Some Classic Entertainment For Halloween

With 2020 well underway and having at this point amassed something of a reputation as a year of veritable horror, we’re finally coming upon All Hallow’s Eve! While Halloween celebrations aren’t a huge thing where I reside, I (and many others) look out to the date every year with anticipation all the same. There is just something about all the pumpkin spice, reddening leaves and bat-themed decorations that calls to me (which, considering my interests, might not come as too much of a surprise). 2020 being what it is, this year’s Halloween will probably be a lot more subdued than what many are used to – but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have ourselves some spooky fun, and my fellow bookworms and homebodies might very well have the best time yet. Below is some inspiration for things to do, read or watch this halloween, from the safety of your own cosy home.

Happy Reading

Spooky Movie Night

I think it’s already a tradition held by many generations at this point to take the opportunity presented for a veritable horror movie marathon; what better way to spend the evening than curled up on the couch (or spread out over the floor – grab pillows and blankets, built a fort, go wild!) with a bowl of popcorn and family or friends, or even by yourself (if you are particularly brave, or like I have absolutely no sense of self-preservation). There are many, many lists out there of Halloween classics to watch. Movies like A Nightmare Before Christmas or Corpse Bride lend themselves well for some family friendly fun, while Carrie, Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th are veritable Halloween canon for a slightly more mature crowd. Feeling like something a little more 2020-themed? Try the latest instalment of The Purge, or maybe one of many viral-zombie-outbreak-movies (personal recommendation: Warm Bodies is good for some light-hearted fun, with blood and guts on the side). There’s a myriad of options to choose from, is what I’m trying to say, so break out your snacks, dim the lights and settle in for a good ‘ole spooky movie night this Halloween!

Option II, Electric Boogaloo: Spooky Game Night

So I’m going to have to come clean right out the gate: I am not much of a gamer (unless we’re counting the occasional bout of Mario Cart or online dress-up games – which I doubt). I leap into a panic as soon as someone hands me a controller, and it usually just ends with a lot of panicked button-smashing and then me handing it off to someone else like it’s a hot potato.That said, I do very much enjoy watching others play video games, particularly the choose-your-own-adventure type of games, and especially when it comes to horror games. Until Dawn is a personal favourite, and Silent Hill is a well-known classic. Got some squeamish persons in your party? Even better!

Spooky Game Night is a lot like Spooky Movie Night, but it has the added bonus of being interactive – a little bit like walking through a particularly immersive haunted house, if you will. So grab your favourite scaredycats, hand them a controller and press ‘play’.

Terrible Tales

Did you know that in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it was considered a Christmas Tradition to sit around the hearth with family and friends, and tell ghost stories?

Nowadays many of us wouldn’t immediately think of ghosts as being part of a true Hallmark Christmas experience, but it lends itself all the better for a spooky Halloween night. Of course, the most fun is to be had by gathering your loved ones and telling tales of your own, but a more quarantine-proof way of handling this tradition is to simply make yourself a pot of tea, grab your favourite collection of ghost stories and settle in your favourite chair for a good, frightening read. I have previously listed some of my favourite reads , but if it’s a short but sweet thrill you’re looking for I can recommend Louise Welche’s 100 Ghost Stories To Read With The Lights On (which, bonus, gives a tantalising glimpse of the ghost story’s long history and includes one of the oldest known written stories of this kind) and A Connoisseur’s Collection of Victorian Ghost Stories which includes classic short stories from the likes of Elizabeth Gaskell and Charles Dickens. Looking for a more immersive, modern experience? There’s a plethora of wonderfully creepy podcasts out there. Dim the lights, light some candles and let your mind wander.

Make it a Party

At the end of the day, the most important part of any celebration is that you’re enjoying yourself in whatever way suits you best. That can be on your own, enjoying a harrowing tale, squeezing a partner’s hand just a little bit harder during a scary scene in your favourite horror movie, or sharing stories over a glass of your favourite poison with your family (of choice).

Below is some inspiration to really get yourself in the mood for All Hallow’s Eve; have any suggestions or additions of your own? A Halloween tradition you’d like to share? Tell us all about it in the comments down below!

Scary Musical Scores

Creepy Cuisine

What’s a Halloween party (or any party, really) without a proper feast? Delish provides us with 21 Scary Halloween Recipes , while BBC lays out a veritable spread of options for anyone who needs some inspiration. Gluten Free? Not to worry, Boulder Locavore has got you covered with their Gluten Free Halloween Recipes (if you are trick-or-treating or would like some pointers for safe Halloween treats, The National Celiac Association is here to help). Vegan? Fear not! The Green Loot comes in clutch with 46 Spooky Vegan Halloween Recipes.

Looking for something a little more grown-up that packs a bit of a punch? Why not mix yourself up a bone-chilling cocktail? Below are some helpful videos on how to blow your guests (or yourself) out of the water with your bartending skills: