Halloween this year is…different.

If we had a nickel for every time someone asked us “Is Halloween even happening this year?” we would have…well, we’d have a lot of nickels. Don’t make me do math.

We’re happy to announce that Halloween is still a thing! Some families plan to go out trick-or-treating and others are changing it up to parties at home. We’re not here to judge - we’re just here to eat the candy. And anyway, no matter how you do it, this year Halloween is on a SATURDAY. Isn’t this what we dreamed of when we were twenty something? So if you’re staying home this Halloween:

yes, you can wear that shirt as a dress with wings (maybe shave your legs first?),
drink halloween themed cocktails and stay up later than 9:30,
and find some great Halloweenie ways to entertain the kiddos ALL DAY LONG!

So finish up that pumpkin spice latte and get ready to get your halloween on because endless mini chocolate bar season won’t last forever!

1. Cuddle Up with Halloween Stories

From Once Upon A Bookstore

Start your day with some good Halloween themed books! Or dish them out insead of candy? And bonus, it’s a total win for parents because you a) get to finally rotate in some NEW books (c’mon, we all know we read the same 4 books every day) and b) maybe you can trick your older kids into reading.

Our fave selection comes from Once Upon a Bookstore in Kelowna. They have a huge selection for all ages and you can purchase online!

A few recommendations: "Ghoulia" by Barbara Cantini (ages 6-9), "Dragon's Halloween" by Dav Pilkey (ages 5-8 *plush also available), "Haunted Canada 10" by Joel Sutherland (ages 10+) and "Sir Simon: Super Scarer" by Cale Atkinson (ages 4-7 and is written and illustrated by Kelowna local Cale Atkinson).

Click the links above for a description and how to scoop these up!

2. Play a Spooky Board Game

From Loadza Toys

Playing a board game with the family on a chilly autumn day, while enjoying chocolate and candy? Um, yes please! Or if you’re having a couple friends over, you can set the kids up around the coffee table.

Our new fave is this Scooby Doo: Betrayal at Mystery Mansion from Loadza Toys. Recommended for ages 8+, in this game you uncover clues and encounter strange occurrences. You may even catch a glimpse of a creepy creature! When you find enough clues to help solve the mystery, the haunt starts and one player changes to the roll of the Monster!

Will you be able to stop them before they can carry out their sinister plans?

3. Make Your Own Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are SO fall and the perfect fun activity for Halloween. Kids love them and technically they’re getting their fruit in for the day, so yay! Simply swing by Davison’s Orchards or Paynter’s Fruit Markets to pick your favourite apple variety and you’re already half done.

If you need a great EASY caramel recipe using local honey instead of white sugar - we have it. Check out the link here and don’t forget the chopped peanuts, sprinkles and mini chocolate chips for decorating. Let the kids go crazy and make some for yourself too because local apples dipped in honey caramel…

4. Carve or Decorate Pumpkins

Usually people carve their pumpkins a few weeks ahead of Halloween - and don’t panic, you can do that too - but why not save a few pumpkins for carving on the big day? What better way to get into the Halloween spirit than to smell like pumpkin guts?

But seriously, we recommend doing this before you get the kids in their costumes with a sugar high (and before your’e too drunk). Pumpkin mess + sharp tools + sugar insanity + drunk parents = no one wants that. Maybe plan for a mid day bath while youre at it.

Or if carving pumpkins seems like too much of a headache (insert image of a screaming 3 year old wielding a carving knife here), save some for decorating. Plop the kids down on some newspaper, get out the paints and glitter and let them create their dream pumpkin (or maybe something from your nightmares).

Check out our pumpkin patch guide here to find the best pumpkins in the valley.

5. Enjoy Local Treats

Yes, the standard boxes of Halloween candy will be bought. Some of us (cough*Stacey*cough) definitely did not already buy two boxes of mini chocolate bars….for the children.

But why not also branch out a little this year and try the multitudes of local treats carried and created by some of our fabulous local shops?

How about some fall themed cupcakes from Basic Batch Cupcakes? Or order some killer Halloween cookies from 2 BB’s Designs - these cookies are seriously art. Venture down to the Vernon Teach and Learn to explore their candy isle - it’s a kids Halloween dream!

6. Halloween Piñata

SO fun! It combines all the things that parents usually so ‘no’ to: swinging a big stick around, hitting something with it until broken, savagely pushing other kids aside and taking as much candy as your little fists can hold.

Halloween brings out the little treat-monsters in our children, so we might as well lean in and let them fight for their candy. Place bets?

We recommend the old style way of creating a piñata - blow up a balloon, paper mâché it (white glue, water and paper), pop the ballon and paint the thing orange - BAM pumpkin piñata.

Or you can check out Martha Stewart’s version (pictured above) and impress your kids and stuff…whatever, it’s your choice.

7. The Halloween…Bunny?

Who says Easter has a monopoly on the ‘basket’ world? Maybe the Halloween Witch sneaks in to fill the Halloween baskets with candy while the children sleep? Just kidding, that sounds super scary, don’t do that.

Maybe just surprise your kids with a Halloween basket filled with treats, books, games and even the pumpkins to paint later. Or take it further and throw them a Halloween candy themed candy hunt. We promise they’re going to love searching for mini Mars bars just as much as the mini eggs.

And this is your chance to hide some of those peanut butter cups in places no one else will find them. You know, for the game.

8. Brew Some Witches Potions

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. Get your kids brewing up some fun Halloween inspired science experiments for some witchy trouble. The Halloween At Home Kit from the Okanagan Science Centre includes a bubbling caldron, vanishing ghosts, witches brew and more!

Plan ahead and order your kit before October 28th here.