Halloween is the most exciting fall holiday and perhaps even the best holiday of all time, but when decorations show up in stores on July 5 but Halloween isn't until October 31, the wait for this delightfully spooky holiday is almost unbearable. To help those, such as myself, who struggle with this painstakingly long period of waiting, I have compiled this list of Halloween-ish activities that can help you ring in the fall season and celebrate Halloween even before it arrives.
1. Break out your sweater collection.
Finally, the weather has started to cool and everyone can finally enjoy wearing their fall clothing. Dig your nice warm sweaters out of the back of your closet and bask in their warmth and comfort. This will really help you get into a festive seasonal mood.
2. Enjoy the fall weather.
Fall weather is the best. It's not too hot, it's not too cold, the leaves are changing. Get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Build a bonfire, go camping, go hiking, go apple picking. At the very least, walk outside and just appreciate how nice fall is.
3. Ensure your home is seasonally decorated.
Don't be afraid to really go for it with the decorations. Too much is never enough when it comes to Halloween. I'm sure the neighbors will understand.
4. Carve the perfect pumpkin.
Carving a pumpkin creates a great decoration and is a wonderful way to pass the time before Halloween. Make sure to carefully select the design you will carve because you'll be proudly displaying your pumpkin on your front porch for all to see. Also, make sure you get all the seeds and other pumpkin insides out, no one likes a sloppy pumpkin.
5. Obsessively watch Halloween movies.
I highly recommend the "Adams Family," "Twitches" ( a Disney channel classic), "Hocus Pocus," and "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
6. Eat pumpkin spice everything
Pumpkin Spice is one of the most delicious flavors so take full advantage of this while it's available. Eat pumpkin spice muffins, pie, bread, pancakes, waffles, frosting, cupcakes, fudge, cake, ice cream, yogurt, cookies, doughnuts, cheesecake, chocolate, and if you're feeling adventurous eat pumpkin spice tortilla chips. Pumpkin spice tortilla chips are real and they are not something to miss out on.
7. But don't go overboard with the pumpkin spice everything.
Recognize that while pumpkin spice is a wonderful flavor, not everything needs to taste or smell like pumpkin spice. Find the line and respect it. By all means, drink your pumpkin spice latte, but realize that no one wants to hear about your pumpkin spice latte.
8. Spend every waking moment creating the perfect costume.
It's perfectly fine to start creating/stressing about your Halloween costume on July 5, especially if you are trying to win a costume contest. It's so hard to find a costume that's new and original, yet recognizable to anyone trying to figure out what you are dressed as.
9. Plan a bomb Halloween party.
Halloween parties are the best parties, if you throw a Halloween party you could potentially be the hero of your friend group (at least for a night). It's no harder to plan than regular party just make sure to invest in some pleasantly creepy decor.
10. Recreationally scare the crap out of yourself.
Go to haunted houses, go to a haunted corn maze, go on a haunted hayride, watch as many horror movies as you can. Halloween is the most socially acceptable time to celebrate all things creepy and scary, indulge in it. It is incredibly thrilling to be scared when you are actually in no real danger.
The wait for Halloween is grueling but thankfully it's only a week away.
