Looking for Halloween ideas this year?
Like most things this year, Halloween will be a very different experience. With last year being a horrible storm that postponed Halloween in some areas until the next night, although my kids still went out, there was only a few houses with lights on and really TERRIBLE weather.
For this year, Premier Francois Legault announced that there is Halloween, but it’s just for children and not adults.
If you are staying home and giving out candy here are some Halloween ideas you can get creative with your trick or treating.
- Use what you have: Use tongs, a baking sheet or a hockey stick with a bucket on the end! Hockey sticks are for more than playing on the ice. Can you tell we are a hockey family?
- Think individual: If you go the bucket/hockey stick route, only put in a few per each child, rather than a bowl for sharing. Or you can use pre-packaged single treats.
- Go non-traditional: pick a non-medical or fun Halloween themed mask/scarf to cover your nose & mouth.
- Get outside: This year we are setting up a 10×10 tent in our driveway and will give out candy there! Bundle up and hand out on your porch, sidewalk, lawn or other areas and spend the time outside. This way kids don’t have to touch doorbells, handrails, knobs or other high traffic areas.
- Stick with Treats: If you’re a trickster, remember screaming is an open mouth thing and that means germs flying out of people’s mouths… so a greater distance apart is required.
- Check out the CDC: The Center for Disease Control has a list of suggestions and Halloween activities that you can do that range from low to high risk. Yes I know it’s U.S. but they have some great ideas.
If you aren’t wanting to go trick or treating, here are some ideas to make your Halloween fun at home.
Pumpkin Carving
This is one of our favorite traditions. It’s fun and the whole family can take part in it. When my kids were littler, they would draw the face that adults would carve out. My protip is to put Vaseline on the open cuts of the pumpkin – it helps them to stay fresher and not wilt.
If you don’t want the mess in your house, try there 21 no carve pumpkin decorating ideas.
Get Virtual
If you don’t want to leave the house, but keep the kids busy, check out the history museum Pointe-à-Callière FREE virtual activity. Explore the mystery of Simon McTavish, who is claimed to have made a deal with the devil to build a great house on Mount Royal. Only available online, and in French, you can register online and they will send you a link you can use from Friday October 30th from 7 p.m. until Monday November 2nd 9 a.m.
Watch Halloween Movies
Movies are a great family activity and there are tons of Halloween themed options to choose from. These can be great for small kids, adults and really anyone. Dress up in your pjs, grab some popcorn, and snuggle up and start watching. If your kids are missing friends, why not get some friends together to watch a movie virtually. I would skip zoom because they only allow 40 minutes, so facetime may be better, or if you do go with zoom, set up 40-minute pee breaks and call back in a new zoom.
Here is a list of Halloween witch movies that are great for all ages.
Organize a virtual costume contest
Most kids are used to online calls, so why not set up a call with their friends and do a costume parade! You can co-ordinate with parents for a prize for each kid or add an extra challenge by suggesting they make their costumes out of things they have at home.
Go on a hunt
Halloween Scavenger hunts can be fun. For our family, scavenger hunts are fun anytime of year. Check out Pinterest for a bunch of different Halloween scavenger hunts you can print and are already organized for you. Here is one of our favorite Halloween candy scavenger hunts.
If you don’t want to spend Halloween at home, check out these ideas Halloween ideas of things to do in Montreal for Halloween.
