8 sober ways to celebrate halloween
Holidays can feel challenging when you’re sober. Halloween as an adult is especially difficult, as many celebrations involve going to bars or house parties with alcohol. Stay committed to your sobriety this fall by thinking about sober ways to celebrate Halloween with your favorite people. You’ll have just as much fun without worrying about a nasty hangover the next day.
1. Throw a mocktail monster mash party
If you plan on spending your Halloween with the adults in your life, invite everyone to a mocktail party. They can bring the store-bought mocktails they love or make halloween-themed recipes at home. Either way, there will be more than enough for everyone to share. Don’t forget to make your own, perhaps by muddling blackberries for lemon-lime beverages that look like a bloody Halloween brew no one can resist.
2. Hand out the best sweets in your neighborhood
When you were a kid, you likely kept a running list of houses with the best sweets. Now, it’s your chance to fill that role. Be the house with full-sized Snickers and king-size Hershey bars this year. You could also outshine everyone else in the neighborhood by giving sweets to the parents and having dog treats handy for any pups accompanying their families. Stock up on mini water bottles, too, so visitors can grab a refreshment before heading to the next house.
3. Host a scary movie night
A scary movie night is the perfect cozy Halloween activity. Invite some friends over, serve some pumpkin-flavored treats, and choose your favorite horror movie. Get cozy under some blankets and enjoy a warm drink, like apple cider or hot chocolate. You can really set the mood by decorating your living room with Halloween decor. Flickering candles could set the perfect creepy vibe for your film. Arrange pillar candles of different heights to create depth in a centerpiece on your coffee table. Then add some spooky decor, like spiderwebs and pumpkins, to make you feel like you’re actually in the movie.
4. Create the ultimate Halloween charcuterie board
Who can say no to fancy snacks? Go all out by making a Halloween-themed charcuterie board this year. It’s one of the best sober ways to celebrate Halloween because your board can contain all the foods that make your heart sing. Pile themed sugar cookies, crackers, luxury cheeses and more on the biggest plate you have. Whether you snack on them while chatting with friends or handing out candy, it’s a fun way to express your creativity.
5. Attend a Halloween parade
There’s almost always a Halloween parade happening each year. Check your town’s event calendar to see if you can attend one near your home. You and your loved ones could show up in costume to watch the dazzling floats pass by.
6. Make your own costume
The quiet hours in the afternoon before Halloween night might be the most challenging time for your sobriety. Pass that time by making your own costume. Staying busy with your sewing machine or other project will distract your mind and result in the best costume in the house. Think about making something like a witch hat, a celebrity’s most famous accessory or a costume from your favorite movie to pull the ultimate look together.
7. Carve or paint pumpkins
Many people look forward to decorating pumpkins each year. If you invite friends and family over, host a pumpkin decoration challenge. The creative expression at the heart of this activity is one reason why 154 million Americans planned to carve pumpkins last year. Participants can either carve or paint their gourds to open the pumpkin possibilities to people of all ages. At the end of your competition, hand out a grand prize. The winner might love a custom trophy or a gift card to a local restaurant. It depends on who you invite and their general ages.
8. Build a haunted front yard
Anyone can toss some decor onto their front porch. You could be the house that takes decorations to the next level by building a haunted front yard. Set up archways, decor that moves, motion-activated lights and fake spider webbing in your bushes. You could even have music playing outside all night with outdoor Bluetooth speakers. People will love walking through your yard because it feels more like a haunted house. It’s a great way to enjoy the holiday if your neighborhood trick-or-treaters aren’t all too young to enjoy a spooky night.
Enjoy Your Sober Halloween Activities
Written by Cora Gold
Cora is a wellness writer and editor of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. Along with tips for health and happiness, Cora loves writing about party planning. Follow Cora on Pinterest, LinkedIn and Twitter.
