Recently, I asked people
on Instagram
if they were going out trick or treating or celebrating Halloween at home. 60%
said they would be staying home and that includes us. I'm not quite ready to
greet kids at our door or have Chloe come home with bags of candy touched by
dozens of strangers, know what I mean?
So social distancing and another Halloween At Home it is. Last year, we did a
halloween scavenger hunt in our basement in the dark. We set up spooky lights,
skeletons, spider webs, and even had a graveyard. It was a great way to
celebrate the holiday with fun for the whole family.
Halloween At Home
Are you looking for halloween party ideas or just simple ideas to mark the holiday? Here's 9 great ideas for fun halloween activities to celebrate the spooky season at home.
1. Use-what-you-have costume contest
A fun way to get into the halloween spirit? Challenge your family to put together DIY halloween costumes using only household items and the clothing you have in your closets. You could ask everyone to come "dressed for dinner" in their getups. It's sure to encourage a lot of fun discussion around who should win for best halloween costumes.
2. Create a dessert buffet of halloween treats
Just because you're not trick or treating, doesn't mean you have to give up
the sweets! That's the best part of the holiday, amirite?
And who doesn't love a dessert buffet. You could settle for your typical
halloween candy, like candy corn and mini chocolate bars, or you can make
things a bit more unique with a
pumpkin smashcake, skull-shaped cookies, and mummy hot chocolate bombs.
Isn't this adorable?? These designer desserts are made by Sweet Lab Toronto run by my talented cousin Kristine. She's put together a box of edible cute ideas like the coffin sugar cookies and skeleton hand chocolate covered oreo.
Much like a pinata, you smash the pumpkin (it's made of Callebaut belgian chocolate) to reveal all the goodies inside. I think they're a perfect way to end off halloween date night at home, or
send as a gift to friends.
3. Pumpkin carving
It wouldn't be Halloween without this tradition. You can get all the
family members involved with this activity. If the kids are too small,
have them paint pumpkins instead of carving them.
You can also get creative with your pumpkins and use power tools instead
of just your kitchen knife. I like the simplicity of the Boo marquee pumpkin but our mouse house pumpkin still stands as my all-time favourite. And of course, don't
forget to save the pumpkin seeds to roast and have as a snack!
4. Outdoor halloween celebration
Love the fall weather? Why not take your halloween gathering outdoors. This is a fun way to make use of your firepit. Set out halloween themed treats like gooey smores, spiced apple cider, or hot chocolate with a shot of pumpkin spice flavouring. Enjoy the evening by candlelight, or by the light of your flickering carved pumpkins.
5. Classic halloween party games
It's easy to give classic games a spooky touch. Have the kids toss beanbags into a large plastic cauldron. Play 5 pin bowling with small gourds. You could even do a spin on that bridal shower-game favourite and do a "best mummy contest" using a roll of toilet paper.
Have you gone apple picking lately? Apple bobbing has a long history tied to Halloween and is a fun game for the whole family. Just set up a large pail of
water and have the kids and adults try grabbing one with their
teeth.
6. Dance party
All you need for a halloween dance party at home are glow sticks and a
spooky playlist. Feel free to dance with the lights off or enhance the
mood by setting your smartlights set to orange.
7. Indoor scavenger hunt
Are the kids missing trick or treating? Give them a sense of that fun with
a halloween scavenger hunt. Set up your outdoor halloween home decor
inside the house to really create a fun time. Place the skeleton at the
kitchen table and plastic spiders in their beds for spooky but not too
spooky decor. Then arm the kids with flashlights and have them find the
hidden candy around your home.
8. Scary movie night
Whether you like scary movies or spooky family fare, halloween is the
perfect time to settle in with a big bowl of popcorn and frightful flicks.
Hocus Pocus, Scream, The Sixth Sense, Hubie Halloween are just a few of
our favourites. What's yours?
9. Make spooky crafts
My favourite halloween at home activity? Making crafts. Paper bats, tissue
paper ghosts - there are a wealth of
halloween craft ideas suitable for all ages. This
mason jar mummy lantern
is one of the simplest. And who doesn't like using googly eyes?
However you choose to celebrate halloween this year, I hope it's a fun
one!
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