With traditional trick-or-treating off the table thanks to COVID-19, Halloween is certainly going to look a little different this year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make BOO-tiful memories with your family and friends. We’ve rounded up a ton of fun, creative, and safe ideas to celebrate Halloween your way.

'Spider Egg' Hunt
Who says eggs are only for Easter? Have a backyard ‘spider egg hunt’ with glow-in-the-dark eggs. Put individually wrapped fun-size candies or small toys inside, and when the sun sets, let your little ghouls and goblins loose.

 

Halloween Piñata
Hosting an outdoor get together for close family and friends? Hang a spooky piñata and let the kids take turns trying to break it open. Be sure to fill it with a wide variety of treats so they still get to experience the excitement of checking out the night's candy haul.

 

Enchanted Scarecrow
Celebrate all month long with an ‘enchanted scarecrow’. Put one up in your yard, or even indoors, and hang a basket over its arm. Tell your kiddos that he comes to life every night at midnight (and only if they’re asleep!) and comes back with a special treat. In the mornings, the kids get to check the basket for the day’s surprise. This unique idea is also a great way to keep the kids from gobbling up too many sweets at once.

 

 

'Ghost Your Friends'
Ghost your friends and loved ones. No, not like that! Build a Halloween goodie bag or gift basket and leave it on a friend’s doorstep with a note telling them they’ve been “ghosted” and to pay it forward. It’s a great way to spread the Halloween spirit while social distancing!

 

 

Scary Movie Marathon
One of our favorite things about Halloween is (not too) scary movies. While every family has their fave, why not check out something new this year? Good Housekeeping has a great list of ‘scary’ movies for young viewers, and they even link directly to the streaming services where you can watch each one.

 

 

Haunted Drive In
Speaking of scary movies… why not hang a sheet in your yard and use a projector to screen a haunted ‘drive in’? Lay out blankets beforehand so your guests can stay a safe distance apart and prepare themed snacks and drinks in individually portioned containers. For example, you could offer pumpkin-shaped baskets of popcorn and mason jars of ‘witch’s brew’).

 

 

Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Checking out all the ways people decorate their houses is a Halloween staple. This year, add a twist by turning your tour into a scavenger hunt. Create a list of Halloween-themed objects to look for as you walk around your neighborhood. Whoever spots everything on the list first wins a prize!

 

Think Outside the Bowl
We recently heard about 'candy-sticking' as a clever solution to passing out candy during COVID. Treats are taped onto bamboo skewers and stuck throughout your yard so trick-or-treaters can run up and grab their favorite without coming to the door. Another fun idea is to use a plastic or cardboard tube to set up a 'candy chute' that allows you keep a safe distance while giving out sweets.

 

No matter how you celebrate this year, we hope you and yours have fun and stay safe!