like getting to pick a pumpkin for Halloween to take home with you, wandering around corn mazes, going on hayrides, tasting different pumpkin delicacies, and so much more!
You’ll find different pumpkin patches across various states, so there will surely be one near you!
33. Watch Hocus Pocus
A 1993 Halloween movie classic, Hocus Pocus is definitely a must-watch with its charming cast, classic special effects, and family fun entertainment. The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, where a trio of wicked (but comical) witches was accidentally resurrected by a teenage boy.
Though the movie is geared towards kids, people of all ages would surely enjoy this film. So call everyone, grab some snacks, and prepare to be put under the film’s spell!
34. Make Some Sinfully Sweet Halloween Treats
Whether you are a sweet tooth by heart or just an occasional lover of desserts, there is never “too much” when it comes to snacking on sweets during Halloween.
Whipping these sweets and desserts out is no easy feat, but here are some yummy Halloween-inspired recipes to get you on the right track:
. . .
And that concludes our list of Halloween activities! Which of these made it to your Halloween bucket list?
Though it may have changed throughout the years from when it first started, Halloween is here to remind us that there is a reason to celebrate and be happy past all the scary stuff.
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