Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I love all the things – costumes – seeing other people’s costumes especially, spooky decorations, and parties. Unfortunately, this year is so different. There should be no gathering, no parties. Trick or Treating is probably canceled. But there are still so many great ways to embrace and celebrate Halloween even if you can’t get together with others.
Celebrating Halloween Ideas when Trick-Or-Treating is Canceled
Halloween Costumes
Just because you can’t gather, doesn’t mean costumes are canceled. Costumes are never canceled. Ask any toddler, dressing up is fun, any time! “All dressed up with nowhere to go” no longer applies!
By all means, get those costumes on your kids (and yourself) and takes some amazing family photos. Get those babies in their adorable costumes and share pics with your family. Fill those Facebook and Instagram feeds with masks and hoodies and horns and wings. There is absolutely no reason to miss out on this most beloved aspect of Halloween.
Halloween Decorations
Don’t you dare give up on decorations this Halloween! Put up those spider webs and witchy doormats. Hang those bats and ghosts. Get your beloved decorations out of storage and make your home feel special. You can even draw some fun designs with chalk.
Since one of my favorite parts of trick-or-treating is to see the amazing decorations others have done, go for a drive! Just like people do for the Christmas holidays and drive around to see amazing light displays, drive around and see some amazing Halloween decorations. The families who took the time to decorate their homes want you to see it!
Halloween Crafts
You can also have extra fun with pumpkin carving or painting this year. Are you team paint or carve? I suppose it depends on the age of your kids, right? My son loves to paint pumpkins. My husband is into carving fun designs and lighting the inside with a candle. Do it all this year.
Also, decorate your home with Halloween crafts you can make as a family. There are so many adorable toddler Halloween crafts and art you can make. You might also want to make this fun glow in the dark slime!
Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Look, scavenger hunts are the best! They are such versatile activities and you can do a new one for any occasion and theme. A Halloween scavenger hunt is extra fun and may just be the best alternative to trick-or-treating. You can still go for a walk or drive around, and find the decorations in your home or neighborhood.
You can also join with friends virtually or socially distanced. Then take pictures of the items you find, and compare what you saw!
Grab this Halloween Scavenger Hunt Printable here (my gift to you): Halloween scavenger hunt
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or treating might be a bit iffy this year as well. But like the drive-by birthday parties, trunk-or-treating might be the answer to trick or treating being canceled.
These will have to be on a small scale this year – maybe get together with friends or a neighborhood street and decorate your parked car. Then leave your bucket out for candy. Wearing gloves, of course, and staying 6 feet apart, go place candy in each bucket. This minimizes the touching of food, and everyone gets to pass out and collect candy.
You can also do a similar Trick or Treat activity with your classroom or established safety bubble. Maybe even use pre-made Halloween Trick or Treat bags so there’s less handling of candy.
Virtual Halloween Parties
There’s no reason to give up on parties altogether. As we’ve done Zoom birthdays, you can do the same with Halloween parties. Get your costumes on and video chat with friends and family. Everyone can show off their costume and even walk around with your device to show off decorations. You can even play virtual games like I spy or even do the scavenger hunt together!
Family Movie Night
Don’t discount the amazing family bonding opportunities of a family Halloween movie night. Get those costumes on, get Halloween themed foods and popcorn, and pop in some favorite family-friendly Halloween movies. You can even get ready for this as a family and bake some Halloween cookies or treats together!
Also, get a puzzle that is Halloween themed, and build it together. Maybe play some board games or party games, and tweak them a bit for a Halloween theme.
Halloween Treats
You can always buy candy and do trick-or-treating at home, maybe as a treat for each scavenger hunt item your kids found. Maybe as part of the scavenger hunt like a treasure at the end. Another idea is to get a Halloween-themed pinata and let the kids have at it.
There’s also plenty of non-candy Halloween treat options, which are also fun as prizes and treats.
As you see – Halloween doesn’t have to be canceled just because we’re in a pandemic. You can still have a blast celebrating Halloween at home. What are some of your favorite ways to celebrate Halloween?
If you’re looking for fun activities for fall you might also like my fall bucket list!
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