This year’s Halloween is going to be the scariest yet. Not because of ghosts, monsters, or bad costumes; but because of the pandemic. There will be no parades, nightclubs, or costume parties. Our options for celebrating the holiday are severely limited. Instead of the usual Halloween festivities, we will be contained in our homes with our family and friends. In other words, a nightmare. But for those of us who claim Halloween as our favorite holiday, we can still make the most of the spooky season. Here are some ways we can even celebrate safely!
Costumes
Putting together the perfect costume has always been the most crucial part of Halloween. Even though we won’t see many ensembles in person, we can still have fun transforming ourselves to show our creativity through social media. Even if you’re just getting dressed for the pictures, any excuse is a good one when it comes to going all-out on hair, makeup, face-paint, and wardrobe. With more time on our hands, we can come up with the perfect idea. Will you go for the classic sexy bunny? A fictional character? A scary creature? Or will you try to be unique and dress up as a concept? The options are endless, and the time is here, so put on your thinking caps and get inventive this year!
Scary Movies
Halloween is its genre of film. There’s nothing better than cuddling up with your family or friends on an autumn night with blankets, apple cider, and a fire going to watch your favorite Halloween movie. There’s something for everyone, no matter your tolerance for horror. For those who hate horror movies (because you’re jumpy or you think they’re lame, all opinions are welcome), there are Disney’s fall nostalgia traps like Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, or Twitches. For those who love horror movies, this is the night to shine. Anything ranging from Hereditary to A Nightmare on Elm Street can be considered a Halloween movie just based on its hair-raising abilities. With a wide range of options, having a cozy night in with a good movie is a must this year.
Day Trip
Although we have to keep cautious, a fall-themed outing may be the best way to get out of the house and celebrate the season. While keeping social distancing, mask-wearing, and test-taking in mind, a day trip with your friends to see the changing leaves is guaranteed to get you in the Halloween spirit! My favorite fall activity includes visiting a local orchard to pick out pumpkins, drink fresh cider, and go apple picking. If you live in an area with pretty foliage, look into local foliage tours or chair-lifts to the mountains for a picture-worthy view! If you plan on going somewhere on Halloween, be careful and try to avoid the usually crowded Haunted House. Have fun but use your judgment!
Baking
Since you’re going to be stuck inside for most of the season, you might as well fill up your home with an autumnal aroma. Besides lighting a candle, baking treats is the perfect way to do so! Spending the holiday eating yummy food is not a bad way to celebrate, so get out those cookbooks and find your new favorite recipe! I like to make some fall staples every year, including apple crisp, pumpkin pie, and caramel apples. This year is the perfect time to bake as many sweets as possible in the kitchen, so get creative with it if you want! Invent a new dessert or test new recipes you find online!
Music
Don’t stop at filling the air with delicious smells, but with music too! Whether you are a fan of Spotify, Apple Music, or old-school vinyl, finding the best songs to listen to on Halloween is necessary. If you’re ever bored of baking and movie-watching, spend some time curating the perfect playlist. Add a fun title and put in only songs that make you think of the autumn season or Halloween specifically. Spending so much time in your home isn’t too bad when you decorate your time with the music!
It’s important to keep our spirits up during this pandemic. Make an effort this year and (safely) lean into the Halloween celebrations as much as possible. After all, this year is unlike any other. When Halloween’s supernatural meets COVID-19’s unprecedented times, things are bound to get spooky.