The Walker’s Shortbread Guide to Getting in the Halloween Spirit

The Halloween season, AKA spooky season, is coming up fast. It can be a fun time for young and old, and there are lots of ways to enjoy the lovely weather of fall while get in the spirit of Halloween.

Here are our suggestions to get yourself, your friends, and your loved ones in the Halloween spirit.

Throw a Themed Party (and Be Ready with Halloween Gifts)

Arguably one of the best ways to get into the Halloween spirit.is to throw a themed party so don’t forget to:

●Consider a theme. Instead of a plain old costume party, consider making it a themed costume party.

●Make sure to decorate! If you’re hosting a themed party you’ll want decorations to match!
Food and snacks. You’ll have to plan a meal, either cook it or get take out. Don’t forget snacks, either. You can make your own spooky snacks or just buy some - and you can’t go wrong with all-butter Walker’s Shortbread!

●Beverages.You’ll need to have refreshments for your guests as well.

●Activities. Are you simply throwing a spooky dinner party, or will you want some Halloween-inspired recreation? Consider traditional Halloween activities like bobbing for apples or a spooky scavenger hunt. You could also have traditional yard games like corn hole as this is a lovely time of year to be outside.

●Don’t forget music - music makes the party come alive.

●Be ready with Halloween gifts. Halloween gifts and other favors will make the attendees feel appreciated and they’ll remember your party. Giving Halloween gifts - such as Halloween cookies or candy or other favors, will also help ensure everyone has a great time.

Carve Pumpkins Together

There might not be a single better Halloween-themed activity than carving pumpkins.

Pick out a pumpkin and carve it together (if you have young kids) or if you have older kids, get a few pumpkins and have each member of the family carve their own.

You can place a candle inside (don’t forget to sprinkle some cinnamon on the lid of the pumpkin for a nice scent!) to enjoy the spooky ambiance!

(This is also a great opportunity to get more out of the pumpkin you’re using - check out our Pumpkin Spice Butter that you can all enjoy while carving.)

Want to make it into a whole event? Go pumpkin picking, too. Some farms will take you on a tractor ride out to the field where you can pick your own pumpkins, and then you can carve them. Some even offer haunted hayrides, too - that’s another great thing to do!

Make Some Halloween Crafts and Creations

Another great way to get into the Halloween spirit is to spend some quality time making Halloween crafts with friends and loved ones. Some of these are great to do with the kids as well.

●Painting pumpkins.

●Making lanterns from mason jars or paper bags (or luminaries).

●Jack-o-lantern balloons from orange balloons and some black construction paper.

●Ghost ornaments (all that’s needed are some white tissue or construction paper, a black marker, and some thread).

●Make some sweet treats - our Halloween Spooky Spider recipe (pictured above) is a great place to start!

This is just a short sampling. You’ll have to get creative to come up with some ideas of your own.

Get the Family Together and Tell Scary Stories

There’s nothing more fun than getting the family around in a circle, shutting off all the distractions (TVs, phones, tablets, etc.) and telling scary stories the good old-fashioned way. Of course, you can get a little help from a volume of tales if you don’t have any on tap.

Take turns trading scary stories with each other or reading from a collection. Indoors and outdoors both work; if indoors, brew up some hot apple cider and cozy up. If outdoors, making a nice fire contributes to the ambiance. Try our Spiked Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider, it’s a delightful treat to enjoy by the fire!

If you’re not the type for trading tales, pick out a few scary movies, turn off the lights, and enjoy this alternative!

Visit a Haunted Locale (or Take a Tour!)

Depending on where you are in the country (or the world!) there might be tons of “haunted” locations in your vicinity. Some of the more famous ones may even have been converted into museums or offer tours.

Check out your township’s or county’s municipal page for local attractions or perform a quick Google search. If that fails, ask friends. Every locale in the country has some odds and ends of local lore, and sometimes the locals themselves are the best way to get to it!

Halloween Spirit Starts Now

Prepared with these tips and suggestions, you can have your best Halloween ever - for more helpful information, please see our previous post, 5 Tips To Make Your Halloween Party Extra Fun!