For many, Halloween is the first holiday that signals the start of the numerous celebrations that carry us through the rest of the year. This year Halloween will require us to stretch our imagination and find safe and innovative ways to have fun and celebrate with our friends and family while being mindful of the global pandemic. If you’re in need of ideas, here is a short list of ways to celebrate this year's Halloween!
- Halloween Candy Chute-If you live in an area with a high volume of trick-or-treaters, then you may find yourself wondering how to pass out candy while maintaining social distancing guidelines. Well the Candy Chute is here to help! Easy to make and install, it requires a quick trip to your local hardware store and some pieces of PVC pipes that you can set up near your front door. Feel free to add any spooky or scary decorations to cover the chute. And be sure to have plenty of candy to send down the slide!
- Zoom Costume Party/Contest- One of the best parts of any Halloween is dressing up in a costume and attending parties with your closest friends. Thankfully with the aid of Zoom or Webex, it’s possible to still have a celebration and show off your costume. Gather as many friends as you can, play some classic spooky music and show off your outfit. If you want to have an extra bit of fun, turn it into a competition! Create categories and find small tokens to use as trophies. Need a category suggestion? Why not give an award for ‘Best DIY Costume?’ Want to prepare food during the party? Be sure to read our upcoming blog post on Halloween snacks that will go live this Friday!
- Scary Movie Night Marathon- From Hulu, to Netflix, to classic Halloween movies on Disney+ there are numerous platforms that hold treasure troves of scary films. Whether it’s a goofy, action/adventure film with cheap scares or the latest nail-biting horror movie, there are countless titles available for your viewing pleasure. Need an idea of what films to watch? Check out our blog post this Wednesday that will feature some of Himmelfarb’s staff member’s favorite Halloween movies.
- Read a Horror Novel- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Pet Sematary by Stephen King. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe. These are just a few stories and books people think of for tales that send a shiver down your spine. Light a candle, make a cup of your favorite tea or coffee blend and try to relax as you read about the strange, creepy places and the characters that may haunt your dreams. Want to read a new spooky book? Consider picking up The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle, Fledgling by Octavia Butler, The Good House by Tananarive Due or Beloved by Toni Morrison.
- Search for the Best Decorated Home- Scrolling through social media, you may have already spotted pictures and videos of people decorating their houses with fake cobwebs, glowing orange lights and large, felt spiders scattered across their lawns. If you want to stretch your legs and escape your home or apartment for a while, why not pile into your car or put on your mask and go for a quick walk around the neighborhood to admire any decorated houses in the area. Maybe it will spark ideas for how to decorate your own home next year!
These are just a few of the many ways you can celebrate Halloween this year! Regardless of how you decide to celebrate, be sure to have fun and stay safe!
