Halloween is going to look a little different this year – but there are still fun ways to celebrate halloween in Phoenix with kids! With so many people feeling like the holiday won’t be the same this year, we thought we would share some ways to make it a special holiday. From scary alternatives to spooky snacks and terrifying activities, there’s something for everyone, at home or social distancing out and about.
You’ve Been Boo’d
Put together a treat for friends, family or anyone you are missing. It would be homemade cookies, Halloween candy or fun holiday themed activities to do with the kids. Fill a trick of treat basket or any bucket with some of your favorite things, add in a holiday themed surprise and drop it off with a tag saying “You’ve Been Boo’d” like this one with lots of options, this one or this one that includes a sign saying that you have already been Boo’d so people can surprise the next person.
Treats
Poke A Pumpkin – Take about 20 plastic cups, fill them with little treats (candy, sensory toys, balls, spider rings, skeletons), wrap them in orange tissue, tie with a rubber band, glue to a this poster board or cardboard box in the shape of a pumpkin. Step by step directions here.
Candy shoot – Don’t want anyone coming within 6 feet of you or your door? Build your own candy shoot, or zip line with a ghost. Feeling even more creative? Make it strong enough to hold a beer and a candy bar for your favorite neighbors.
Balloons – Take your helium balloon, turn it into a ghost or pumpkin and tie it to a full size candy bar, treat bag or little pumpkin with candy and set them in your yard for trick or treaters.
Cookies decorating kits available from Kourtney’s Cookie Shop for your kids to practice their ghost drawing. Follow her on Instagram for kits.
Follow Hello, Wonderful for incredible ideas on turning fruit into ghoulish treats.
Celebrate with fun Halloween treats all day. Wrap squeeze pouches into mummies, add eyes to string cheese to turn them into ghosts, wrap crescent rolls around a hot dog to make a mummy, Cookie Dough Mummies, and look for more ideas on how to make al your snacks spooky on our Pinterest.
Decorate
Decorate your house this year! Go all out with indoor and outdoor decorations. We know you always wanted an excuse to get the giant blow up ghost for your front yard, so do it! Make homemade gravestones from all those Amazon boxes and put them out front.
Pigsy Party offers adorably scary decorations you can print at home.
Need an excuse for an early Christmas tree? Pull it out and wrap it with black and orange. Dollar sections have all kinds of decorations for hanging.
Set up a photo booth in front of your house and have everyone stop to take pictures in front of it. Go even bigger and offer a giant candy bar to the person with the best photo.
Games
Egg Hunt – Grab some black or orange eggs, hide candies or prizes inside of them and place them around the yard or inside the house (watch out for melting chocolate in Arizona) and have the kids search for them.
Scavenger Hunt – Hide Halloween themed objects around the house and have your kids look for them. Here are some generic hints that are great for anyone to just print and hide. Here are 10 Halloween scavenger hunts.
Pumpkin Tic Tak Toe on a table, or make it big on your driveway by using sidewalk chalk.
Crafts
Halloween themed crafts are a great way to keep your kids busy. Look through your supplies on hand and put something together or you can buy kits that are ready to make. Dollar stores always have simple crafts for kids and can even be made into a You’ve Been Boo’d surprise after completing them!
Halloween Sensory kits from local companies Little Sunshine Mom and Think Play Dough are a great way to see how your kids imagine Halloween.
Candy Corn Playdough that is edible
Make your own Play Doh monster
Make a bucket list of items for the whole month.
Scary Movies
Whether you want a family friendly movie for the kids or a scary horror movie for after bed, plan a movie night. There are many family friendly movie options to watch all month long. Host a movie with friends via Netflix party or Amazon Watch Party.
Have a movie projector? How about displaying it on your garage when the sun goes down on Halloween. Put out some chairs and enjoy the nice weather and invite the neighbors to join you.
Spooky Music
Stream Spotify’s 2020 Halloween Playlist all day or put together your own playlist from this list.
Trick or Treating
Try this window letter hunt that can be spread out over time to avoid congestion on Halloween night.
Trunk or Treat style set up. Have a table set up at the end of your driveway for neighbors to grab a treat.
More Ideas
If you do feel like getting out and about this October, here are some ideas:
Celebrate all month by visiting local pumpkin patches! And here are fun fall activities in Phoenix.
Chandler is hosting a drive-thru event on October 29! See their website for more details.
There are three haunted houses in the Phoenix area this year: Mesa, Phoenix, and North Phoenix. Note that all are listed as not appropriate for young children.
Check out our Pinterest for hundreds of ideas. Everything from decorating the house, making holiday snacks to games and even adding in a little education.
Tag us on social media – we want to see all the fun ways you celebrate halloween in Phoenix with your kids!
