By Isabella Howe

October 27, 2020

The season of Autumn has finally arrived and that means it’s time to take the blankets out of the cupboard, stock up on hot cocoa mix and tea, and prepare for the most anticipated day of the season, Halloween. In the past, the Halloween tradition for the kids of Malibu consisted of gathering in Malibu West or The Colony to spend the night trick or treating amongst friends. However, due to the pandemic, this year will require a change in traditional Malibu celebrations. If this year you decide to opt-out of the usual Malibu traditions because of health concerns, here are a number of ideas on how to still have a memorable Halloween. 

Have a horror Halloween movie night with friends by using Google Chrome’s extension Netflix Party. The extension allows for multiple people to view the same movie at the same time. While viewing the film participants can text with one another using their chat feature. With the use of Netflix Party, this Halloween, you could enjoy a scary movie with your friends while still maintaining a safe distance. Grab a bag of candy and some popcorn, start the movie, and enjoy Halloween through a different lens.

Bake a collection of fall-themed desserts with your family over the holiday. A quick Google search will provide you with endless possibilities for recipes. Whether it’s your first time baking or you are a baking protege, Google always has a selection of recipes for all skill levels. You can even attempt to create a homemade version of your favorite Halloween candy. If you have certain dietary restrictions, this can be a fun project. It allows you to enjoy Halloween candy without any health risks as you now know exactly what ingredients are being used. Recruit your family to help you out in the kitchen, turn on a Halloween playlist, and go get your hands dirty.

Go visit some COVID safe Halloween attractions. Many theme parks and communities have created events known as drive-through experiences where you and your family can watch a Halloween themed show from your car. Netflix TV show, Stranger Things, has created a drive-through experience that will take place on the thirty first of this month. You will have the ability to watch a show consisting of actors, special effects, and sets from the comfort of your car (timeout.com). Griffith Park has also taken on to this trend by shifting their well known Los Angeles Haunted Hayride to a drive-through experience as well. They also plan to have actors, sets, and a huge screen for viewing their show (timeout.com). So pack your family and close friends into the car, stop at the grocery store to stock up on some snacks, and go have an adventure in this new type of experience. 

Carve and decorate some pumpkins with your friends over facetime or zoom. If you decide to carve some pumpkins, you can go with the classic jack o lantern look or just go freestyle and try an intricate pattern or shape. You could also paint your pumpkin rather than carve it. Pinterest is a great resource when looking for some creative ideas if you decide to paint your pumpkin. You can coordinate with friends and set up a certain time to call one another so you and your friends can all craft together. After your carving session, you can then go roast your collection of pumpkin seeds for a crunchy fall snack. 

Halloween this year could also be spent with some good old alone time. Stop at Starbucks and grab a nice warm pumpkin spice latte to sip on. Then go home and make a cozy fort with a ton of blankets and pillows. Grab a mystery, thriller, or horror book and just enjoy the night getting deep into a book. 

The options are endless when it comes to celebrating the holidays. Everyone has a particular taste in how they like to spend their time. Nevertheless, we can all find a way to enjoy this year’s Halloween despite the circumstances.