Living so far from town, Halloween has pretty much always looked different for us than most people. We don’t trick or treat door to door, or do Halloween costume parties.  I don’t even decorate my house.  But I still enjoy the season and the holiday.  In fact, it’s one of my favorites because its so much fun.  I love dressing up, the fall season, and the slightly spooky atmosphere of those fall evenings. And a blue moon this Oct 31. How much more spooky-perfect can you get? Don’t miss it!  Here’s some of my favorite traditions from childhood and beyond that might work for you this non-traditional Halloween. 

1. Make candy corn popcorn balls.  A traditional candy that I always got from my grandma as a kid!  So yummy.  Plus, I don’t know what it is about candy corn that is so good….Some people agree and others don’t, but it really “screams” Halloween for me.  It’s one of those candies I have had at every Halloween since I can remember.  I still buy it and eat it at Halloween time.  It tastes like Halloween.

2. Watch a not so scary Halloween movie.  Some of my favorites are

   • The Mummy or The Mummy Returns

   • Poltergeist

   • Sleepy Hollow 

   • Hocus Pocus

   • Ghostbusters

    

3. Listen to a Spooky Podcast or Old Time Radio Show.

   • Fireside Mystery Theater (Can be a bit spooky at times, Old Time Radio Show Style)

   • Astonishing Legends (lengthy, but in depth discussion of paranormal anything)

   • Fright Night Show (preview before hand!)

   • Stuff You Missed In History Class – has spooky shows around Halloween sometimes

4. Dress Up Anyway. I love to dress up, even if I don’t get to go trick or treating.  We have had some pretty entertaining costumes in the past; ZZ Top, a Halloween gangster (me) and a not so pretty woman (Casey), A hunter (Casey) and his deer (me).  And I have the best idea (under wraps) for the three of us this year.  So excited to dress up and take pictures.  Will probably end up on my Christmas card and of course on FB- ha! You could also host a virtual costume contest with friends, cousins, church groups, school classes etc. Everyone wants to show off their costume. Create a YouTube video or do Facebook Live. You’ll enjoy this years later I promise!

5. Trick or Treat at Family’s houses.  Once we’re dressed up we’re gonna go entertain a few family members.  As a kid I went trick or treating at my grandparents houses.  A couple of times I went to town to trick or treat, but only once or twice.  Other options could be:

   • Have a candy scavenger hunt in the house.

   • Ask your kids to actually do tricks for treats.  My brother and I put on a magic show for my parents one time as kids. This would be a perfect way to do “tricks for treats.” Work for that sugar high!

6. Carve Pumpkins. It’s classic, creative and fun. Carve a pumpkin and then put the candle in it and watch it glow and flicker at night on your front porch.  Kind of like a Halloween campfire. Even if nobody else sees it – its still fun and mesmerizing.

7. Tell a Ghost Story. As kids, my brother and I loved to read and tell ghost stories. I still love ghost stories. You know, the real ones. The ones that people have had first hand. They are fascinating. But if you don’t know of any real ghost stories to tell, look one up online. Gather around your glowing pumpkin outside in the evening. Wrap up in a cozy blanket and eat a candy corn popcorn ball and share some spooky oral lore. Better yet, make your kids tell them or make them up.

8. Create Your Own Haunted House. Another fun thing that I did as a kid was to convert my closet to a haunted house.  We lived in an old house with long narrow closets.  Perfect! My brother and I both did this, then went through each other’s haunted houses.  I still remember this as being fun and delightfully spooky!