There’s no denying that this year’s Halloween festivities will be much different this year than those in the past. Like other holiday festivities this year, finding ways to creatively readjust expectations will help ensure a successful socially distanced celebration. Parties and trick-or-treating might not be in your future, but these tips and tricks will bring the spirit of Halloween into your home.
Give your home a Halloween makeover
Transform your home into a haunted house using homemade decorations the whole family can make together. String lights and battery-operated candles are optional, but add a beautifully spooky ambience to the room.
- Instead of decorating your home with jack-o’-lanterns, which have a short shelf life, use acrylic craft paint (it won’t flake as it dries) to create scary or fantastical scenes on uncarved pumpkins.
- Make DIY lanterns by using white school glue to adhere pieces of coloured tissue paper to glass jars. Once the glue has completely dried, place a battery-operated tea light in the jar to enjoy soft lantern light.
- Cut pieces of construction paper or bristol board into the shape of bats, pumpkins, ghosts, and tombstones; string together with twine or yarn to make a ghoulish garland.
Take part in virtual Halloween activities
Feeling disappointed by the lack of Halloween get-togethers this year? Consider hosting or attending a virtual version of some of your favourite October traditions. Try telling ghost stories, carving pumpkins or an informal wine pairing with Halloween candy — many time-honoured Halloween activities can be modified for social distancing. Keeping virtual parties small and focused on a theme is especially helpful for little kids with shorter attention spans.
Move the festivities outdoors
There’s no better way to celebrate a socially distanced Halloween than by getting outside. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times and apply frequently if touching shared surfaces.
- Encourage your child to decorate a protective face mask to match their costume. Play with materials like fabric paint, stencils, ribbons and glitter glue or try drawing on the mask with felt-tip markers.
- Attend the screening of a horror movie at the drive-in (remember to bring plenty of blankets and snacks to share.)
- Visit a nearby pumpkin patch or an apple orchard. If you dare, visit an outdoor haunted house or corn maze at night. Check your local events calendar to learn more about outdoor Halloween events in your area.
- Opt to create an indoor spooky-themed scavenger hunt for Halloween goodies kids can partake in while in costume.
Make your own Halloween treats
The only thing better than Halloween candy? Homemade treats that are big on flavour and small on prep time. The following WW-friendly recipes are simple enough to make with the whole family, older kids will be able to prepare these sweet treats with minimal supervision.