Have a Spooktacular Halloween at Home

By Tonya Duncan Ellis 

The pandemic makes the idea of going out to celebrate this Halloween as nerve wracking as watching a horror movie. Fearing parties could increase COVID-19 cases, health officials are calling trick-or-treating a “high risk” activity. If you must socialize with others, keep it outside and maintain the standard six feet of social distance. To be safe, be sure costume masks have at least two layers of cloth material and cover both the mouth and the nose. Handing out candy at the door is also a no-no. It’s best to leave out small grab bags for those who may stop by.  

Despite the needed precautions, Halloween at home can still be Spooktacular. Here are a few alternatives to make your holiday just as thrilling this year as it was in years past. 

Make DIY Costumes – Google or brainstorm no-sew costumes to show off on social media. Meet up with friends on Zoom to model your creations.  

Watch Horror Movies – Nail-biter films are especially exciting on Halloween night, and heartwarming classics like It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown are also fun. Serve candy corn, and other Halloween treats along with the regular popcorn to keep things festive.  

Read Spooky Books – Let your imagination run wild by reading suspenseful and Halloween-themed stories. Turn down the lights or use colored light bulbs at story time to set the mood.  

Play Halloween Karaoke – Sing Halloween classics like “Ghostbusters,” or “The Adams Family” Theme.  

Have A Halloween Dance Party – Recreate your favorite dances from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” or do “The Monster Mash.” Take the party to Tik Tok for even more fun. 

Trick-or-Treat at Home – Everybody dress up in your favorite costumes. Have family members hand out candy in different areas of the house. 

Stage an At-Home Haunted House – Go to town with decorations, inside and outside your home. Set up booby traps in various rooms. Play eerie music to add to the ambiance.  

Plan a Zoom Murder Mystery – Create clues for players and give gift cards as prizes.  

Halloween Playlist – “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, “Ghostbusters” “Theme by Ray Parker Junior, “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, “The Monster Mash” by Bobby (Boris) Pickett, “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry ft. Juicy J, “Witchy Woman” by The Eagles, “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell, “The Addams Family” Theme by Vic Mizzy, “Freaks Come Out at Night” by Whodini, “The Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley, “Disturbia” by Rihanna. 

Halloween Movies – Halloween, The Nightmare on Elm Street, Scary Movie, Hocus Pocus, Beetlejuice, Get Out, Us, It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Ghostbusters, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Goosebumps, Twitches, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Monster House, Hotel Transylvania. 

Spooky Reads – Sophie Washington: Class Retreat by Tonya Duncan Ellis, The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste, Goosebumps by R.L. Stine, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. 

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the Amazon bestselling Sophie Washington children’s book series for readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
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