It’s the end of October, which means Halloween is quickly approaching. Every year, there are so many different ways to celebrate this spooky holiday — below are my four favorites. I hope you enjoy, and happy spooky season!

Eat Halloween-Themed Treats

Halloween is the best holiday, due to its many spooktacular traditions. One thing I adore most is the sheer amount of Halloween-themed foods that appear in grocery stores in October. From Trader Joe’s’ Halloween Joe Joe’s Cookies to Whole Foods’ Halloween Candies, I will eat anything ghoulish, pumpkin-y or witch-shaped — it truly enhances the Halloween spirit. Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention all the delicious candies offered while trick-or-treating. Make sure to fill your bags with Twix, Snickers, Skittles and everything sweet this October 31. For what it’s worth, I always go straight for Twix. The gooey, sweet caramel wrapped in a chocolate-coated biscuit is my favorite candy, and it might become yours, too.

Dress Up

Wearing a costume is a classic Halloween tradition. Dressing up dates back to over 2,000 years ago; historians believe the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain was Halloween’s precursor. During the festival, it is rumored that people wore disguises so spirits would mistake them for one of their own. Over time, this tradition evolved to be a more lighthearted aspect of Halloween. Today, costumes range from superheroes to vampires to princesses. Dressing up is a great way to explore new identities. It’s often hard to fully become someone else, but Halloween allows it, even if only for a night. I love to do group costumes with my friends because they allow me to connect with others on a fun and silly level. 

Watch a Spooky Movie

When trick-or-treating and walking around the streets for hours get too tiring, it’s nice to relax with friends while still enjoying the Halloween spirit. Watching a spooky movie is the perfect way to celebrate while still getting a good scare in. Gather your friends, grab pillows and blankets, microwave some popcorn and then settle into the most comfortable spot in your house. After you have finished your preparations, it’s time to turn off the lights and turn on the scary. I personally prefer less horror-based movies, like “Hocus Pocus,” “The Corpse Bride,” or “Coraline.“ But to all the people who really want to get scared, I would recommend movies such as “It“ or “The Ring.”

Decorate Your House

As my dad always says, “Why not decorate for Halloween in August?” Decorating our house is one of my family’s beloved Halloween traditions. We decorate early, sometimes even Sept. 1. Whenever we feel a slight chill in the air, we know it’s time to start hanging up the ghosts. Although we’ve had the same Halloween decorations for years (everything ranging from lights to swinging ghosts to an elaborate graveyard), I always find myself looking for more at my favorite store: Spirit Halloween. If you are looking for new props to spruce up your home, I would 1000% recommend. It’s full of fun Halloween costumes, makeup, decorations and giant scary figures like witches and clowns. You can even simply peruse this store with friends as a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit, shopping for costumes and pressing buttons to make creepy dolls talk. Whether you go to Spirit Halloween or not, decorating your home to prep for this frightening holiday is a great bonding activity with family and friends.