10 great Halloween dates

(Photo from Sally's trip to Banner Elk, NC)

1. Hayride. This is old-fashioned at its best. Many towns still have this event, especially farming communities. Snuggling in a bed of hay on a crisp fall night underneath a full moon is a great romantic Halloween date.

2. Fall street festivals. These are typically a weekend event so you can stretch that date out over several days. Most towns and cities block off a certain section of town or the entire main street. You can find all kinds of local artisans displaying their creations. Spend the first day just strolling hand in hand through all the street exhibits. Sample some of the food being served. Each of you order something different and then give each other a sample. Don’t be in a rush to see everything. Take your time and truly enjoy just being together. Make sure you take your camera and get some great shots of each other and especially of the two of you together.

3. Pumpkin farm. They do have them and if you are lucky enough to live in an area where they do, then you can make it into a fun date. If not, then try your local farmer’s market or look for a pumpkin stand on a corner. These are great photo opportunities so grab some shots and select your pumpkin. The two of you can carve it out together.

4. Go Halloween shopping. This can be a lot of fun. Read Halloween cards together. Try on costumes. Buy candy for the big night giveaways. Buy some Halloween decorations and then decorate your house together. Buy a corn shocks and a bale of hay and plop a pumpkin or two on it. Now have someone take a picture of the two of you in front of it or sitting on the bale of hay.

5. Pumpkin carving contests. These are often held as part of a weekend festival event or sponsored by a local charity organization. Go shopping and pick out your pumpkin together. Find a pattern you would like to carve or make one up. Most contests have you bring your pumpkin in the evening and light a candle so the jack-o-lantern will be ready for the judging portion of the contest.

6. Corn maze. This can be a lot of fun and very romantic, especially if the night you go is one with a full moon. Many farmers are extending the use of their crops by creating mazes in their corn fields. Refer to article for more details.

7. Haunted Houses. Not exactly a romantic evening, but one guaranteed to make your lover scream or yell. Being startled or scared together can be a lot of fun – later.

8. Movie Fest. If your local theater hosts a fright night movie feast, take advantage and get into the spirit of Halloween. If this is not available, then many TV channels run one on Halloween. You could customize your own fright night by renting videos of your favorite scream movies.

9. Trick or Treat. This can be a wonderful way to spend the evening if you enjoy being around kids. Giving out candy to little costumed ghosts and cartoon characters can be fun, especially if you take turns posing with them for photos.

10. Throw a Halloween party. If you are not attending a party, then why not host one? These events are great fun. You can either host an adult only or a family one. The two of course will have different themes. Draw three templates and cut out bats from black construction paper. Tape thread or fishing line to one side and then tape them to the ceiling at different heights. Change out all of your light bulbs with blue ones. Buy color plastic sheets or clear ones and print out a skeleton face. Cut them out and rub against a chair or clothing to create static and then place on the walls. There are a lot of Halloween themed recipes you can make for your guests. Various games you can play. Take a bare tree branch, secure it in a bucket of sand and hang Halloween ornaments from it. Make trick or treat bags of goodies for party favors and place beneath the tree. Be creative and let your imagination roam.

However you decide to spend Halloween with your special someone, make sure it’s all about having time together and creating fun memories. Happy Halloween a couple of weeks early!