My kids go trick or treating but my oldest two are going with friends instead of the family, i am fine with this. Both my husband and I love Halloween and want to do something as the whole family. We don't crave pumpkins do to past issues, so please dont suggest that, also my kids are aged 3-11 Thanks!
A fall festival at a pumpkin farm. Hayrides, haunted houses, corn mazes, apple picking. Some farms do night time activities, like a corn maze, to make it spookier.
I'm not sure about your pumpkin issues, but we like to paint them. I'm not allowed around knives and pumpkins, but I can be more creative with paint anyway.
Decorate the house.
Make pumpkin cupcakes.
Bob for apples.
Play some spooky music. :)
We put up pumpkin lights (orange mini lights & pumpkin lights) so cute
I have larget light up pumpkins I put in windows & on the stoop.
Put some halloween candies out (those little pumpkins in bowls)
Light candles
Purple boas decorate fireplace mantle like garland
Have a donut eating contest. Loop a string through the hole, hang them up on a string, you're on your knees w/your hands behind your back. Just
kind of fun.
Make popcorn balls? Yuck? :)
Have a grab bag for your kids (something fun inside paper bags (age appropriate). Just for fun.
Rent a scary movie or fun movie to watch together.
Make it like you're in a theatre, stadium seating (rows of seats or sofas
behind each other), popcorn served in those popcorn bags.
Go to an apple orchard that day. Have carmel apples.
Orange & black balloons. Put $ in the balloons & hv the kids sit on them to pop them at the end of the night.
Go to a corn maze/pumpkin patch! Many offer hay rides, little haunted houses, kettle korn and other treats. The good thing about things like that, is they are usually open for a few weeks, so your Halloween night doesn't have to be jam packed. Also, a lot of churches and schools do Fall festivals.
Try a corn maze. One year my family went and we had a blast.
Are there any festivals in your area. Many local churches and city parks have trunk-r-treat, harvest festivals, game nights with entertainment and candy etc. Some at home activities could be roasting pumpkin seeds, or making any kind of pumpkin baked good. You can have a competition and see who can make the best Halloween treat. You can also make decorations for your home besides carving pumpkins . . . like making paper pumpkins and other crafts.
Have a family oriented halloween party at your house. My aunt did this every year when I was a kid - one year my family went as the Adams family. She gave out prizes for best costumes etc. Do it the weekend of Halloween at your house. Also in my area there are festivals every weekend here with free rides, costume dressups etc.
And on Halloween, if I were letting my older 2 go out with friends, I'd invite everyone over my house afterwards and order pizza and have everyone over just to get together and have a little fun comparing their stash etc.
Growing up counting, sorting and trading our haul was one of the best parts of the holiday!! We always offloaded the mounds and almond joys on my dad and tried to get more snickers and milky ways...and complained about little old ladies who gave us pennies! The nerve!
I also LOVE Halloween and I usually dress up a little when I take my kids trick or treating.
2 years ago my brother was living with us, so me him and my husband dressed up as the 3 blind mice. We made our own mouse ear headbands, we bought cheap little canes and big sunglasses - it was so much fun!
Fall festivals are pretty easy to come by this time of year.
For us, dressing up and watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show (with full audience participation) has been a family tradition since my daughter was steady enough on her feet to do the Time Warp.
