After missing out on tricks and treats last year, a somewhat normal Halloween is finally here and it’s time to get in the spooky spirit.
Whether you’re dying to spend the night out or you’d rather have a spooky night in, here are a few ways to get back into the haunted holiday spirit.
For a fun Halloween at home…
Decorate your living space
Decorating for Halloween has always been my favorite part of October, and it’s always a great way to celebrate in the comfort of your dorm. You can shop online or in-store with friends and make a day trip out of it! Places like Target, Michaels, Party City, and Amazon have great decorations for a decent price––perfect for college students.
Carve a pumpkin
Pumpkin carving is a classic Halloween activity and a fun way to get creative! Pumpkins are available at almost any grocery store, and pumpkin carving kits can be found in stores like Target, Roche Bros, or online. For those who don’t want to deal with the hassle of a mess, you can always buy a fake, pre-carved one.
Binge horror or Halloween-themed shows and movies
What’s Halloween without a little scare (from the comfort of your own couch)? No need to go to a theater to see a movie that will satisfy your festive spirit or send chills up your spine when you can just as easily plop down close to your own bathroom.
Streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime have plenty of spooky movies that will do the trick, featuring cult classics like Rocky Horror Picture Show, Jennifer’s Body, Hocus Pocus, and countless more horror flicks. Disney Plus has more Halloween-themed films, while the other streaming platforms have horror movies to scare you right out of your socks.
For those who have been longing to go out…
Take a Haunted Tour of Boston
Unless you’ve been stuck in a tomb, everyone has seen a “Ghosts and Gravestones” tour roll through the streets of Boston at some point or another. So, what better time to check out this haunted attraction than Halloween?
The hour and a half Ghosts and Gravestones tour takes you through the city by trolley making stops from ancient burial grounds to the Omni Parker House, telling scary stories of historic Boston led by “undead” tour guides. You can purchase tickets for the tour through the Ghosts and Gravestones website for about $42 per person.
See a movie
If you prefer to seek your Halloween thrills on the big screen, you’re in luck!
Throughout the month of October, new horror movies are being released until the big day is finally here. This year’s frightening flicks include Halloween Kills, hitting theaters on Oct. 15, and Antlers and Last Night in Soho on Oct. 29.
In addition to these new releases, AMC Boston Common will be screening some Halloween classics at Surprise Screenings every Wednesday and Friday for $5 per person (plus tax) until the holiday arrives.
Visit Salem
Salem is a Massachusetts staple, but on Halloween, the “Witch City” becomes a Halloween enthusiast’s dream. Disclaimer: it does tend to get quite crowded this time of year, especially on the holiday itself.
Salem is the perfect setting to explore this October, with plenty of activities from candlelight ghost tours, to museums of the Witch trials and Halloween.
Six Flags Fright Fest
If you’re anything like me and love a good jump scare or roller coaster, taking a 2-hour road trip to Agawam, MA to visit Six Flags New England for Fright Fest might be the best way to seek the thrills you’ve been missing.
Whether it be riding the Harley Quinn Spinsanity ride or being chased through the park by a guy with a chainsaw, you’ll get plenty of good scares.
Fright Fest will continue every Friday-Sunday until the end of the month, with tickets ranging from $25-40 depending on the date.
For Emersonians, 21 and over…
This October, bar crawls––walking tours that take individuals to several bars in a single night––return to Boston in a spooky fashion (pun fully intended). For those who are 21 and over, celebrating Halloween this year could include a bar crawl in costume.
There are plenty to choose from––some crawls like the Zombie Crawl are one night, while others, like Trick or Drink and Halloweekend, last the whole weekend. Ticket prices for these events range based on how many nights you attend.
However you choose to celebrate this year, the Beacon wishes you a very happy (and scary) Halloween!
