Welcome to October! While some of us have been in the Halloween spirit since September, which is totally justifiable, it’s now officially socially appropriate to take out the decorations, go to class in a Halloween get-up and play spooky movies all month long — and no one is allowed to tell you otherwise. If you’re looking to spend some time with some friends or your romantic partner while staying COVID-safe and being kind to your budget, here are some ideas for some Halloween dates to try out this month!
- Halloween Movies & Chill
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This is an obvious option most of us have already thought of before reading this article. It’s timeless, classic and easy to manage for a low-budget evening with some excellent company. Some of my favorite Halloween movies include It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!, Halloweentown, and The Addams’s Family. However, your night doesn’t have to end with just a movie. You could spice it up by creating a theme and dressing up for it, or combining talents with your partner/group and baking some themed treats. Another option could be to play a game during the movie for some added conversation (e.g. count how many times the music dramatically drops or take a shot every time someone gets scared). There’s nothing wrong with a regular movie night, but when you have the entire month to celebrate the spooky season, it’s nice to add a little pumpkin spice here and there.
- Pumpkin patch & paint!
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If you’re looking to add some fall and Halloween vibes to your feed, take a trip to your nearest pumpkin patch! As a native Floridian, I understand how hot and humid Florida can be, but as the month goes on — and the evenings get cooler — it’s worth making the trip to take pictures with some pumpkins! You can also compete with your partner/group to find different kinds of pumpkins. Try to find the smallest pumpkin, the smoothest pumpkin, the chunkiest pumpkin, and the funkiest-looking pumpkin.
As a follow-up to your pumpkin patch visit, you can also paint your pumpkin! This option is super fun and completely worthwhile. You can visit your local craft store and buy a craft pumpkin of your choice and your favorite paint colors. Once you’ve got all your supplies, you can head home (or to your local park if you want to avoid making a mess at home) and get to painting. Feel free to get creative, make them pretty, spooky or even Disney-themed. The possibilities are endless and it’s a fun decoration once you’re done!
- host a Costume party
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Spending your money just for one night of dressing-up can be more worthwhile if you wear your costume more than once. Consider hosting a small costume party with your friends to show off your costumes before Halloween. You can turn it into a competition — create matching themes with partners, see who most closely replicated their inspiration, etc. You can also see if your original costume needs changes before Halloween night and make any necessary adjustments! The rest of the night can be used for quality time with friends or your significant other — overall a solid evening.
Halloween night doesn’t need to be the only night of excitement for the entire month of October besides taking a traditional trip to Halloween Horror Nights. There’s plenty of opportunities for fun and spooky events this month! School can be rough during midterm season, but quality time with people you enjoy is good for the soul. Don’t forget to make time to have fun and enjoy yourself. Happy Halloween!