Drowning in midterms, work, and just life in general? Not able to relax and have a bit of fun? As we dive into the holiday season quickly, it can seem overwhelming and almost impossible to get into the Halloween spirit. The good news is, there’s still hope! Halloween hasn’t arrived yet. So get up, grab a group of friends (or go solo!), cross these things off your October bucket list, and you’ll be back in the Halloween spirit in no time.
- Experience a Hayride: A fun outdoor activity filled with the sites and smells of autumn. Getting in some fresh air will relieve you from all the stresses and worries you carry around with you. Plus, there’s nothing quite like riding in a tractor full of hay and finding straw in your boots hours later. If this doesn’t sound exciting to you, you could always opt for a scarier route through a haunted hayride.
- Walk Through a Haunted House: This one is for my adrenaline junkies and jump-scare lovers. If you’re looking to be frightened and horror movies aren’t enough for you, a walk through a haunted house will satisfy.
- Take a Day Trip to HalloWeekends: The one thing we love about Ohio? Cedar Point. The one thing we love more than going to Cedar Point on a sunny 75-degree day? Going to Cedar Point during HalloWeekends. Grab your tickets before it’s over!
- Go Apple Picking: There’s no better apple than the one you’ve picked from the tree yourself, and it also serves as a great moment to capture for your Instagram page.
- Visit the Cider Mill: Time to find the closest Cider Mill to you and pay a visit. They are a great place to eat the best doughnuts, corn, ice cream, and many more treats to find. Did I mention there’s fresh cider?
- Carve a Pumpkin: A long and lovely tradition of turning pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns. Head over to a pumpkin patch, pick the one that catches your eye, and get to carving! Bonus points if you get a couple of friends together and make it a contest. An easy alternative is to get out your arts and crafts box and decorate artificial pumpkins. This way, you can use it as a decoration for the indoors!
- Throw a Costume Party: Invite a couple of friends over and tell them to get dressed up as their favorite character, favorite food, or favorite monster. It's another activity you could turn into a contest! What better way to get into the Halloween spirit than to be surrounded by all your friends dressed up in crazy costumes?
- Enjoy a Movie Night: Do you like to be a little more low-key about Halloween but still want to feel like you’re not missing out? Enjoy a night of watching Halloween movies in the comfort of your own home. Luckily, there’s a wide range of Halloween movies, so there’s a movie for everyone. Want something that’s light-hearted? Turn on “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Want something terrifying? Watch “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Want something in-between? Watch “Halloween Town.” You can’t go wrong with a Halloween movie night!
- Be Creative – Decorate!: Change up your room’s atmosphere and throw up some festive decorations. You won’t be able to forget it’s Halloween when it’s all over your walls!
- Find Your Way Out of an Escape Room: Escape rooms have definitely been gaining more popularity over the years. It’s a fun way to use your brain, pretend, and just have a good time. It also gives you the chance to see how you’d survive in a horror film.
- Bake Some On-Theme Treats: Whether baking is your niche or not, sometimes the best part about baking is just making them, and with Halloween, you can create really awesome holiday themed treats. Want to make it a group activity? Throw a Halloween potluck and have everyone bring something sweet they made!
- Be Adventurous - Go Camping!: It may not be the warmest time of year, but camping is not just a summer activity. In fact, now would be the perfect time for a bonfire and s’mores. Yum! Plan it perfectly and you might catch the wonderful sights of the leaves changing colors!
- Attend a School Football Game: Show your school spirit and support the Eagles this football season! As fall creeps its way into full effect, this is a great way to spend time outside and with your friends.
- Get Lost in a Corn Maze: Explore a corn maze and find the right way out! This is a great activity for the Halloween season as haunted corn mazes also exist. To those of you who choose to enter: I wish you the best of luck.
- Trick-Or-Treat!: OK, so you may be far past the age of going door-to-door in your neighborhood and asking strangers for candy, but there are plenty of ways to make trick-or-treating possible again! Consider decorating your car and attending a trunk-or-treat event. Another possible option is to organize a trick-or-treat night throughout your dorm. Trick-or-treating should be enjoyed by everyone!
I hope I was able to give you some good ideas for getting into the Halloween spirit this year. You’re never too old or too busy to enjoy life and its little moments. Stay safe while going on your Halloween adventures, and don’t forget to enjoy loads of candy! Halloween only comes around once a year.
