Halloween is quickly approaching and while trick-or-treating is a solid tradition for many people, there are others who are either too old or not interested in this classic Halloween festivity. Sometimes it may not be an option (if people are exposed to Covid or you’re camping in the middle of nowhere), or maybe you love trick-or-treating with your kids or grandkids, but want to do a little something more!

I’m totally not against trick-or-treating; I have so many sweet memories of my children, as well as my growing up years that involve this tradition. But I know it’s not something that’s always desirable or doable for everyone. And for some, trick-or-treating by itself feels incomplete, like you need a little something more.

Here are some ideas you can add to your night of trick-or-treating or in place of this beloved tradition!

• Make a special dinner. Bread bowls and soup is cozy and filling, perfect for a night otherwise filled with treats!
• Pick up a new movie and watch it as a family. We always watched a new show on Halloween, and it was so fun to snack on all our spoils from the evening while watching a new movie. Even if you don’t trick-or-treat- pop some popcorn, pull out the snacks and enjoy a new movie together! (Or a spooky movie!)
• Chili is another fall staple that is full of nutrition and filling- have a chili potluck with family or neighbors and binge on chili before all that sugar!
• Minute-to-win it games are super simple to put together but can be so much fun! Put together a few of these quick games to play as a group for part of your party!
• Look up your local city’s plan. Sometimes they host trunk-or-treats, haunted houses, fall harvest festivities, etc and you could have a party already planned out for you!
• Do a scavenger hunt. In 2020 my sister and I planned a scavenger hunt for our kids and had cute little clues to take them to each different spot. They had to do things like “howl like wolves” or “walk like zombies” in order to earn their treats. The kids loved it- and we loved watching them!
• Decorate sugar cookies! Who says cookie decorating is only for Christmas? Spooky cookies are some of the most fun to make!
• Make homemade caramel apples, and if you have candy from trick-or-treating, use that to decorate them!
• Have a dance party! There are some great Halloween tunes (hello Ghostbusters, Thriller!) and they’re great for dancing! Freeze dances are super fun for kids and are such an easy way to make something simple feel like a party!
• Host a murder mystery dinner. If you’ve never done one of these, they are SO fun. They take a little work to plan, but they are so worth the effort! And this is the perfect excuse to let adults dress up for fun, too!
• Visit a pumpkin patch, corn maze or other local fall festivity! If Halloween isn’t really your cup of tea, this is a great way to still have fun without all the costumes, treats and gore!
• Wear a different “mask” by enjoying a Halloween spa night- facial masks, manicures, and of course- delicious pumpkin treats to go around!
• Go camping in your backyard! S’mores and spooky stories sounds like a super fun Halloween night to me!

Do you have any traditions that don’t involve trick-or-treating? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

    Camille Hoffmann
    Monthly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com