It’s sweltering hot in Mississippi right now, so when I see fall start popping up in my social media feeds, I groan and roll my eyes and envy all of you who live north of “hotter than Hades.” You probably think fall actually starts in September. Around here, it’s hot right through October most of the time, so I tend to let autumn activities creep up on me and end up scrambling to prepare for parties and pumpkins. That’s why I’m trying to think ahead this year. Now, I know not everyone agrees on Halloween, but it can be a fun time for your family to get creative and get involved in your community. There are so many ways to reach out and make connections with families in your neighborhood, and you’ll find a few suggestions below. Even if you don’t use them for Halloween, they can be adapted for general fall fun!
The Great Fall Bakeoff
For one night (or perhaps more), your kitchen can be transformed into a fall-themed baking competition. Find some of your favorite Halloween treat recipes, like ghost-shaped sugar cookies or these pumpkin patch brownie bites, and get to baking. What might seem like a simple chore can become a lot more fun when it involves the family, allowing you to teach your kids a few skills and help them grow more confident and competent in the kitchen. Of course, kids of all ages can get involved in the fun, and you can invite friends to join you as well. Let the kids decorate and encourage taking breaks for a dance party together as everything’s getting ready in the oven. A few fall decorations in the kitchen while you’re baking can take things to the next level, so can enlisting judges to determine the winner of the bakeoff.
Picking Out Your Costumes Together
I have always loved a good costume. Some of our favorites over the years have been some of the simplest. One year, I created crayon shirts for my oldest daughter’s friend group. Each girl made a tutu to match, and they all looked adorable. Family costumes are so much fun, too, and kids love choosing them together. Whether you’re coordinating your looks as a family or you’re simply helping your little ones choose the best Halloween costumes for kids, you can make a whole event of exploring different ideas. If those costume ideas have a few DIY elements, then working on them together as a family can help you put a much more personal stamp on your look as well.
Host An Annual Pumpkin Carving Night
Way too many families miss out on pumpkin carving, but it can easily become one of the family’s favorite parts of Halloween. The timeless tradition of a pumpkin carving party can easily become a yearly highlight, and you can make it a full evening with some cider, snacks, and spooky music. For the adults, competing for the funniest, scariest, or most artistic designs can make the event a lot more fun, while you can prepare stencils for the kids. If you’re not a fan of carving or the cleanup that comes with it, you can also try painting or decorating pumpkins with glitter, googly eyes, or fabric. Display your finished pumpkins outside or around the home for festive flair. And, if you’re not into Halloween, decorate those pumpkins for fall or Thanksgiving! It will be just as fun and every bit as festive.
Countdown With Your Favorite Movies
One easy way to enjoy October is a month-long movie marathon. There are plenty of movies that are age-appropriate for the whole family, and you don’t have to stick to Halloween movies. You can branch out into other fall movies like football stories as well. If you do enjoy a scary movie, you might plan exclusive events for the adults and teens after the younger ones’ bedtimes. Watch one or two films per week throughout October, and make each night an event with themed snacks and cozy decor. Create a viewing calendar and let each family member choose a movie to feature so that it feels like the whole family is involved.
Start A “Boo”
For a lot of people, Halloween is more than just a family holiday; it’s a tradition that brings the community together. If you want to heighten that community spirit, you can spread some seasonal cheer by starting a “boo” tradition in your neighborhood. This idea involves secretly dropping off a bag of Halloween treats, toys, or even small decorations on a neighbor’s porch, alongside a note encouraging them to do the same and “boo” someone else. It’s a fun, low-pressure way to build community spirit and involve everyone, even if they aren’t throwing big parties. Kids especially love the mystery and surprise of this tradition. Again, if Halloween isn’t your thing, make it fall-themed and call the gifts “Autumn Blessings” or something similar. The point is to bless the people around you and maybe get to know some new ones!
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.
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