Trick or Treat Alternatives

By Valerie Mcclintick Fall Learning Resources fun fall ideas, trunk or treat 0 Comments

After so many months of life being different, you may be looking for ways to bring some normalcy into your life. A hallmark of Fall is trick or treating with family and friends. However, as with most of 2020, this year Halloween will look a bit unusual. So what can you do to make this a fun time if you can’t do what you usually do? Here are 7 trick or treat alternatives for celebrating Halloween without the Trick or Treating part!

Host a Small Get Together

If you are able and willing, bring the celebrating to you. Get together a small group of your closest friends or family. Host your party outdoors or in, either way it will be a treat. Here are some ways that you can make a small get-together into big fun:

Have a movie night with popcorn and movie-style candy boxes
Serve crazy, Halloween themed drinks. Check out these ideas!
Munch on fun Fall food like popcorn balls, caramel apples, or funnel cakes.
Play Fall themed games like these.

Create an Escape Room in Your Home

Want to make your party a total experience? Why not try creating an escape room in your home. It’s an exciting alternative to trick or treating. Escape rooms are action packed, family entertainment that will keep your mind active. Transport your family to a riveting adventure without leaving home. Here are some resources for planning your own escape room party at home.

Virtual Escape Rooms

Perhaps you really want to play with family and friends. However, getting together is just not possible. Virtual escape rooms let anyone and everyone join in, restrictions or not! These games can be hosted over Zoom and offer exciting entertainment that makes you work together, even when you have to be apart. Here’s some of the best options for family online escape rooms:

Hold a Virtual Costume Contest with Family and Friends

All dressed up and no where to go? Don’t let that fabulous costume go to waste. Host a virtual costume contest with family and friends. Have everyone dress up in their favorite costume, then create categories and prizes. Prizes can be mailed or a simple, printable certificate that can be sent over email. Next set a time to gather online and show off what you have. If full blown costumes are just too much, simplify but keep the fun. Some ideas for simplified contests are face painting contests, make-up contest, crazy hat contest, or best mask contest. This is the Best Facepaint kit, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Have a Candy Hunt Alternative to Trick or Treating

Trick or Treating is so much fun. The thrill of what each house is handing out. The excitement of counting and sorting your bounty. Oh, and let’s not forget about trading for your favorites. Just because you can’t go trick or treating, doesn’t mean you need to miss out on that annual fun! Have a candy hunt in your home or backyard. You could even set one up at a local park with a handful of friends.

This works the same way as an Easter egg hunt. Hide candy around the yard or house. You can hide individually wrapped candy or fill these adorable pumpkins with treats, pennies, or candy and hide where you want.

Host a Harvest Festival in Your Backyard

Make your backyard into a festival wonderland. A harvest festival doesn’t have to be overly elaborate or expensive. Set up stations that are easy to do without a lot of oversight. This is a fantastic alternative to trick or treating around the neighborhood. Here’s some station ideas:

Halloween or Fall temporary tattoos
Paint a mini pumpkin
Knockdown the cans
Plastic duck pond
Fall scavenger hunt
Craft station
Bob for apples
Cider and donuts
Backyard games center (think Bocce, volleyball, or crochet)
Decorate a candy bag
Pin the tail on the donkey
Egg and spoon races
Make your own mask
DIY games

Compete in a Pumpkin Carving Contest at Home or Virtually

Put some skin in the game with a pumpkin carving contest. Like the costume contest, set a time and pick categories to compete in. These could be age-based or themes. Then have everyone make their pumpkin. Gather round in person at home or online to show off your masterpiece. Have an impartial judge participate to choose a winner. Take a picture, or screenshot, of each pumpkin and send it to all participants and add them to a PDF. Send it to participants as a keepsake of this unusual but exciting Halloween season.

Got a kid who loves building with bricks? Try our creative Building Bricks Fall Activity for hours of fun!

Trick or Treat Alternatives