The EastCoaster

By: Casey Ball 

The second October hits, it means the spooky season is upon us! I think we can all agree that the time around Halloween is one of the best times of the year! Halloween is all about candy, spooky decorations, and fun costumes. There are so many fun activities you can do to get in the spooky mood. 

1. Pumpkin carving 

One of the most classic Halloween activities to do is carving pumpkins. All you have to do is go to your local pumpkin patch, pick out whichever pumpkin speaks to you, and you are set! Carving pumpkins is so much fun to do with friends because each one is unique and special to whoever made it. Whether you carve a face or a spooky scene, it is one of the best ways to get in the Halloween spirit. Also, after you clean out the seeds and guts of the pumpkin, do not throw the seeds away! Instead, roast them up with some salt and pepper so that you have a savory snack to enjoy while you carve!

2. Painting pumpkins

If carving pumpkins is too messy for you then you could always paint them instead. The good thing about painting a pumpkin is you have freedom of creativity. You can use as many colors or designs as you wish! Whether you decide to paint an image of your favorite candy or a scary ghost, have fun with designs! I would suggest doing this at a big table with your family or friends. Maybe even have a competition to see who has the best pumpkin. 

3. Watch a Halloween/Scary movie

Another favorite Halloween activity would be to curl up on a couch with a big blanket and watch a scary movie. Obviously, you need some movie snacks while you watch, whether that be savory popcorn or sweet candy. Some of the most notorious Halloween movies are Halloweentown, The Conjuring, and Hotel Transylvania. Some prefer scary movies around this time but others prefer family-friendly movies. The choice is yours! 

4. Visit a haunted house 

A fun activity that will get you in the spooky spirit around Halloween-time would be visiting a  haunted house. Amusement parks like Canobie Lake Park or Six Flags often hold big events like Fright Fest where the entire park is decorated for Halloween. You can find very scary but very fun haunted houses there. The parks also have special rides and events geared toward the halloween vibe. If you have a park like that near you, definitely check it out! However, if you do not want to commit to a whole day or night at the park, there are many local places that hold haunted houses where you can purchase a ticket for. This is a perfect way to get in the Halloween spirit and bring your adrenaline up a bit. 

5. Visit a corn maze

One of my personal favorite activities to do during this time of year is to go to a corn maze! Often you can find a corn maze at a local farm. If you love adventure, a corn maze is perfect for you because you can race your friends/family and see who can get through the fastest. You could even spice up this activity with some money or a prize for the winner. If you are lucky enough to find a corn maze that also has apple picking, you obviously have to pick up some caramel apples as the perfect reward for getting through the maze! 

These are only a few of the many activities you can try out to get yourself in the Halloween spirit! No matter how old you are, you are never too old to be excited about holidays and all the fun activities that come along with the season. 

Photo: Patrick Dugan