Figuring Out How To Celebrate Halloween Is Tough For Teens

Frankenstein is standing on the front porch with Winnie the Pooh and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

It must be Halloween.

But for many teens, Halloween doesn’t draw the excitement it did when we were younger. Many of us have outgrown trick-or-treating, but still like the idea of wearing costumes and eating candy. So what’s a teenager to do?

Before you start chucking eggs at your neighbor’s house out of boredom or give in to watching cheesy horror movies on cable, consider some alternatives.

Throw a party - One of the most fun ways to celebrate Halloween is with a party. Large or small, Halloween parties are easy to throw and usually are a real kick.

Encourage your guests to come in costume, and offer prizes for the best costume. Most music stores sell tapes or CDs with Halloween music on them (like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Oooohh, scary.)

If you are having trouble thinking of things to serve at your Halloween bash try topping brownies or cupcakes with gummy worms. For a fun punch idea (that won’t get you in trouble) pour clear soda (ginger ale, Squirt, 7-Up, etc.) in a large jug and put raisins in it - the raisins swim around and look like little bugs. Don’t worry, the raisin don’t make the pop taste gross.

If none of your friends want to dress up, and you would prefer to keep things simple, scary movie parties are lots of fun and require very little preparation. Have your guests bring their own snacks and all you have to supply are the movies. I recommend the original version of “The Shining” or Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”.

Answer the door. Don’t be too quick to get out of the house Halloween night, staying home to answer the door can be a lot of fun. It’s a great way to show off your costume without having to go out in the cold, plus you get to see all the cute little gremlins and ghouls that come looking for candy.

Answering the door may not be an all night deal, just something to keep you busy until your party or dance starts.

For an extra incentive, make a deal with your parents that any candy you don’t give away is yours to keep.

Host an all-kids party. It’s sad, but the streets are not as safe as they used to be and many parents do not allow their kids (especially the younger ones) to go door-to-door on Halloween.

You can help make Halloween fun for the kids in your area by hosting a neighborhood party. Most parents would appreciate knowing that their children are somewhere safe.

Kids enjoy simple haunted houses that can be constructed in a basement, and Halloween games such as pin-the-wart-on-the-witch’s-nose, bobbing for apples or Halloween scavenger hunts.

Older kids might like fortune telling, scary movies or pumpkin carving. And all kids love candy on Halloween.

You may even be able to make a little cash; the SYSA Indoor Sports center charges $5 per kid, to those who attend its Halloween carnival.

If you don’t feel like going to the trouble of organizing a party, and still have that urge to trick-or-treat, offer to take some of your younger neighbors or friends trick-or-treating for an hour or two.

Help a food bank. The youth groups of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and St. John’s Cathedral will be dressed up this year going door-to-door collecting canned food for the Spokane Food Bank.

If you and your friends would like to start your own canned food collection, any food bank would greatly appreciate donations.

Of course, there are haunted houses to check out for a thrill. Or you could even make your own haunted house. Thrift store and homemade props, along with eerie music and a little imagination could make for a fun way to spend Halloween and bring in a little money.

Halloween can be a blast, just get creative and go wild.