Halloween alternatives

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Ben Prengler

Students have the option of many different activities, in lieu of trick or treating on Halloween night.

Claire Peralta, Staff Reporter

For kids, Halloween means dressing up, ringing doorbells, and spoiling their dinner with vast amounts of candy.  It’s also considered to be one of the best days of the year to be a kid.

However, there comes a time in every child’s life when they decide they’re too old or too cool to run along with the crowds of spooks and superheroes, and that’s it’s time to do something else on the last day of October.

For those interested in a scare, there are countless haunted houses in the DFW area. Ranging from 100 year old meatpacking plants and abandoned doll factories, to fun fright fests where proceeds benefit charity, there is something for almost everybody.

If you’d rather stay at home to hand out candy, there are many classic halloween movies available to enjoy.

  1. Halloweentown – a 1998 Disney movie in which the main character Marnie learns that she is a witch, and is transported to Halloweentown where witches, werewolves, ghosts, and other spooks live. She must help her Grandmother, also a witch, to solve the mystery of the disappearing Halloweentown residents.

  2. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – a favorite among people of all ages. Originally airing on television in 1966, this classic Halloween tale tells the story of young Linus van Pelt and his determination to meet the “Great Pumpkin” despite the ridicule he receives from friends and family. The heartwarming cartoon features Charlie Brown’s beagle Snoopy as the humorous relief, acting as a World War I flying ace using his doghouse as a pretend airplane.

  3. Friday the 13th – The horror tale of Jason Voorhees stalking and killing teenagers at Camp Crystal Lake in a hockey mask has 12 total films in the series with a 2009 remake, and is a must-see for horror film fanatics.

  4. Hocus Pocus – a Disney horror/comedy about three 17th-century witches who are resurrected by teenager Max Dennison who recently moved to Salem from Los Angeles.  The three Sanderson sisters soon realize that they only have Halloween to kill as many children possible to keep themselves alive, or they turn to dust by sunrise. It becomes Max’s job to stop the witches and save the children of Salem.

If a movie doesn’t good, the Halloween tradition of carving pumpkins never gets old, no matter the age. Carve smiling, spooky or spectacular pumpkins with friends or family for a fun time. Get templates and fun ideas for pumpkin carving here.

By no means is this list exhaustive, so please feel free to share other Halloween alternatives.