This past Sunday our pastor said in his sermon that the year 2020 has been like crossing the street and then getting hit by an airplane. Can I get an Amen?! We are all a little bewildered by the events unfolding around us each day. In these uncertain times, it is so important for us to hold on to goodness, truth, and light. As parents, we have the power to direct the tone of our homes. They can be homes of fear and anger, or homes of freedom and joy. I am fighting for the latter!
October 31st is probably going to look different for many of us this year, depending on where you live. I wanted to provide a few ways you can celebrate this day if you are not able or comfortable to carry on with the usual festivities.
**NOTE** >> Please see my thoughts on Halloween as a Christian by clicking HERE.
Plan a Special Meal
If you are staying home, plan a special meal for your family that everyone can look forward to! Here are a few delicious and a few spooky meal ideas >>
- Chili and Cornbread
- Chicken Bruschetta, Salad, and Rolls
- Taco Soup and Tortilla Chips
- Mummy Dogs, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Caesar Salad
- Corny Sloppy Joe Pizzas with Pumpkin Faces
Wear Costumes
Just because your neighbors won’t get to see your cute costumes, doesn’t mean you can’t still rock them! Everyone in the house must participate! You could set up the family room like a runway and have each person participate in a Halloween Costume Fashion Show. Or you could set up a Zoom call with other families and have everyone show off their costumes to one another online.
Tell Jokes
We must keep on laughing! Call someone and cheer them up with one of THESE or THESE fall-themed jokes.
Carve Pumpkins
Don’t forget to carve a pumpkin together. You can even make it into a meaningful experience by using THIS FREE Printable devotional Pumpkin Gospel message.
Play Games
Here are 5 simple, non-spooky Halloween games you can play at home >>
- Don’t Eat Pumpkin Pete
- Candy Corn Drop
- Roll-a-Pumpkin
- Glowstick Pumpkin Ring Toss
- Halloween Tic Tac Toe
Watch a Movie
We love to watch It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown or Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest every year as a family.
Bless Others
The best way to combat feelings of self-pity that Halloween isn’t typical this year, is to creatively go out and bless someone else. The chances are good that others are feeling the same way, so if we can pop into their dark spot with a little light, I promise that everyone will benefit.
- Ding Dong Ditch a homemade treat to a family of your choice.
- Hide packaged candy in a neighbor’s front yard – like an Easter egg hunt! Leave a note with buckets that says they must find all of the candy.
- Take dinner (see above for ideas) to someone who you know will be alone on Halloween. Cover everything with plastic spiders just for giggles.
- Plan a Trick or Treat Drive-By! Coordinate with 5-10 other families in the neighborhood and plan to set up tables on the front lawn with individually bagged/labeled treats for each family. Plan a window of time for families to drive by each participating home and pick up their bag of treats! Place orange balloons on the mailbox to indicate a participating family.
I have one more fun Christ-centered idea coming your way next week to celebrate October 31st with your family.
I would love to hear what YOU are planning on doing! Leave a comment below!
Joyfully,
Julie 🙂
This is great! Thank you! I think we will do the “Lazarus dogs” and mac and cheese and some kind of fall cookies for dinner that night! Perfect!