By Vicki Little
Trick-or-Treating is definitely a time-honored tradition for many costume-clad Halloweeners, but what about those who are too young, too old, too allergic, too scared, too bored, or simply just don’t want to? Are they resigned to being the designated candy distributors? Of course not! There are plenty of other fun, ghoulish activities that everyone can enjoy. Here are five ideas for those who just aren’t into trick-or-treating.
- Have a progressive Halloween-themed party in the neighborhood or with friends. It’s kind of like a pot-luck, but instead of bringing food to one place, people rotate houses for each dish. The group gathers at one house for appetizers, then moves to another for the main meal, then another for desserts, etc. You can get dressed up if you want, or not — whatever your group chooses. Just have fun!
- Have a scary movie marathon. Pick a few different ones. For really scary options, go with classics like The Shining. For silly-yet-still-creepy, try Dolls or Chucky. And of course, find a new one to watch so that you don’t know what’s coming! Turn off all the lights, and maybe play a round of Bloody Mary in the bathroom. You’ll drink so much soda you will have to go to the bathroom but will be scared to go!
- Enjoy the tricks at multiple corn mazes/haunted houses. The thrills and chills have only gotten better over the years. There are now corn mazes for every age — including “haunted” ones. Enjoy a family day of fun at a pumpkin patch, where you can play on bounce houses and pick out your pumpkins. Then in the evening, head through a corn maze or a haunted house. Don’t forget to check out your local amusement park, too — most of them offer Halloween activities.
- Plan a good, old-fashioned campfire and scary stories session. The weather isn’t too cold yet. (Even if it is, grab a few blankets and cuddle up.) Build a nice campfire, gather the chairs around, and see who can out-spook one another. If your group includes children, pass around some buckets filled with unknown body parts such as spaghetti brains and peeled-grape eyes. It is a tradition that never gets old!
- Volunteer at a sponsored event — children’s hospitals, churches etc. Volunteering will give you plenty of special thrills when you see how much fun the kids are having. It is so rewarding to hand out candy to little ones in a hospital or in an area where it isn’t safe to trick-or-treat at night. Many places hold their activities during the day so you will still have time to hand out candy in your neighborhood or enjoy one of the ideas above.
Do you have a scarily different Halloween tradition?
Vicki Little is a work-at-home mom with two young kids. A Colorado native, she is the Publisher and Editor of Macaroni Kid Aurora and Downtown Denver. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, reading, camping, or enjoying a bottle of wine with friends.
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