The Best Ways to Celebrate Halloween This Spooky Season

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Fun things to do on Halloween besides trick-or-treating

Co-authored by Amy Guerrero and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: October 1, 2025 Fact Checked

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Halloween Activities

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Decoration Ideas

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Why do we celebrate Halloween?

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Tips

Halloween (also known as All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Eve, and Samhain) falls on the 31st of October every year. For many people who celebrate it, the holiday is a chance to get together with friends and family and have some spooky fun. There are tons of exciting ways to get in on the festivities of Halloween, from costume parties and decorations to special seasonal activities like trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, and hair-raising ghost tours. Read on for more!

How do you celebrate Halloween?

Plan a fun party for you and some friends with a spooky-themed playlist, Halloween-themed drinks and snacks, or a costume contest. Decorate with spiderwebs and jack-o-lanterns. Try watching a marathon of scary movies or playing classic games like bobbing for apples before going out to trick-or-treat.

Section 1 of 3:

Halloween Activities & Celebration Ideas

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1
Host a Halloween party. There’s nothing more fun than getting together with your friends! Plan to host a costume party or spooky social gathering to celebrate Halloween with those closest to you.
- Hold a costume contest and give out a prize to whichever friend comes “best dressed.”
- Theme your party around a scary movie or spooky thing to help everyone get in the mood. Your theme could be “Scream,” “vampires,” “monsters,” or even “childhood nightmares.”
- Host a “spooky” board game night for a more relaxed evening. No costumes required; just your favorite board games, some delivery pizza, and a scary movie on in the background.
2
Make a Halloween costume. Whether you’re going out or staying in, you can’t go wrong with a costume! Kill some time by making a DIY Halloween costume. Go for something classic like a witch or a cat, or opt for something creative like a gumball machine or a pineapple!
- Don’t forget to take some pictures in your getup for the memories!
- Get a bunch of friends involved and host a costume fashion show to show off all your crafty skills.
- Need some costume inspiration? Head to Pinterest for DIY ideas.
- Have a furry friend? Make them a costume too!
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3
Have fun with makeup. You can make the spookiest look ever just from items already in your makeup bag! If you don’t have a costume, experiment with makeup. Put some dark eyeshadow under your eyes to create a zombie or ghoul look, or dab some red lipstick in the corners of your lips to mimic a blood-sucking vampire.
- YouTube is full of Halloween makeup tutorials ranging in experience levels, so don’t be afraid to head there for inspiration.
- If you’re not feeling super spooky, go with an over-the-top glam look to “dress up” for the night.
4
Create an assortment of Halloween-themed treats. Set out trays piled high with tantalizing sweets like cookies, cupcakes, and chocolates. If you have a knack for food decoration, this can be a great opportunity to conduct mad science experiments on your own Halloween-themed confections, such as candy apple skulls, vampire fang cookies, layered candy corn parfaits, and ghosts in a graveyard.^{[1]
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- Turn this into a treat decorating party with your friends! Lay out ghost-shaped sugar cookies or plain cupcakes for everyone to decorate. Get creative with blood-red frosting, orange and black sprinkles, or googly eye chocolates.
- For decorating and dessert inspiration, head to Pinterest! Look up “Halloween cupcakes” or “Halloween desserts for kids” for even more ideas.
- Label the various items you put out and list their major ingredients (like the kind of nuts you used to make your brownies) in case anyone has food allergies or sensitivities.
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Mix up some Halloween punch. A blend of fizzy soda pop, tangy fruit juices, and a few drops of food coloring can make a whole party! Create a punch or drink that’s ultra spooky by following this recipe:
- Combine 2 litres (68 fl oz) of ginger ale with 4 cups (950 mL) of pineapple juice, ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and a few scoops of lime sherbet. Serve your punch in a plastic cauldron on top of a block of dry ice for added witchiness!^{[2]
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- For a more gruesome touch, create edible "eyeballs" by stuffing blueberries into larger lychee berries and plop them into your punch so they stare back at your guests from the surface.^{[3]
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- If you’re serving alcohol at your party, consider whipping up a second bowl of punch that you can spike with your favorite liquor. Label your punches to indicate which is which, and keep your alcoholic concoctions off-limits to underage guests.
Tip: Make sure you and your guests drink responsibly. Call an Uber or make up the couch at the end of the night for anyone who’s had a little too much.
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Screen a selection of scary movies. Turn your home into a theater of terror with a private showing of some spine-chilling flicks. Stick with timeless classics like Halloween, Night of the Living Dead, The Exorcist, or House on Haunted Hill, or scare the living daylights out of your guests with chilling new offerings like IT, Get Out, The Nun, or the Pet Sematary remake.^{[4]
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- Only show movies that are appropriate for the average age of your guests. The last thing you want to do is give some poor child nightmares!
- Some kid-friendly titles include Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Hocus Pocus, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Frankenweenie, and Hotel Transylvania.
- If there’s alcohol at your party, start a drinking game for of-age guests. For instance, take a drink anytime someone screams or a doomed character splits off from the group.^{[5]
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Plan a Halloween self-care night. Need a little TLC but still want to participate in the spooky festivities? Host a Halloween self-care night for yourself or all your gal pals! Light some fall-scented candles, put on a scary oatmeal facial mask, and dive into a bowl of candy.
- Try painting your nails with a Halloween-themed design. Alternate between black and orange polish, or give a pumpkin design a try!
- Put a comforting spooky movie on in the background for ultimate relaxation, like Halloweentown or It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
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Bob for apples. Bobbing for apples is a beloved Halloween tradition and a never-ending source of entertainment. Fill a large bucket or wash tub with water, dump in a few apples, and challenge your guests to try to pluck them out using only their mouths. Win or lose, there won’t be a shortage of laughs!^{[6]
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- If apples aren’t your thing, bob for other items, like pears, marshmallows, or plastic-wrapped candies. Just about any small food or beverage item will work, so long as it floats and won't disintegrate in water.^{[7]
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Have a bonfire. Nothing says fall like a cozy campfire! Gather your friends and s’mores supplies and host a chill Halloween evening around the fire. You can tell ghost stories or simply catch up.
- Make the night even more memorable by asking everyone to come in costume or bring their favorite Halloween-inspired treat.
- Go all out by putting on a scary movie in the background. Bonus points if you can project it onto a large wall!
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Go to a pumpkin patch. Pumpkin patches are a great Halloween or fall activity that’s perfect for all ages! Pick out a pumpkin, or simply go for the aesthetic. With tasty treats and fall vibes, there’s something for the whole family.
- Find a pumpkin patch in your area by searching “pumpkin patch near me” online.
- Dress the part and don’t forget to take pictures to post on social media later!
- Most pumpkin patches also have corn mazes or hayrides to participate in.
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Take a trip to a haunted house. Gather a group of adventurous friends and see if you can survive a tour of a haunted house. This can be an exhilarating way to celebrate the holiday’s darker themes, especially if you’re an adrenaline junkie. Just beware: you’re in for a scare!
- Run a quick search for “haunted house” plus the name of your city to find a list of haunted house attractions in your area.
- For even more spooky fun, create your own haunted house at home for your friends, family, and neighbors!
- Haunted houses aren’t for the faint of heart—literally! You may be better off sitting this one out if you suffer from heart problems, seizures, or another medical condition that might be triggered by lights and loud noises.^{[8]
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Go on a haunted hayride. There are likely tons of Halloween-themed events going on in your area, even if you don’t know it yet! One of the most popular spooky attractions these days is a haunted hayride. These rides through the dark vary in scariness level, but they often feature terrifying scare actors and haunting decorations.
- Find a haunted hayride in your area by searching “haunted hayride near me” online.
- Haunted hayrides may not be suitable for little kids, but many businesses offer daytime family-friendly rides that kids may enjoy.
13
Make caramel apples. Caramel apples are a tasty Halloween tradition! Instead of purchasing them at the store, try making these delicious treats for yourself. Personalize your apples with different toppings: chocolate chips, chopped nuts, sprinkles, marshmallows—you name it!
- Get creative and try to make your apple look like a ghost, skeleton, or other Halloween figure.
- For instructions on how to make a caramel apple, head to YouTube and search “how to make a caramel apple” for recipes. We also have a caramel recipe you can check out!
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Look for special screenings at the movie theater. Some theaters run special events during the Halloween season, such as costume nights and limited big-screen showings of classic horror flicks. In some cases, they may even offer free or discounted tickets. Check the showtimes online or in your local newspaper to find out if any theaters near you are getting in on the action.^{[9]
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- A group outing to the theater can be a fun way to enjoy Halloween if you're not really the partying type.
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Sign up for a ghost tour to learn about your area’s haunted history. Believe it or not, most towns and cities offer guided ghost tours to interested residents and tourists alike. These tours can give you a fascinating glimpse into local lore and legend while also showing you parts of the area you may have not seen before.^{[10]
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- Most ghost tours take place on foot in the late evening, so wear a pair of comfortable shoes and be prepared to stand and walk for up to 3 hours.^{[11]
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- Ghost tours tend to fill up quickly the closer it gets to Halloween, so be sure to purchase your tickets as far ahead of time as possible.
- Find a ghost tour in your area by searching “ghost tours near me” online.
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Put together a playlist of spooky tunes. Holiday-appropriate hits like Boris Pickett’s “Monster Mash” and “Riboflavin-Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Polyunsaturated Blood” by Don Hinson and the Rigamorticians have been giving partygoers goosebumps for decades. For a more contemporary twist, queue up some pop favorites like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” and “Howlin’ for You” by The Black Keys.^{[12]
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- Other popular additions to hip Halloween playlists include “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon, “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads, “Disturbia” by Rihanna, and “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones.
- Pad your playlist with the theme songs from iconic horror movie franchises like Halloween and Friday the 13th.
17
Go trick-or-treating. Trick-or-treating is practically synonymous with Halloween. If you have small children, or you’re still young enough to get in on the action yourself, venture out in your most impressive costume and go door-to-door in your neighborhood collecting candy. Be sure to bring along a bucket or bag big enough to lug your haul home!^{[13]
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- Wear reflective clothing or carry a flashlight to make yourself visible to drivers once it gets dark, and remember to walk, not run.
- If going door-to-door isn’t your thing, try trunk-or-treating! Many communities and churches host trunk-or-treating events where people decorate their cars to hand out candy in a safer setting.
- Not everyone enjoys receiving trick-or-treaters on Halloween. If you come to a house that has its lights off, it’s usually a sign that the person who lives there doesn’t wish to participate.
Warning: Halloween is one of the only times of the year when it’s considered okay for kids to accept gifts from strangers. Still, it’s a good idea to take some basic safety precautions. Only visit neighborhoods where people you know live, and always inspect candy and other items closely before eating them.^{[14]
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Hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. If you live in a residential area, chances are you’ll be visited by trick-or-treaters throughout the night. Keep 1 or 2 bowls of candy or other treats on hand and take turns passing out handfuls to the boys and ghouls who find their way to your door.
- If you’d rather not have to keep running back and forth to the door while you’re entertaining your guests, set out an oversized bowl of candy, along with a note instructing trick-or-treaters to take a single piece for themselves.^{[15]
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Section 2 of 3:

Halloween Decoration Ideas

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1
Carve jack-o-lanterns. Carving pumpkins is a traditional Halloween activity! Plus, it makes for an excellent decoration on a spooky table spread or your front porch. Pick up some plump pumpkins from the supermarket or your local pumpkin patch. Remove the tops from the pumpkins, scoop out the seeds and pulp, and cut frightening faces or other festive designs into one side. When you’re happy with your work, place a candle inside each pumpkin and replace the lid to bring your jack-o-lantern to life with an eerie glow.
- Arts and crafts specialist Amy Guerrero recommends using a template for carving a pumpkin. Simply lay the template over the pumpkin, and follow the lines of the pattern while carving. There’s absolutely no pressure for it to be perfect!^{[16]
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- There are many premade templates and stencils available online. Just search “pumpkin carving stencil” plus whatever design you’d like to carve.
- Save all of your pumpkin seeds to roast later for a salty snack.
Tip: LED candles “burn” longer than ordinary wax ones. They’ll also cut down on the risk of fire-related accidents.
2
Paint a pumpkin. If carving pumpkins isn’t your thing, try painting one instead! Painting pumpkins is far less messy, plus it can be done by all ages. Simply select your pumpkin and acrylic paint and create a masterpiece on the pumpkin’s skin.^{[17]
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- Have your kids personalize their pumpkins with monsters, animals, or characters from their favorite books, movies, or TV shows.
- Pumpkins patterned with autumn leaves, flowers, or abstract designs can also serve as great autumnal decorations.^{[18]
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- Afterwards, use your finished pumpkins to adorn your dining table, porch steps, or window sills.
3
Hang fake spider webs. Suspend fake cotton spider webs from places like long, dark hallways, staircases, light fixtures, and the corners of your ceiling. Use strips of tape for easy removal later on. To make your staging more realistic, stick a couple of plastic spiders in each web.
- Make sure your webs are high enough that they won’t get tangled in anyone’s hair.
4
Fill your home with balloon ghosts. Blow up and tie off a cluster of large balloons and insert them into plain white garbage bags. Twist the excess material around the bottoms of the balloons and secure them with rubber bands. Use a permanent marker to draw eyes and other features onto your balloon, then release them to instantly haunt your office, kitchen, or living room.
- Renting a helium tank can save you a considerable amount of time and lung power if you’re going to be blowing up a lot of balloons. Helium is also a must if you want your balloons to float on their own.
5
Turn a door into a mummy. Wind strips of toilet paper or white crepe paper across your front door or the door that leads to your party space. Cut 2 eyes out of construction paper and tape them to the door between 2 rows of paper. If you like, place a few overlapping sheets of wrinkled green or yellow tissue paper beneath the bandages to create the effect of gnarled skin straight from the tomb!
- Scribble criss-crossing red lines onto your construction paper eyeballs using a red pen, marker, or crayon to lend them a bloodshot appearance.
- For a fast and easy option, use giant stick-on googly eyes.
6
Convert an ordinary end table to a ghostly candy stand. Drape a white sheet over the table, then cut out pieces of scrap fabric in the shape of eyes and a mouth and pin them to the lower part of the sheet. Finally, place a large bowl in the center of the table and fill it with candy. The billowing sheet will make the table look like a moaning ghost, offering up tricks and treats.^{[19]
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- Use a plastic bowl, if possible. A glass bowl could easily break if somewhere were to accidentally step on the sheet.
Looking for more ideas? Check out our “How to Make Halloween Decorations” guide!

Section 3 of 3:

Why do we celebrate Halloween?

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1
Halloween stems from ancient Celtic traditions of welcoming the dead. Today’s Halloween was inspired by the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, where people dressed in costume, lit bonfires, and made offerings to speak to spirits on November 1st.^{[20]
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Research source} The celebration marked the Celtic New Year, or the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter (which was often associated with death). In the 7th century, the Pope created All Saints Day as a substitute for Samhain. The day before the celebration (October 31st) became known as All Hallows Eve or Halloween.^{[21]
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- Fun fact: The first American colonies were forbidden to celebrate All Hallows Eve for religious reasons.
- Trick-or-treating didn’t become popular until the early 20th century, when the saintly celebration was altered into a holiday to celebrate all things scary and spooky.
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It’s simply fun! At the end of the day, Halloween is mostly celebrated today because it’s a fun, traditional holiday where children and adults get to dress up and partake in spooky activities. The act of pretending to be another person, character, or alter ego for a night can be incredibly freeing. Plus, who doesn’t like free candy? So, for many, Halloween isn’t a celebration of death or ancient lore; it’s simply a fun, spooky time.^{[22]
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- Keep in mind that not everyone celebrates Halloween, and that’s okay! Many Christians believe that participating in Halloween activities is a sin due to the holiday’s pagan origins; however, every Christian, religion, and faith has their own beliefs.^{[23]
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Where can I find really cheap decorations? My parents don't let me get them at like Target or a place like that.

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There are several options here. First, would they let you go to a thrift store? If so, you'll find plenty of Halloween decorations for really cheap prices; in fact, you might even be able to buy them by the bagful. Second, you could make your own decorations using items from around the house or your craft supplies. You'll find lots of ideas in this wikiHow: How to Make Halloween Decorations. Finally, you could ask neighbors, friends and other family members if they have decorations they don't want and are happy to give to you.

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Can you make your own mask for Halloween?

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Yes, you certainly can make your own Halloween mask. You could start from scratch, cutting a mask from cardboard or making it from papier mâché, or you could purchase a basic mask and decorate to match your costume theme. For more help, check out the wikiHow How to Make Halloween Masks.

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Do you have any ideas for homemade scary decorations?

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Sure, check out the wikiHow How to Make Scary Halloween Decorations for ideas such as a Head in a Jar and an Army of Zombie Dolls. You could also decorate with the theme of a favorite horror movie or use lots of scary items like skulls, blood and creepy crawlies.

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If you're not celebrating Halloween or handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, put a letter or sign up to let your neighbors know that you're not celebrating.
There are many cars during trick-or-treating, so make sure you aren't wearing black clothes or costumes. That way, drivers can see you in the dark.
Take a flashlight with you for when it gets really dark, so you'll be able to see as you walk around your neighborhood.

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