The vibrant green of summer has given way cozy shades of autumnal orange and yellow. Pumpkins, pies, costumes, and classic jack-o-lanterns are trademarks of the new season, and the ways to celebrate Halloween are endless. Whether you’re a big party planner or like to enjoy a nice weekend full of fall activities, we have some tips for enjoying every minute of spooky season!

Though the autumn season lasts a few weeks after Halloween ends, there’s something special about the feeling of October. In the days leading up to the spookiest day of the year, coffee shops will offer their new seasonal flavors, pumpkin patches will open their gates, and small towns will hold their Fall Festivals. Explore some autumnal activities near you and soak up the season!

Halloweekend

Decorating Your House

Wrap your trees in lights, drape spider webs on your windows, or install climbing skeletons for a fun display in your yard. Hang plastic jack-o-lanterns or battery-powered candles in your tree branches or fences to bring a little whimsy. This is a fun and engaging way to welcome trick-or-treaters on Halloween! If you prefer a more relaxed fall look, opt for mums and pumpkins of various sizes and colors along your staircase or porch. Take a walk around your neighborhood or scroll on Pinterest for inspiration!

Themes, Decorations, & Costumes

The three key elements of a successful Halloween bash are a good theme, plenty of decorations, and a costume! Consider the type and tone of party you’d like to throw when sending out your invites. Do you want to have a classic Halloween bash with all things orange, spider webs, skeletons, and crows everywhere? Maybe you’d rather have a nostalgic Halloween party with string lights, leaves, candlesticks, pumpkins everywhere, and candy in a bowl for trick or treating? Or even a classy autumn soiree with candles, flowers, plenty of pumpkin-flavored foods, and a movie playing in the background. Whatever type of party you choose to throw, make sure to have a great time! 
When planning your costume, do you like to keep it classic as a witch or a cat? Maybe you like to go the funny route with a niche internet reference, or prefer to dress in regular, comfortable attire. Find out your costume vibe by taking our “What’s Your Halloween Party Vibe” quiz!

Murder Mystery Party

A murder mystery party takes some extensive planning beforehand, but is sure to be a hit this Halloween! Gather your cast of characters in advance and assign them a role. Choose a setting, such as New Orleans in the 1920s, a Pirate ship in the 1800s, or London in the 1960s. Use online resources to purchase a party package of scripts, or for a real challenge, create the story yourself! Collect your friends, neighbors, family, or coworkers and enjoy a night of crime-solving. For an added detail, have a “suspect board” with a Polaroid or photograph of each suspect. Enjoy the investigation and stay vigilant until the big reveal!

Food & Cocktails

If cooking, baking, or decorating cookies is in your wheelhouse, Halloween is the perfect time to let your creativity shine! Craft some crazy cocktails, bake something that looks too spooky to eat, and don’t forget the caramel apples! Freeze water in a latex glove and put it in a bowl of punch for a spooky effect. Make witches’ fingers from almond bark, green food coloring, pretzel sticks, and sliced almonds. For a few more ideas on what to bring to the party, read our “5 Spooktacular Treats to Try this Halloween” blog!

Backyard Haunts, Kid-Friendly Activities, & For the Neighborhood

Are you a parent, teacher, or someone who loves to make things special for the kids in your neighborhood? Go all out for the trick-or-treaters and dress in a costume, too! Decorate your yard and make it a fun and interactive experience for the kids and their parents. Do you have a big yard? Blow up a big screen or drape a sheet on a stand to project a movie! Invite your friends and neighbors over for snacks and an outdoor movie. Set up tables with plastic tablecloths, pumpkins, and paint for an activity. 

Do you enjoy fall festivities, but are not sure if you want to host one yourself? Volunteer at a local community center or in your town for the fall festival! Help set up water stations for a Halloween 5K, sign up to bake a few treats for a cake walk, or offer to help a business set up their decorations! There are so many ways to be a part of the fun, even in the background.

Autumn Activities

Pumpkin Patch, Apple-Picking, and Antique Shopping

The most quintessential part of October is going to a pumpkin patch! Go solo or grab a few friends and pick out all kinds of pumpkins, gourds, and even apples, if your pumpkin patch has an orchard. Get out your carving tools and a battery-powered tealight candle, and make jack-o-lanterns afterwards. Decorate your house, porch, or office with some autumn atmosphere!

Redecorating your home or wanting to add a few new pieces to your place? Go to an antique shop and give new life to some rare antiquities. More into a day at the bookstore? Explore a book shop and ask the clerk for some spooky suggestions! Look around at the mystery section or take home some literary classics. You can’t go wrong with a book set in the autumn season!

Another way to enjoy the change in seasons is to make a new playlist and take a long walk downtown or on a hiking trail. Sip on a nice hot tea or latte and walk around your city, or sit on a park bench to soak in the nice weather. Meet up with a friend or talk to someone new on your way! 

Coffee Shops, Bakeries, & Wine Bars

Put on your overalls or anything corduroy and plan an afternoon at a cute coffee shop or bakery. Fill your tote bag with cozy classics or mysteries and spend the day reading. Most bakeries will have a seasonal selection of goodies, so grab as many as you can and take one to a friend or neighbor! If you enjoy jazz music and a selection of wine, venture out to a wine bar or local jazz club to spend a sophisticated night on the town.

Spooky Movies for a Night at Home

All the buzz around Halloween is fun, but maybe you’re oversaturated and would rather have a nice, quiet night at home. There’s no better way to still enjoy the season than with themed pizzas, candy, caramel apples, or cookies to munch on while watching a movie. Set up your projector or gather in the living room with the lights down low to get the full effect!
Around this time of year, streaming services or movie rental platforms have a thriller / horror category of movies or TV shows to watch. Read our “5 Netflix Original Scary Movies To Watch This Halloween” Blog for some top-notch movie choices that are sure to give you a fright. Here are a few of our recommendations for a cozy night with a spooky twist!

Streaming Platform	“A Halloween Classic”	“Spooky, but Fun”	“Sleeping With the Lights On”
Amazon Prime	Dark Shadows, Monster House	The Craft	Nosferatu, Weapons
Hulu	Scream, The Corpse Bride	The Sixth Sense, Sleepy Hollow	Barbarian, Halloween
HBO Max	Silence of the Lambs, Beetlejuice	Sinners, The Lighthouse	The Substance, The Shining
Disney +	Hocus Pocus, Nightmare Before Christmas	Edward Scissorhands, Buffy the Vampire Slayer	Ghost Adventures, American Horror Story

In conclusion

If you like a little less “spooky” in spooky season, enjoy a nice day at a coffee shop, antiquing, reading a book set in autumn, or preparing a nice meal. As for those who enjoy a little fright, decorate your home, throw a party, and turn on your porch light for some trick-or-treaters! There are many fun things to do in just a few short weeks in October, so soak in every warm afternoon and the falling leaves. Happy hauntings and happy Halloween!

All photos are from Pinterest and linked to their original post.