TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN

Halloween is a time to celebrate the dead and appreciate all things spooky. It’s a day (and night) of fun, food and, dressing up. It gives you a chance to be someone, or something, else.

Sadly in Australia, Halloween isn’t that big of a deal. I wish we celebrated it more but, aside from the few children trick-or-treating and the Halloween themed parties that’s about as “Halloweenish” as it gets. I personally love Halloween because it’s one time of the year where you can be anything you want. You can take on a new persona and nobody will care. It’s like a masquerade ball where you can be anyone behind your new identity, your mask, except you can quite literally transform yourself. Halloween is a time where if you are quiet and shy you can become confident and bold, you can stay the same or become someone new; it’s entirely up to you. Halloween makes me feel powerful. It gives me a boost of confidence and a feeling of invincibility; I can do anything, be bold and take risks. Australia, why can’t you love Halloween as much as I do?

In appreciation for this wonderful day: here are my tips, tricks, and ideas for having a spooktacular Halloween.

Transformation time! Go get yourself a costume. Whether its scary or sexy that you’re going for this Halloween, everyone loves a good costume. Go find the costume of your dreams and transform yourself into a creature of the afterlife or something from a fairy-tale. If money poses an issue try and make your own- there’s a bucket load of easy and affordable DIY videos out there so hop onto YouTube and get creative.

Seemingly popular costume choices of 2014 are:

Pop art inspired

Day of the Dead sugar skull inspired makeup

(Natasha-Kudashkina)

TV Show/Book/Fictional characters

(Good Housekeeping)

Pull on your wig, lace up your cape, fix your zombie bites, or perfect your makeup and go show your costume to the world!

Things to do:

• Go trick-or-treating! – You’re never to old to grab a pillowcase and roam the streets looking for some sugary goodness. Most adults, if they’re kind, won’t turn you away just because you’re a tad older than the other visitors they’re use to receiving. But, if this doesn’t tickle your fancy there are plenty of other things to do.
• Party time – A great way to celebrate Halloween is with a group of dressed up people getting their groove on. Hunt down a party and get your boogie on! Embrace your new identity for the night as the “thing” of your choice and be brave. If you’re not invited to a Halloween party or you haven’t planned your own, ask around and see if one of your friends can plus one you, I mean, its Halloween I don’t think anyone will mind.
• Bowling – Why not go knock down some pins with your pals in your new spooky get-up. I’m sure your local bowling venue will have something special for Halloween going on.
• Carve a pumpkin - I’ve never done this myself but to me it’s always seemed like a heap of fun! Grab your friends, some pumpkins, stencils and sharp objects and carve away! See what you can create and maybe even have a contest.
• Have a movie marathon – Nothing says Halloween like a scary movie marathon does. Though personally I’m not a fan of scary movies (as in they make me unable to sleep in the dark for weeks) Halloween is a special occasion. You can find a list for the “Top 100 Halloween Movies of All-Time” here so take your pick or discover your own. If you’re spending your Halloween with your special someone,scary movies are a great excuse to cuddle or to watch them squirm, whichever you prefer. Scary movies, a heap of junk food, and friends should lead to a sleepless night for all.
• Go see the sights – head to a fright night or haunted house tour for some good scares and fun with your friends. This is a great way to scare and maybe even please yourselves by quenching your thirst for all things spooky. If Halloween decorations are popular wherever you live, try going for a stroll around your neighbourhood and appreciating the displays (this is something that I wish I could do because Halloween decorations look so cool and spooky I just want to decorate the whole city with them).
• There are plenty of other things to do on Halloween and if these aren’t your preferred options search the web for more ideas.

It’s a time to spend with your friends or family, to embrace the afterlife, and all things scary, and have fun. Hopefully one or two of these ideas have sparked your imagination for Halloween costumes or fun activities and I hope you all have a spooktacular night and get your scare on.

Written by: Ailish Delaney