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Fun Ways to Celebrate Halloween in the Summer: Spooky Ideas to Beat the Heat

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)

 

Visit Nights of the Jack This Fall

As exciting as summertime Halloween can be, there is nothing quite like the fall! Visit us this fall at Nights of the Jack, LA’s top all ages Halloween event!
 
 

Ticket will go on sale soon