01 | Go Halloween book hunting.

Hit up a local book store and look for some fun and spooky Halloween-themed books to read for the month.

02 | Have a Halloween outdoor decorations scavenger hunt.

Much like Christmas, a lot of people decorate their yards for Halloween. Print out this free Halloween decor scavenger hunt checklist, split up into two cars and make it a contest to see who can find it all first! Celebrate the winner with some sort of fun Halloween treat!

Download the free printable at the bottom of this post for your free Haunted Halloween Scavenger Hunt!

03 | Create a haunted Halloween movie night with friends or family.

If you’re skipping the traditional Halloween party but still want to enjoy a get-together, create a low-key Halloween movie night! Invite some friends or family over, whip up some snacks, and pull out a bunch of pillows and blankets.

04 | Have a Halloween themed food potluck.

A lot of people want to get creative and make some of those amazing Halloween-themed foods and desserts. Give everyone the opportunity this year by hosting a Halloween-themed potluck. Let your friends or family show off their mummy-wrapped hot dogs and monster cookies.

05 | Make a Halloween decoration.

Halloween is a fun time of the year to get a little crafty. Pick a Halloween decoration you want to create and pick an evening to do it! Put on some Halloween-themed music or a movie and add to your Halloween decor.

06 | Skip the grocery store pumpkins.

If you haven’t been to a pumpkin patch in years then it’s time you check one out. Yes, the pumpkins are always a little bit more expensive but it sure does make for a fun day. Grab yourself a pumpkin spice cold brew, bundle up, and enjoy a day at the pumpkin patch. Don’t forget to take some cool pictures!

07 | “Boo” your neighbors.

No matter how silly it may seem, the idea of “booing” your neighbors is a way to build a sense of community in an era where we may not talk to our neighbors anymore. Pull together a small basket filled with some fun Halloween treats and surprises, and challenge your neighbor to “boo” someone else. It will be sure to put a smile on their face!

08 | Make a Halloween cocktail.

Try something fun you’ve never tried before. Bloody martinis, pumpkin margaritas, or shark attack cocktails are just a few of the super spooky Halloween drinks you can whip up this year!

09 | Have a Halloween camp out in the backyard.

If it’s not too cold already, have a Halloween camp out in the backyard! Set up a tent, enjoy a fire, and tell some scary Halloween stories.

10 | Create a Halloween game day.

Invite some friends or family over and have a game day. Puzzles, tarot readings, murder mysteries, board games, or outdoor games like bobbing for apples. Break people up into teams for competition or just enjoy a quiet puzzle with your loved ones.

11 | Wine & paint night.

Set up a wine and paint night at your home. The theme of what you paint has to be Halloween-related! Make sure to set the ambiance with a spooky charcuterie board and lots of candles.

12 | Have a Halloween inspired photo shoot.

Drive around to different places and take interesting Halloween-inspired photos. Or maybe you want to do a photoshoot of your kids in their costumes or you and your significant other, or family photos. You can make it as creative as you want!

13 | Go for a drive.

Pick a nice day to take a drive towards the mountains. Get lost in the trees and maybe stop for lunch or coffee somewhere new.

14 | Write a Halloween short story.

Pour yourself a cup of tea or brew some pumpkin spice coffee and write a short Halloween-themed story or poem. Have fun with it! Make it a kid’s story with illustrations or an adult’s story hand-written in a vintage leather-bound journal.

15 | Play the $5 shopping game.

Give yourself a $25 limit and only allow yourself to spend $5 in a store, but it has to be Halloween-related. Do this game with a friend or family member! You’ll be surprised how fun it is to have to hunt down the perfect item within your budget. It’s a bit nostalgic from when we were kids with a budget of a few dollars and how exciting it was to find just the right thing to buy.

16 | Have a Halloween bake-off.

Pick a few Halloween treat recipes and invite some friends or family over for a Halloween bake-off. Wrap up treats in goodie bags and take them to neighbors, co-workers, and or homeless shelters.

17 | Learn your towns local folk-lore.

Even in the newest of towns, there is always a history lesson to learn. Take some time to research and learn more about the history of where you live and the ghosts of the people that used to live there. Most places will have a museum to visit or “haunted sites” you can visit for fun!

18 | Bring Disneyland to you.

Can’t afford Disneyland this year during that magical Halloween time? Then bring Disneyland to you! Did you know you can find all the rides’ theme songs online? That’s right! Enjoy The Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones, and The Pirates of the Caribbean’s theme songs in the comfort of your living room! It will instantly make you feel like you’re at Disneyland. Re-create some Disney treats at home and watch a Halloween-themed Disney movie, like The Nightmare Before Christmas!

19 | Host a sophisticated Halloween dinner party.

If the days of beer pong are behind you and you’re searching for a more sophisticated get together then hosting a dinner party might just be the perfect thing for you. Make it elegant with lots of candles and different courses. Create a murder mystery for the evening, and of course don’t forget those Halloween inspired cocktails!

20 | Turn thrift store finds into spooky Halloween decor.

A can of black spray paint and some spider web is usually all it takes to take ordinary things and turn them into Halloween decor. Paint old ceramic houses into a haunted Halloween village. Glue eyeballs to old faux flower arrangements. Keep the budget down while creating tons of great new Halloween decor.

21 | Skip pumpkin carving and go for pumpkin decorating.

Don’t get me wrong I still love traditional pumpkin carving, but the truth is it’s so messy and always ends up being more of a chore. There are dozens of great pumpkin decorating ideas that involve no carving. From beautiful to downright scary there is something for everyone.

22 | Make your own costume this year.

No, you do not have to be a master seamstress to make your costume! There are plenty of super creative, easy, and inexpensive costumes you can create with stuff you probably already have at home.

23 | Plan for a spooky Trick or Treating Halloween night.

If you’re passing out candy, why not make it a little more interesting? Set up strobe lights, and scary music, and create a maze trick-or-treaters have to walk through. The point of the night is to have some scary fun so make your home the place all the kids want to stop at!

24 | Decorate the backyard for Halloween too.

We all put a lot of energy into decorating our front yards for Halloween, but why not put some extra love into the backyard as well for you to enjoy? Set up some lights and Halloween decor so you can reap the benefits of your hard work!

25 | Exchange Halloween stockings.

Just like Christmas morning stockings, start a new tradition of Halloween morning stockings! You can purchase Halloween-themed stockings from places like Etsy. Make the day just a little more fun by watching your loved ones enjoy opening up fun Halloween treats and toys out of their very own Halloween stocking!

26 | Participate in a local Halloween event or attraction.

There is always something going on locally. Check it all out and see what you may want to do. From Zombie running marathons, Halloween costume contests, festivals, parades, and even special museum events, there is bound to be something fun that you can participate in!

29 | Have a Halloween hike & picnic.

The weather is cool and there’s no better time to get lost in nature for a day. Pack a picnic with some Halloween-themed treats and enjoy a day out in the woods.

30 | Create your own Halloween Carnival.

Can’t find one locally? Why not create your very own Halloween carnival? Make it as low-key as you like with a few friends and family, or go all out with games, BBQ, and even psychic readings! There are so many creative DIY carnival games you can create with what you probably already have at home.