How to Make Halloween a Family-friendly Neighborhood Affair

Fake headstones and carved pumpkins grace lawns and porches. Flashing lights and spooky music emanate from your neighbor’s garage. Little ghouls and goblins will soon take to the streets in search of candy. The signs of Halloween are all around us, indicating that it is almost time to open our doors to trick-or-treaters and prepare our costumes for gatherings with friends and family. The best part about living in a large planned community, like many of the neighborhoods in which Perry Homes builds, is the community atmosphere that exists within it, especially on days like Halloween when everyone loves to be outside. There are several things you can do to make Halloween a family-friendly community event that everyone will enjoy.

Boos, bats and baubles: Getting your home ready for visiting ghouls

Whether you are planning to go out or stay home, decorating your own home is a fun way to get into the holiday. It also indicates to trick-or-treaters that you are proffering goodies. You do not have to stick to simply store-bought pumpkins and plastic spiders—with the rise in popularity of DIY decor, there are plenty of ways you can up your Halloween decorating game. Pinterest is always a great resource for inspiration, especially when it comes to elegant decor ideas. Create an atmospheric entryway to your front porch using velvet fabric to mimic Victorian-style curtains and stretchable spiderwebs that you can find at any craft or Halloween store. Throw in some skeleton bones and a chalkboard sign with a creepy message, and you will be well on your way to delivering some spooky scares to the neighborhood.

For indoor decor that goes above and beyond the usual frights, you could create a haunted graveyard. It doubles as a treat station with spooky cake pops, so it is both decorative and delicious. If you are hosting a gathering or dinner party, the Halloween theme does not have to be tacky. This darkly gothic-themed decor is both elegant and spine-tingling at the same time.

Plan your All Hallow’s Eve outing

If you have kids, you will likely spend your Halloween night out on the streets collecting candy. There are several things you can do to ensure you have a safe and fun trip. First, decide which route you will take in advance. Halloween tends to be a very busy night and it can be confusing with the swarms of people. Deciding which path you will take before you go ensures you do not get confused trying to decide which houses you have visited already.

Next, make sure your children’s costumes are comfortable, including the outfit and the footwear. The last thing you want is a child with aching feet who wants to be carried home when you are halfway across the neighborhood! Think about what accessories they really need for their costume. The wand and broomstick may add an adorable touch to their look, but guess who will end up carrying them before the night is over? (Hint—it will be you!)

Safety first: though your neighborhood will likely be well-lit, consider bringing along glow sticks or wands so that you and the family are visible in the dark. And when you get home, make sure you check over the treats, just to be safe.

Set up an outdoor trick-or-treating station

Those without kids or those whose kids have grown up may prefer a more sophisticated approach to Halloween. But what if you want to be social yet still be around to hand out candy? That is what outdoor trick-or-treating stations are for! Whether you do it with a few of your surrounding neighbors or involve the whole street or cul-de-sac, you can turn it into a way to have a good time and not have to leave an abandoned bowl of candy on the porch that is sure to be toppled over by night’s end. Plus, it is a more inviting way to hand out candy, giving you the opportunity to converse with neighbors from around the area that you may not know and making it safer for parents with children.

How you want to do it is completely up to you. It can be as simple as setting up patio chairs in the driveway and bringing the bowl of candy with you. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can make it so you have as much fun as the kids who are coming to visit you. This outdoor Halloween station sets the bar high with homemade themed treats. The most important thing is to have fun with it. You could turn your garage into a mini haunted mansion. You can dress up and fill trick-or-treaters with fright or delight. Play Halloween-themed music and take turns visiting other neighbors to transform it into a party.

No matter how you decide to celebrate Halloween this year, we hope you have a frightfully good time. Share with us in the comments how you plan to have a spook-tacular night!