You can make the most of the holiday by taking advantage of a few traditional and not-so-traditional ideas.
By: Bashair Ali
Spooky season has officially marked its spot on the calendar and there are tons of activities to entertain you on the special toe-curling day. Whether you plan on celebrating outside or inside, here are 13 fun ways to celebrate the scariest month this year!
Visit CF Sherway Gardens Pumpkinville
Pumpkin patches are usually nowhere near the buzzing area of Downtown Toronto.
Up until the 31st, check out Pumpkinville for only $15.89. This fun attraction, only Thursday through Sunday, features pumpkin sculptures, pumpkin houses, and a pumpkin village hidden inside a candy forest. To make matters even better, free parking is included!
Host a Halloween-themed cocktails competition
The trend of friends bringing different foods and drinks has been popular on TikTok for quite some time. Whether based on a colour, a country or even potatoes (yes, potato parties have become a thing), it always ends up looking like a blast.
Grab a couple of friends and decide who's bringing what. You have the freedom of creativity, so go big with a pumpkin martini or spooky with a bloody Mary.
Check out a corn maze
Get lost and have some fun at Downey's Corn Maze Adventure, located in Caledon, Ont. There is an admission fee of $20.71 (tax included), and the park is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It includes a corn maze trail of over 8 km, three different games for all ages, farm animals and more. Explore the maze for the ultimate experience!
Try no-carve pumpkins
Not everyone has the time or energy to take the GO train to a pumpkin patch in Oshawa. Instead, take a quick stroll to your local grocery store and buy a pumpkin to paint rather than carve this year. Even the most careful carver can make a mess when carving pumpkins.
It won't be the same experience as being outdoors, with the wind blowing in your face and all the colourful leaves falling from trees, but it's definitely worth the try and can still be amusing.
Build a Halloween gingerbread house
This Halloween, gingerbread house kits will take center stage and push Christmas aside. Craft and create with your loved ones and display the finished products. In the end, you get a delicious treat to reward yourself for all your hard work. Walmart, Canadian Tire and Party City are the most common vendors with affordable prices.
5 Drive-in movie theatre
Enjoy a horror film on the big screen in the comfort of your car with great food, friendly staff, and reasonable prices—$15 for a single ticket. The 5 Drive-in located in Oakville is the ultimate getaway to watch some of the month's latest horror films, such as Smile or Halloween Ends.
The only requirement is that you have access to a vehicle or know someone who does.
Make creepy treats
You may have baked regular treats, but Halloween-themed treats are a neat trick to experiment with. Get out of your comfort zone and try baking mummy ‘box’ brownie bites with some brownie mix, white frosting and chocolate chips. Regardless of what you bake, they’ll look and taste great.
Host a Halloween episode marathon
Halloween-themed episodes are a massive part of Gen-Z's childhood, and many people looked forward to them each year. Go back in time and make a list of all your favourites to watch with friends or family.
For starters, watch 'The Ghost of Suite 613' episode from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody or 'Don't Have A Cow' from That's So Raven, both available for your viewing on Disney+.
Listen to an eerie podcast
A spine-chilling podcast is a perfect way to show you're in the spirit of the season. A podcast that would seriously raise some hairs on your arms is Murder With My Husband. It’s a true-crime podcast that delves into gruesome and dark past crimes with a wife who adores it and a husband who isn't too fond of it.
D.I.Y a Halloween costume
Why buy an overpriced costume online when there are so many creative DIY Halloween costumes lurking on our TikTok For You Pages? The world has seen enough playboy bunny or sexy cop costumes. Test your abilities and see what you can do with a pair of scissors and a few items picked up from the dollar store.
Halloween Haunt
It's Halloween Haunt at Canada's Wonderland again, creating a terrifying scream park filled with exhilarating thrills and terrors.
Come face to face with hundreds of monsters, scare zones and mazes, gory street performers, and more. Buying your tickets online will cost $69.13 (tax included), solely for admission. Toronto's largest Halloween event is a must-see if you're looking for a jump scare or two.
Swap scary stories
One of the most enjoyable ways to celebrate Halloween is to share creepy tales. Make sure you gather a group of friends, turn off the lights, and light a few candles to get in the Halloween spirit. Lastly, take a look online for a story, or come up with your own!
Create a Halloween playlist
Last but certainly not least, make a spooky playlist with all the best Halloween jams. Get innovative by adding songs from your favorite horror movies or television shows. Lack of inspiration? Check out the 60 songs Good Housekeeping shared for its Halloween and music lovers.