This issue features fun, can-do Halloween ideas that parents will love creating for and with their kids. Easy recipes, costumes, party ideas, favors, and outdoor decor combine to create the ultimate how-to guide for the season.
FamilyFun Big Book of Halloween
FROM THE EDITORS
What do you do with excess Halloween candy?
ultimate HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN • Should the most “spooktacular” day of the year be limited to a mere 24 hours? No way! Here you’ll find an entire month of fun, including a week-by-week guide packed with crafts, treats, and costumes you can conjure with your boo crew—along with a trick-or-treat night party to die for. Whether you decide to do a lot or a little, your family is sure to have a wicked good time!
DECORATE THE HOUSE • Kick off October by decorating inside and out! This way, you and the kids will have plenty of time to enjoy the creepy-cool ambience. There’s no need to do all the projects; just choose your faves. Bonus: You can save most of them for next year.
WORK ON COSTUMES • If you’re planning on DIY family costumes, now’s the time! We have easy ideas for kids, siblings, grown-ups, and groups that mix ready-to-wear with easy-to-craft extras—and none take more than an afternoon to make.
PARTY PREP • Trust us, you do not want to be running to every store in town the weekend before the 31st, scrounging for supplies. Instead, pick a couple of these ideas, get stocked up, and spend an afternoon with the kids testing and tasting!
A SUPER SNACK! • Did you go to the trouble of cleaning pumpkin seeds? Make it worth the effort by upgrading your roasting recipes with these ideas from Jana Erwin of Cherryteacakes.com. Mix the spices below with 2 cups of rinsed, dried pumpkin seeds and 2 Tbs. melted butter. Roast at 300°F for 30 minutes until toasted. Try one or all four styles.
PREP PUMPKINS • If you don’t want to carve your pumpkins, try our other ideas to get those gourds glowing. Here are four nifty light-up tricks, no candles required. For dozens of other pumpkin decorating ideas, go to pages 32 and 50.
Ten Timid Ghosts • GHOSTS HAHN TOOK GOODNIGHT GOON FRIGHT CLUB
STREAM A SCREAM • Cozy up together and get lost in some of our favorite spooky stories. Here are three scary—but not too scary—movie picks for the whole family.
PARTY TIME • Invite a few friends over for an easy—and tasty—Halloween feast before the kids head out. They’ll be fueled up and ready to run, run, run!
ALL DECKED OUT • Kid-friendly costumes and decor are even easier with mom-tested tips.
no tricks SO MANY TREATS • Frightened by the amount of work involved in throwing a Halloween party? Don’t be scared: We feature three menus that look impressive but are totally doable—a cute one for kids, a sophisticated one for adults, and a Mexican Day of the Dead for the whole family.
cute NO-CARVE PUMPKINS • Let the kids get crafty this Halloween with nine fun ideas for jack-o’-lanterns. (No knives are involved!)
“WHAT ARE YOU?” • The joke is on your friends. Relish their confused expressions. Taunt them with a sly smile. Gloat over their quizzical looks until they exclaim…
emoji the possibilities • Watch little goblins creep up to see the clever concoctions you’ve crafted from our free downloads.
pumpkin master • Whether you like silly or spooky, you’ll love re-creating these 16 creatively carved pumpkins.
KIDS IN THE HOOD • Our six easy costumes all start with a hoodie—and can be turned back into plain sweatshirts after Halloween.
TRICKS and TRINKETS • Make trick-or-treat night fun for everyone by putting a teal pumpkin on the front porch and handing out food-free favors.
wicked WREATHS • Enter if you dare! Ominous shapes, shadowy shades, and fanciful forms make...
