It’s that spooky time of year again. When the leaves start falling off of the trees and kids dress up as their favorite characters – you know that – Halloween is just around the corner! Even though we all love getting free candy, sometimes it’s fun to switch things up a bit. Instead of the usual fare, you could change it up this year and try something new. Here are some interesting trick or treat alternative ideas to consider:
Try making your own Halloween candy. You could experiment with different ingredients, have a contest and see who comes up with the greatest concoction.
Go pumpkin picking and spend the day decorating with your pumpkin haul.
Get crafty by making Halloween decorations to put around your house.
Go to a Halloween themed escape room.
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Maybe you live in a city known for paranormal activity. If you are not the jumpy sort, or if you like this sort of outing, perhaps you could visit one of these places that are known to be haunted and write a story about what you experienced.
Or check out my earlier post here for a really fun idea for adults.
If these activities don’t sound fun, or if you’re looking for some other alternatives, check out seven of my favorite activities below!
7 Trick or Treat alternatives
1) Go apple picking at a local orchard. There’s nothing like spending a crisp autumn day with family and friends outside surrounded by beautiful scenery and delicious apples.
Apples are at the peak of their season this time of year. Not only are they tasty to eat, but they can also be great decorating items. Check out the following for great recipes and craft ideas:
- make applesauce
- make a homemade apple pie (here is one of my favorite recipes)
- make your favorite apple dessert (check out this site for some delicious recipes)
- dry them –here is a tutorial
- gather the family and make some decorations using apples (this site has some wonderful ideas)
To satisfy all ages, try to find an apple orchard where there is a hayride or pumpkin patch.
2) Host your own movie marathon night. This is a great activity for older children or teenagers. Pick your favorite scary movies (if you have young children make sure the selections are kid friendly). You can also rent some old classic horror films to get into the mood. Get the popcorn and snacks rounded up and invite some friends over for a frightfully good time. Here are some suggestions:
All Ages
- Hocus Pocus
- Corpse Bride
- Beetlejuice
- Frankenweenie
- Muppets Haunted Mansion
- Gremlins
- Ghostbusters
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Cruella
- Arachnophobia
- Goosebumps
- Labyrinth
- Into the Woods
- The Adams Family
- The Witches (Roald Dahl)
Older Teenagers and Adults
- Halloween (1978 -this movie almost has a cult following, but be warned it is very violent and gory)
- Scream
- Fright Night
- Carrie (some material in this movie may be offensive to sensitive viewers)
- The Women in Black (The first one with Daniel Radcliffe. I personally think this is one of the scariest movies that I have seen, and I don’t recall there being any goriness)
- A Quiet Place
- The Sixth Sense
- Warm Bodies
- The Ring
- Poltergeist
- The Shining
- The Changeling (1980)
3) Have a costume party! It’s always more fun when everyone gets involved in the festivities, so why not have people come dressed up as their favorite characters from TV, movies, books, etc.? The possibilities are endless. To make it a great night add a potluck meal and plan to play a few games. Have small prizes for the best costume, the yummiest dish, and winners of each of the games. Here are some game suggestions:
- Exploding Kittens (no cats are harmed😊)
- Taboo
- Uno
- Pictionary
- Charades
- Telestrations (this game is one of our family favorites)
- What (be prepared to laugh a lot)
4) Play some Halloween themed games. Pumpkin bowling, anyone? Or how about throwing darts at ghost targets? There are tons of games out there that are perfect for Halloween-themed get togethers – so take your pick and have some fun. Check out this site for more themed game ideas.
5) Visit a haunted house attraction. If you really want to be scared silly this Halloween, there’s no better way than by heading out to one of these attractions. Just make sure you’re prepared for lots of screams…and maybe even a few nightmares too!
6) Go on a Halloween scavenger hunt. You can make the clues yourself or scour the internet for hundreds of possibilities. The sky is the limit. You can make it easy or as complicated as you want. Just remember the goal is to have fun.
7) Have a pumpkin carving contest with neighbors and friends.
So, there you have it, 7 (and more) amazing alternatives for trick or treating this year. Whether you’re wanting to stick with tradition or switch things up, there’s definitely an option for everyone (and every level of comfort). I hope you find the perfect activity from my list. Whether you’re looking for something spooky, something sweet, or something in between.
Whichever you choose, throwing a big party or just getting together with a few friends, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this spooky holiday. So, gather your friends and family and get ready for some fun! Also remeber, this October 31st, make sure you take some time to enjoy yourself. After all, it only comes once a year!
And if you’re still undecided, well, maybe next year will be more traditional after all.
Have you picked your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope you all have a spook-tacular day. I’m looking forward to spending the day indulging in my favorite Halloween tradition: eating lots of candy. I always feel like I need an extra boost of energy on Halloween to make it through all the fun activities, so I make sure to load up on sugary treats.
There’s also nothing better than snuggling up with a blanket and a good book if you are not into Halloween or any of the activities associated with it. Whether you’re planning on going all out with your costume or just keeping it casual, I hope you have a fun and safe holiday. Happy Halloween!
As always, thanks for reading!
xooxoo
Julie
