This article is part of our BOO(b) Week Series: in honor of Halloween and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are publishing an article each day about boos, boobs, or both.
Halloween is quickly approaching, and things are getting spooky. It’s that time of year when everyone is planning horror movie marathons and visiting haunted houses. But what do you do if you want to celebrate and you’re a scaredy-cat like me? Not to worry, there are plenty of fun, non-scary things you can do to get in the Halloween spirit!
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Horror may be a large part of Halloween, but so are pumpkins. Get in the Halloween spirit by grabbing your friends and going to visit a pumpkin patch! There are several around Knox County you can choose from, and you’ll feel like a kid again wading around to pick out your perfect pumpkin. Carving it afterward is optional, if, like me, you’re also squeamish around large knives.
Binge on Candy
In addition to pumpkins, Halloween is also totally about the candy. Remember the excitement of trick-or-treating as a kid? The hoards of candy you had around the house for weeks (maybe months) afterward? We may be a little old for trick-or-treating now, but that doesn’t mean we have to skimp on the candy. Stores are selling all their giant bags of candy in preparation for Halloween, so treat yourself and go buy one to get into the holiday spirit. Or, if you can wait a little longer, go the day after Halloween to get all of that yummy candy on sale.
Make Some Pumpkin Treats
I am big into celebrating holidays through food, and Halloween is all about the pumpkin! So, take the opportunity to bake some yummy, pumpkin treats. I highly recommend making pumpkin bread (my family lives off of chocolate chip pumpkin bread during the fall), but pumpkin pie, pumpkin tarts, or pumpkin cookies are also fantastic. Get creative and get baking! I promise you’ll start to feel the holiday spirit in no time.
Plan a (Non-Scary) Costume
Even if you’re not about the scary costumes, you can still dress up for Halloween! Go as a favorite book, movie or TV character, or even as someone you look up to. The possibilities are endless, and you can find some great, cheap items for a costume by scouring Goodwill. Just be sure to choose your costume with care and avoid any cultural appropriation.
Dress Festively
Even if you’re not planning on going anywhere that would require a Halloween costume, you can still get into the Halloween spirit by dressing festively. Wear orange, or any fall colors on Halloween, or put an orange ribbon in your hair. If you want to be extra Halloween-y, you can find some fun, orange and black striped tights to wear! It’s the perfect little nod to Halloween if you don’t feel like going all out.
Take a Walk on the Gap Trail
I know this isn’t the Gap Trail, but look how pretty Kenyon is in the fall!
Halloween isn’t just about dressing up and getting scared. It is also a celebration of fall! We are so lucky to go to school on such a gorgeous campus. Kenyon in the fall is definitely a large reason we so frequently top “most beautiful campus” lists. So, take advantage of the lovely fall weather, and take a walk on the gap trail. You’ll definitely be in a fall kind of mood afterward.
Watch Fun, Non-Horror Halloween Movies
Who says a Halloween movie marathon has to be all horror? You can definitely have a great Halloween movie marathon without having to be terrified. Play any of your favorite movies that have some magical elements in them. Disney Halloween movies are a great place to start. Some suggestions for good non-scary Halloween movies are Halloweentown, Harry Potter, Twitches, and Ghostbusters (especially the new, female cast one!).
Halloween doesn’t have to be all about the scare, there are plenty of fun things you can do to get in the Halloween spirit without freaking yourself out. Happy Halloween, Kenyon!
Image Credit: Feature, 1, 2, 3