Halloween isn’t just one night; it’s a whole week. By the time Oct. 31 comes around, we’ve already decorated our home, carved pumpkins, watched almost every spooky movie in existence and eaten more candy than we probably should have.
If you want to spread the Halloween magic into more than a single night of trick-or-treating, here is our seven-day family itinerary, complete with spooky activities, themed dinners, movies, treats and more.
Monday, Oct. 26: Pumpkin Patch and Carving Night
After the kids get out of school, head straight to the pumpkin patch. Pick out your favorite pumpkin(s), then come home and carve them together before dinner starts.
Dinner: Pigs in a blanket, but make them mummies. Wrap the dough in strips around the hot dogs, leaving a little gap for candy eyes.
Tonight’s activity: Pick tonight’s movie from our spooky watch list below. Snack on some roasted pumpkin seeds during the movie. To make, toss them in butter and salt (plus any preferred seasonings) and roast at 325 F until golden brown.
Films for your spooktacular family movie night:
- Coraline (PG)
- Corpse Bride (PG)
- Frankenweenie (PG)
- Practical Magic (PG-13)
- Hocus Pocus (PG)
- The Boxtrolls (PG)
- Goosebumps (PG)
- Hotel Transylvania (PG)
- Hubie Halloween (PG-13)
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG)
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (G)
- Curious George: Boo Fest (G)
- Casper (PG)
- ParaNorman (PG)
Tuesday, Oct. 27: Themed Movie Night
Pick a movie and build the whole evening around it: dinner that matches, decorations, etc. For example, my go-to is decorating the living and dining room with fall leaves and fairy lights and then eating a roast chicken with warm apple cider while watching “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”
Bonus errand: If anyone’s costume still isn’t sorted, this evening after school is a great time for last-minute Halloween shopping.
Wednesday, Oct. 28: Halloween Candy Hunt
After school, turn the house or yard into a candy hunt, similar to an Easter egg hunt. Hide packaged miniature candy and let the kids run around with a bucket or small treat bag.
Dinner: Witches’ soup: tomato soup served with tiny mozzarella balls; stew with ghost-shaped carrots.
Thursday, Oct. 29: Baking and Board Games
Bake something spooky together: a brownie “pumpkin patch” or brownies piped with spiderweb icing.
Dinner: Orange bell pepper stuffed with ground beef or cheese; jack-o’-lantern quesadilla; pumpkin-shaped pasta with a sauce of your choice.
Tonight’s activity: Play a spooky-themed board game, such as “13 Dead End Drive” (a popular recommendation according to online forums).
Friday, Oct. 30: Bat Watching Night
Head out to watch the bats fly out at dusk from the University of Florida’s Bat Houses, located on the north side of Museum Road. Get there before sunset and bring a blanket to sit on.
Dinner: Homemade pizza with mozzarella-shaped ghosts on top.
Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween
Breakfast: Spider web-shaped pancakes or pumpkin-shaped waffles with berries for the eyes and a strawberry-slice smile.
Dinner: Grilled cheese, cut and pressed into pumpkin shapes.
Afternoon: Paint mini pumpkins as a family and set them out on the porch.
Getting ready: Put on costumes with a Halloween movie playing in the background.
Tonight’s activity: Trick-or-treating!
Sunday, Nov. 1: Relaxation
Let the kids sort and trade candy piles while a Halloween movie plays in the background. This is a perfect, quiet way to say farewell to a full week of spooktacular magic.
Check out our spooktacular Halloween Pinterest board for more inspiration on Halloween activities, treats, meals, crafts and more!