Halloween has forever been a favorite holiday for people of all ages. Getting candy, dressing up in costumes, and celebrating in the spooky vibes have been long standing traditions for October 31st and the dates surrounding it. Even though they are fun and rewarding, these simple traditions can become boring as kids turn into teenagers and find themselves doing the same activities again and again. So, here are some new and engaging ways to celebrate this spooky season.
Attending Festivals
Some of the best festivities on this spooky holiday can be found at the most expected places, at a Halloween Festival. These can range from simple trick or treating to haunted attractions with a multitude of people. In the closer areas of Lindale there are a number of community-led Halloween festivities to enjoy.
- Trunk or Treat at ChristPoint Methodist Church
On Wednesday, October 30, there will be the 29th annual Halloween event at ChristPoint open for the community. The festivities there focus on the less scary and child friendly part of Halloween. It allows for an alternative to otherwise horror induced traditions of the Holiday and mostly focuses on making sure children have a good time and are safe. There is also candy, or course.
- Downtown Lindale’s Halloween Hangout
This event is another annual one that the city of Lindale hosts every year. It takes place at Pickers Pavilion from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. on the 31st itself. Businesses can get booths at the event to promote products and take part in the festivities. There will also be a costume contest, an assortment of games, music from a live DJ, and food. This event is free and great for families.
Watching Scary Movies
Some of the best times of Halloween are when people get to stay home. So crawl into a bed or a comfy couch in PJ’s instead of a costume, grab a favorite blanket, pop some popcorn and put a lid on the bucket and watch some scary Halloween movies! (Warning: Some of these movies are not PG and may have mature scenes and gore/blood. A simple google search will alert you of any unwanted triggers in the movies.)
- Halloween (1978 or the 2018 trilogy)
It wouldn’t be a Halloween movie binge without watching Halloween. The main character, Micheal Myers, is one of the most infamous characters of Halloween and known around the United States and world. The story itself follows the child serial killer when he escapes from his psych ward prison as an adult and goes on a rampant murder spree, chasing down a group of teenage babysitters through their town of Haddonfield, Illinois. Watching the original 1978 franchise as well as the remakes of the movie are a great way to spend this spooky day.
- Corpse Bride
Created through the uniquely animated characters of Tim Burton this movie is one of the classic and child friendly. It follows an unsolved undead story of a bride and a very much alive man who is to wed another. Definitely a 9/10 for me and a lovely story of betrayal and supernatural love.
- Goosebumps
Inspired by the long book series by R.L. Stine the movie follows a scenario of if all those novel stories were combined. The story begins when the new kid to school and his new friend meet his strange new neighbor and his even stranger, yet definitely more beautiful, daughter, and horror stories begin to pop up around town. This movie is child friendly and one of the coolest novel adaptations into the film world.
- Scream
This widely successful movie franchise follows a group of teenagers and their town that is terrorized by a masked killer. The killer in question is given the name “Ghost Face” and their identity is changed throughout the series. There are 6 films currently out and one more scheduled for 2026. The movies are full of betrayal, murder, and plot twists that give it a unique ability to continue with greatly rated sequels.
Going to Haunted Attractions
Most agree that it isn’t Halloween without a few jump scares. What’s a better place to feel the excitement of ‘Spooky’ season than at haunted attractions? There may not be for the faint of heart but they are still a must have on or near the day of horror.
- Screams Halloween Theme Park, Waxahachie TX
After personally experiencing this event it is definitely on my list to revisit. The park it takes place in is more widely known for hosting the Renaissance Fair, also known as Scarborough Renaissance Fair in other seasons, but for the month of October it is decorated with every imaginable scary or haunted thing. The employees here either prowl the paths in costumes, work at one of the 5 haunted houses, or at one of the numerous food booths around the park. The park is recommended 16 years and older.
Traveling
There are a number of places to travel to truly feel the Halloween spirit across the United States. It can bring a new sense of culture surrounding the 31st of October depending on just how far away people travel. From just a few hours away to a multi-day trip the experience itself can be an amazing reward (on top of candy of course).
- Salem, Massachusetts
One of the most notoriously festive places to visit during Halloween is Salem Massachusetts. Salem is known for its tragic Salem witch trials in the 1690s, in which more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft and 30 people were found guilty, 19 of which were executed. Later the story was turned into a playwright named “The Crucible” by Aurther Miller in 1953 and a movie in 1996 by director Nicholas Hytner. Now the town celebrates the Halloween weekend with Salem Haunted Happenings Festival. There are also an assortment of different haunted houses and attractions in Salem for the day of Halloween and the days surrounding the 31.
- Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is credited as one of the most haunted cities in the United States, and during their Halloween festivities they do not hold back. There are numerous official haunted ghost tours people can take around the city that show off both the spooky side of the area and its rich history of the supernatural. There are historically haunted houses, haunted pub crawls with guided tours attached, and not one but two haunted cemeteries. No matter where tourists go in Savannah, they are bound to run into something truly haunting.
