Discover fun Halloween traditions to start with your family, from pumpkin decorating to spooky movie nights. Make Halloween special with these memorable activities.
Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. The excitement of picking out costumes, the thrill of trick-or-treating, and the decorations make it so much fun. But what I love most is how Halloween brings families together. It’s the perfect time to create memories with your kids.
Starting Halloween traditions is a great way to make the holiday even more meaningful. Kids love routines, and family traditions help them look forward to Halloween year after year. Whether it’s carving pumpkins, watching a spooky movie, or making Halloween treats, these little traditions can become the moments your kids remember most.
In this post, I’m sharing five Halloween traditions you can start with your family. These ideas are easy and fun.
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Halloween Tradition 1: Annual Pumpkin Decorating
Pumpkin decorating is a creative activity the family can enjoy together. Each year, let everyone pick their own pumpkin to carve or decorate. It’s a great way to spend time together, and each pumpkin will turn out unique.
There are so many ways to decorate pumpkins. You can carve them or paint them in bright colors. Pinterest has many ideas on how to decorate pumpkins. For younger kids, stickers and markers work well too.
This can even turn into a friendly family competition. See who can come up with the most creative design.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pumpkins
- Pumpkin carving tools
- Paint and brushes
- Markers
- Stickers or other decorations
- Bowls to collect the seeds (bonus: roast them for a snack)
Tradition 2: Family Halloween Movie Night
A family Halloween movie night is a fun way to celebrate the spooky season. Each year, pick a night to gather together and watch your favorite Halloween movies. It’s a simple tradition, but one your kids will look forward to.
Choose movies that are age-appropriate for everyone. Some great family-friendly options include:
- Hocus Pocus
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Hotel Transylvania
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (a classic favorite)
Make the night extra special with Halloween-themed snacks. Try popcorn stuffed into plastic gloves to make “popcorn hands” or serve Halloween themed Rice Krispie treats.
Then, get cozy by setting up a blanket fort or filling the living room with pillows and blankets. To add a festive touch, you can add some Halloween decorations or jack-o’-lanterns.
Halloween Tradition 3: Halloween-Themed Dinner
A Halloween-themed dinner is a fun way to get the family involved in the kitchen. Everyone can help make spooky treats or a festive dinner.
For dinner, try making fun, spooky dishes, such as:
For dessert, you can make cupcakes and decorate them with Halloween themes like spider webs, witches’ hats, or monsters. Each person can decorate their own cupcake and see who comes up with the most creative design.
Tradition 4: Neighborhood Boo-ing
“Boo-ing” your neighbors is a fun Halloween tradition that brings a little surprise to friends and neighbors. The idea is simple: you secretly leave a basket of treats at someone’s door with a note saying, “You’ve Been Boo’d!” It’s a great way to spread Halloween cheer.
To make a “Boo” basket, fill it with Halloween candy, small toys, or a fun note. You can add glow sticks, stickers, or spooky trinkets. Don’t forget to include a “You’ve Been Boo’d!” sign that your neighbor can hang on their door so others know they’ve already been boo’d.
To organize this, start by boo-ing two or three neighbors. Ask them to keep the fun going by “boo-ing” someone else.
Tradition 5: Halloween Costume Parade
A Halloween costume parade is a fun way for everyone to show off their Halloween costumes. You can organize one with just your family, or invite neighbors and friends to join in. It’s a great way to celebrate Halloween together.
You can even add Halloween-themed music to make it more festive.
Make it extra fun by offering prizes for the most creative costumes. Also, you can set up a little photoshoot area where everyone can pose in their costumes.
Halloween is such a fun time to make memories with your family. These Halloween traditions add to the excitement of the holiday. They’re simple, but they bring so much joy.
I hope you’ll try one or more of these traditions with your family this year. I’d love to hear what your family does to make Halloween special.
