7 Covid-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Halloween

Like everything else, Halloween is a bit different this year with Covid restrictions in place. However, there are lots of ways to still keep it fun for kids. Today, I am sharing ideas a few ideas for social distanced (Covid-friendly) Halloween fun!

1) Safe trick or treating - Some people are not comfortable with trick or treating this year, but for those that are, social distancing and proper hygiene are extremely important. People who are handing out treats should sanitize their hands between visitors and keep high touch areas (such as door handles) clean. Trick or treats should try not to gather in large groups, and they should wash their hands before heading out and when they return home.

Having pre-packaged bags of treats (that prevent several kids from touching the same treats) is a great idea too. How cute are these gloves full of goodies? You can even print off a "punny" sign for free here.

2) Decorate - Investing some extra time decorating this year is a fantastic idea. And if you want to get the whole neighbourhood involved, you can opt for a house, window, or door decorating competition. 

It's fun decorating, but driving or walking around looking at other family's decorations is enjoyable too!

3) Halloween movie night - A festive movie night at home is a simple, covid-friendly way to celebrate Halloween. You can find my favourite treat idea and Halloween movie choices here.

4) "Boo" the neighbours - My boys have been "booing" the neighbours since 2011, and it's a perfect activity for this year. Fun treats... and no contact required. Find the full instructions and free printable sheets here.

5) Carve pumpkins, eat the seeds, and make some magic - Carving pumpkins is a tradition in most families, but don't forget to cook the seeds and plant a few to create some magic!

Find a few pumpkin carving ideas here.

Cook the seeds. (To roast pumpkin seeds: clean and pat them dry, spread on a cookie sheet, drizzle with melted butter, sprinkle with salt, and bake at 300 for approximately 45 minutes... stirring occasionally.) 

Plant a few "magic" pumpkin seeds. Find out how to create the magic here.

6) Play Halloween Bingo or go on a Halloween Scavenger Hunt - Playing games on Zoom or going on an outdoor scavenger hunt is a great way to celebrate this year. You can create your own games, or you can download the scavenger hunt I designed (for free) here.

7) Costume Contest and Parade - DIYing costumes, and showing them off in the neighbourhood is the best way to celebrate Halloween. Organizing a parade or costume party is a wonderful covid-friendly option this year. Check out my 25 FAVOURITE no-sew DIY costume ideas here.

There are many covid-friendly ways to celebrate Halloween this year, but these are 7 of my favourite options. What will you be doing on October 31?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can also find more frightfully fun Halloween ideas here.

Halloween Family Movie Night... with skeleton party tray and family friendly Halloween movie suggestions

I love a themed movie night, don't you? You can put up elaborate decoration and make a bunch of fancy snacks, or you can keep it simple with a Halloween snack tray, some popcorn and a great Halloween movie. Today, I am sharing everything you need to plan an easy, inexpensive and fun Halloween family movie night.

When it comes to movie night, you need a variety of fun snacks. I love the idea of creating a simple Halloween snack tray, don't you? I picked up this silver tray at the dollar store, I laid out a skeleton (that I also found at the dollar store), and covered it all with Halloween candy. Fun, right?

And you'll need a family friend movie too, right? Of course, different movies are appropriate for different ages, so you'll need to do some research, but here are a few fun, family-friendly Halloween movie options.

Note: I have included some links that will allow you to purchase these movies easily at a great price. These are affiliate links, so if you use them, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!


1) Hocus Pocus

2) Halloweentown (and its sequel)

3) Hotel Transylvania (and its sequels)

4) Casper

5) Beetlejuice

Do you have a favourite Halloween movie? Did it make my list? I hope you take the time to make a simple Halloween snack tray and watch a family friendly Halloween movie with your friends and family this year. Happy Halloween!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find more ideas for easy and inexpensive Halloween fun here.

Halloween Cookie Decorating Kit... with free printable tags

Isn't everything cute in a mason jar? I am absolutely in love with these adorable Halloween Cookie Decorating Kits. Today, I am sharing all the easy DIY details and the FREE printable tags that I designed.

To make a Halloween cookie decorating kit for someone special: place two or three homemade cookies at the bottom of a wide-mouthed mason jar, add a condiment container filled with icing, and add a condiment container filled with Halloween sprinkles or candy. Then, cut a piece of felt for the top of the jar, glue a spider to the top, and add a tag using a piece of twine.

This cookie decorating kit is perfect for parents or grandparents to make for their kids or grandkids. It's also a fun gift to make for neighbours and friends.

To download the tags I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 picture.

For our jars, we used my favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe and some chocolate icing with a little bit of black food colouring.

These mason jar cookie kits are super-easy to make and share. It's fun putting the kits together, and even more fun decorating and eating the cookies.

Who would you like to decorate Halloween cookies with? It's a wonderful way to spend some time together before the kids head out on October 31st.

Happy Halloween!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can find MORE easy and inexpensive Halloween ideas here.

"HAND"ful of Candy... Halloween treats with free printable sign

Sometimes simple ideas are the best, and the Halloween treat bag I am sharing with you today could not be easier to make. You are going to love this easy and inexpensive Halloween treat idea that is perfect to make for your kids, friends, neighbours, and trick-or-treaters. I'm also sharing a cute piece of DIY Halloween decor that you can download for FREE!

To make these 'HAND'y treat bags, you'll need some plastic or latex gloves and a bunch of candy. Something to stick in the fingers is key. Rockets work well.

Then, you just fill the glove with treats and tie the top closed with a piece of curling ribbon. That's it!

To add a bit of extra fun, I designed this "punny" sign to sit beside my treat bags. You can download it for free, and print it really inexpensively at your local copy store. To download this 'HAND'y sign: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Doesn't the sign look cute in an inexpensive dollar store frame? It really makes the bags of treats look extra special.

The Halloween treats are simple enough to make for your kids and/or trick-or-treaters, but they would be great for a Halloween party too. Who doesn't love a simple and fun DIY? 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (You can find MORE easy and inexpensive Halloween ideas here.)

Halloween Wine... with free printable labels

Halloween is fun for kids, but it can also be a time for adults to celebrate. I love the idea of Halloween wine as a gift for a neighbour or a beverage at a Halloween party. Today, I am sharing free printable wine labels that are cute, clever, and fun for grown ups to enjoy on October 31st!

I'm loving this wine for "mummy". Use masking tape and googly eyes to transform an ordinary bottle of wine into festive spirits. Then, add a label with tape.

You can also use the label on its own.

To download the labels I designed (for free): right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

These labels are great for sharing a "not so spooky treat" this Halloween. I hope you enjoy using this idea and that you share it with friends. Happy Halloween!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

50+ Easy, Inexpensive, and Frightfully Fun HALLOWEEN Ideas

Halloween is frightfully fun for kids, but October is a busy time for families. So, this time of year, I like to focus on Halloween ideas and activities that are easy, inexpensive, and fun. Today I am sharing a collection of over 50 of my favourites!

Click on the titles / links for more info:


Caldron cakes - If you are looking for a fun activity, and a tasty Halloween treat, you are going to love this idea. With only two ingredients, and less than a minute, you can create wickedly good (and super-simple) caldron cakes. I've even designed some fun tags so that you can share the treats with your kids, friends, classmates and trick-or-treaters. 

Pumpkin Prize Punch - This prize punch is made from dollar store supplies. It's easy and inexpensive to make, and it's guaranteed to be a fantastic addition to any party or holiday celebration. Find the full step-by-step instructions here.

Halloween Movie Night - I love these movie suggestions, and this Halloween party snack tray is too cute! You can find everything you need for the perfect Halloween movie night here.

15 Halloween Class Party Treats - There is an idea here for everyone. There are treats to eat and candy free options. There are also plenty of free printable treats and tags. Check it all out here. 

Hocus Pocus DIYs, Crafts and Treat Ideas - They are all easy, inexpensive and fun. Lots of fantastic ideas using dollar store supplies. Find all the info you need here.

FREE "Thriller" Print - I designed this simple print, and it looks adorable in a dollar store frame. You can download a copy (for free) here.

DIY Jack-o-lantern Lava Lamp - This fun Halloween activity is simple and fun... and you likely already have all the necessary supplies in your pantry. Check out the step-by-step instructions and "how to" video here.

Halloween Candy Alternatives - These are great options when allergies and nutrition are a concern. The kids won't even miss the sugar with the fantastic Halloween treat ideas you can find here.

DIY Mason Jar Cookie Decorating Kits - This cookie decorating kits are adorable. They are perfect Halloween treats, and they would make fantastic Halloween party favours too. Get the instructions and FREE printable tags here.

5 Non-Food Halloween Treats - If allergies and nutrition are concerns for you, check out 5 candy free options here.

Halloween "Booo"bles - These adorable (free) printable tags transform boring bubbles into a fun Halloween treat. Find the tags and details here.

Halloween Straws - How cute are these Halloween straws that can be packaged with these adorable "Eat, Drink and Be Scary" tags? Perfect when you want to be allergy friendly! You can download the free printable tags here.

"Fang"tastic Treats - These treats (and their cute packaging) are wonderful additions to a class Halloween party. They are perfect when you want to be sugar-free and allergy-friendly! You can download the free printable tags here.

Eyeball Treats - The super-cute packaging and tags make these the perfect treat to share with friends on Halloween. Everyone can enjoy them because they are allergy-friendly! You can find out all the details and download the tags for free here.

Funny glasses (sugar-free) Halloween Treat - It's always great to have a non-food Halloween treat option... and these silly glasses are fantastic. You can download the FREE printable gift tags here.

Playdough Treats - These party favours / Halloween treats are perfect for sharing because they are allergy safe and sugar free. You can download the "punny" tags for free here.

Teacher Treat Ideas - Don't forget a spook-tacular gift for a fang-tastic teacher. You can download FREE printable "punny" tags here.

Eyeball Cake - Every party and special occasion needs a cake, and this one is easy to make, and super cute for Halloween. Find the full how to here.

20 DIY "No-Sew" Halloween Costumes - The best part of Halloween is dressing up, and homemade costumes are cheaper (and way better) than store bought options. Check out 20 "no sew" DIY costume ideas here.

Costumes from Old T-Shirts - Making costumes is simple and easy when you have an old t-shirt, a little imagination, and the step-by-step instructions that you can find here. 

Halloween Scavenger Hunt - Kids love scavenger hunts, and this one is perfect for kids of all ages. You can download it for free here.

Treat for Mom - After making all the treats and costumes, mom is going to need a treat too. You can find one that is sure to please here.

And you can download FREE tags for Halloween "Booo"ze here.

Hocus Pocus DIY decor ideas - You can easily create an adorable "Hocus Pocus" themed tiered tray with the FIVE simple DIYs here.

Halloween Paper Crafts - Paper crafts are great because you can make them with things you already have in your craft cupboard. Check out some super cute (and easy) options here.

Ghost Mask Craft - Little ones can craft their own spooky ghost mask while working on their fine motor skills. You can find the instructions and free downloadable template here. 

Pool Noodle Witch Legs - Festive decor is simple to make with some dollar store supplies and the step-by-step instructions you can find here.

Pool Noodle Halloween Wreath (dollar store craft) - You don't have to be very crafty to make this pool noodle wreath. All you need is a glue gun, a few dollar store supplies, and the instructions you can find here.

DIY Halloween Decor Ideas - These ideas for Halloween decor are simple and fun. The dollar store gloves are my favourite. You can check out all the simple ideas here.

Spooky Forest Door - This is a CHEAP project that looks great. Find the full DIY details here.

Mummy Door - This is the best project if you are looking to make a big impact with a little effort. Find the full DIY details here.

Mummy Door with Glowing Eyes - Take a simple mummy door to the next level by using "push light" eyes. Find all the DIY details here.

5 Minute Ghost Garland - You don't have to be crafty (or have a lot of time) to make this darling piece of Halloween decor. You can find the step-by-step tutorial here.

Paper Chain Halloween Countdown - Counting down to October 31st is a lot of fun with this DIY paper chain countdown. Find the full instructions for this adorable handprint Halloween craft here.

Halloween Countdown Printable - How cute is this Halloween countdown I designed? You can download it for free here, stick it in dollar store frame, and update it with a dry erase marker.

Little Monsters Free Printable - If you have kids, you are going to love this free print that I designed. You can find versions for different numbers of children here.

"Eat, Drink and Be Scary" Free Printable - This simple piece of Halloween decor can be printed and easily popped into a dollar store frame. Download it for free here.

FREE Printable Sign... and Cute Halloween Treat Idea - This Halloween treat idea and FREE printable sign are perfect trick-or-treaters and fun for Halloween parties. Read and the details and download the sign for free here.

10 Halloween Traditions for Kids - Holidays and traditions go hand in hand. I share 10 of my favourite Halloween traditions here.

Free Printable Halloween Lunchbox Notes for Kids - School lunches get a festive flair with these Halloween lunchbox notes. You can download them for free here.

Elf on the Shelf Halloween Postcard - Elf on the Shelf isn't just for Christmas. Kids will love receiving a Halloween postcard from their holiday buddy. You can download the free postcard I designed here. 

DIY Spooky Pictures - Making spooky pictures in an inexpensive way to decorate for Halloween. Find out how simple it is to make spooky pictures and fun frames here.

Easy and Inexpensive Halloween Ideas - Sometimes the best ideas are the ones that are the easiest. Check out some of my favourites here.

BOOing (our favourite family tradition) - A fun family activity for Halloween, and a great way to spread joy through the neighbourhood. Find the details and FREE printable instructions here.

Pumpkin Carving Ideas - Getting family and friends together to carve pumpkins is one of the best parts of Halloween. You can find pumpkin carving inspiration here.

Magic Pumpkin Seeds - Every holiday is better with a little magic, and this is my favourite and most magical Halloween idea. Read all about magic pumpkin seeds here.

Ideas for Leftover Halloween Candy - When all the trick or treating is done, and only a mountain of candy remains, you are going to want to check out my clever ideas for leftover Halloween candy here.