Halloween is typically associated with autumn’s cool, crisp air, but who says you must wait until October to enjoy this spooktacular holiday? With the right planning and a little creativity, you can celebrate Halloween in the summer and still have a hauntingly good time. Whether you’re looking to throw a party, decorate your home, or simply enjoy some festive activities with your loved ones, there are plenty of fun ways to celebrate Halloween in the summer.
Plan a Halloween Pool Party
What’s better than a summer pool party? A Halloween-themed pool party, of course! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Turn your pool into a spooky swamp with green food coloring and floating “eyeballs.”
- Decorate the pool area with spider webs, skeletons, and other creepy props.
- Serve Halloween-themed snacks, like “witch fingers” (carrots with almond slices for nails) and “mummy dogs” (hot dogs wrapped in crescent roll dough).
- Encourage guests to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes (bonus points for pool-friendly costumes!).
Spooky Pool Games
No pool party is complete without some fun games! Here are some Halloween-themed games that are perfect for the pool:
- Bobbing for apples (use mini apples for easier bobbing).
- Scavenger hunt (hide Halloween-themed items around the pool area).
- Zombie tag (one person is “it” and tries to tag other players to turn them into “zombies”).
- Pool noodle jousting (players try to knock each other off pool noodles while wearing inflatable costumes).
Host a Halloween Movie Marathon
If you’d rather stay indoors and beat the heat, why not host a Halloween movie marathon? Here are some must-watch movies to add to your list:
- Hocus Pocus
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Beetlejuice
- Ghostbusters
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
Make sure to stock up on Halloween-themed snacks (like candy corn and popcorn) and cozy blankets to snuggle up with.
Scary Movie Drinking Game
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, turn your movie marathon into a drinking game! Take a sip every time:
- Someone screams
- A character says “Halloween”
- Someone dies on screen
- A pumpkin appears on the screen
- A character says “trick or treat”
Just make sure to drink responsibly and have a designated driver if you plan on drinking alcohol.
Create a DIY Haunted House
Who says you have to wait until October to create a spooky haunted house? With a little creativity and some DIY props, you can turn your home into a creepy haunted mansion. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Hang ghostly sheets from the ceiling to create a “floating” effect.
- Create a creepy graveyard in your front yard with tombstones and fake skeletons.
- Use black lights and fluorescent paint to create a glowing, otherworldly effect.
- Set up a fog machine for an extra spooky atmosphere.
DIY Haunted House Props
To really make your haunted house come to life, you’ll need some spooky props. Here are some DIY ideas:
- Spooky eyes: Cut out eye shapes from cardboard and paint them to look like eerie, glowing eyes. Hang them up in dark corners for an unsettling effect.
- Bloody handprints: Dip your hands in red paint and press them onto windows, walls, and doors for a gory effect.
- Ghostly apparitions: Cut out ghost shapes from white sheets and hang them from the ceiling. Use a fan to make them appear to be floating.
- Creepy dolls: Use old dolls and toys to create creepy, doll-themed displays. Add fake blood and torn clothing for an extra scary touch.
Go on a Halloween-Themed Vacation
Why not combine your love for Halloween with a summer vacation? There are plenty of destinations that offer Halloween-themed events and attractions during the summer months. Here are some ideas:
- Disneyland’s Halloween Time: From July to October, Disneyland offers Halloween-themed attractions and decor, including the popular Haunted Mansion Holiday ride.
- Salem, Massachusetts: Known for its witch trials and spooky history, Salem is a popular destination for Halloween enthusiasts year-round.
- Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights: Universal Studios offers Halloween-themed mazes and attractions from September to November, but some parks offer them during the summer months as well.
Halloween-Themed Activities
If you can’t make it to one of these destinations, there are still plenty of Halloween-themed activities you can enjoy on vacation. Here are some ideas:
- Take a ghost tour: Many cities offer haunted walking or bus tours that explore the spooky history of the area.
- Attend a Halloween festival: Check your destination’s events calendar for Halloween-themed festivals and fairs.
- Visit a haunted attraction: Look up haunted houses or other spooky attractions in your destination and plan a visit.
Have a Halloween-Themed Picnic
Who says picnics have to be reserved for the summertime? Pack a spooky picnic basket and head to a park or beach for a Halloween-themed picnic. Here are some ideas:
- Serve Halloween-themed snacks, like candy corn, pumpkin seeds, and “spider” deviled eggs (with olive “spiders” on top).
- Decorate your picnic area with Halloween-themed props, like pumpkins and fake spider webs.
- Play Halloween-themed games, like “pin the nose on the pumpkin” or “ghostly potato sack race.”
Spooky Picnic Basket Ideas
Here are some ideas for a Halloween-themed picnic basket:
- Witch’s brew (fruit punch with dry ice for a spooky effect)
- Spider web sandwiches (sandwiches cut into spider web shapes)
- Pumpkin cookies or brownies
- Ghostly cheese and crackers (cut cheese into ghost shapes with cookie cutters)