Fun Things To Do This Halloween

As autumn sets in and the spooky season get into full swing, we all start to look for fun things to do while the weather is gloomy.

One of the best autumn celebrations is, of course, Halloween! And we’ve put together a fun list of things you could do this year. Halloween is a fun time to dress up, celebrate with your family and friends or simply cosy up inside with a Halloween film and carve a pumpkin. There are so many different things you can do for Halloween 2021 in England!

We have compiled the ultimate list of fun things to do this Halloween, from haunted houses and castles to baking some Halloween-themed treats, to explore an area of the UK that you haven’t been to before for a haunted forest walk or Halloween party. There’s plenty of Halloween activities in the UK for you to explore and choose from.

The History of Halloween

When is Halloween? Halloween falls on the same day every year, which is the 31st of October. Halloween originates from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to keep ghosts away, as it was considered the night of the year when the veil between the spiritual and physical world was most permeable.

Then, in the 8th century, the 1st of November was designated All Saints Day, and it wasn’t long before many of the Samhain traditions were incorporated into this festival. It then became known as All Hallows Eve, which then turned into Halloween.

Since the 8th century, the holiday has become a lot more commercial like many other festivals within the UK, and is now very family-oriented and revolves around mainly dressing up as scary creatures, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating and many more fun activities.

Here are some fun activities you can consider doing this Halloween with your family and friends.

1. Carve a Halloween pumpkin

Carving a pumpkin is one of the most fun and easy ways to celebrate Halloween, and once carved, can be put in your window with a candle inside letting all the trick-or-treaters know that you are celebrating Halloween and have sweets for them!

You can carve your Halloween pumpkin into different shapes, but the most common option is to carve it into the shape of a face. You can even have a carving competition with your family and friends, then use the pumpkins to decorate the interior of your house alongside other creepy objects, such as spider webs, fake spiders and rats, and candles.

2. Enjoy a ghost walking tour in the UK

Wherever you are based within the UK, one of the most fun things you can do this Halloween is to take your friends or family on a ghost walking tour. Get to know your local city or area or discover a totally new one as you wander around the streets with a guide showing you where creepy and unexplained things happened in all the years prior.

You will learn about hauntings, ghost sitings and the supposed crimes that went down centuries before you were standing in these areas, which can be especially fun and creepy if you opt for a nighttime tour. This is a great option for history lovers, as it allows you to peel back the surface of a city in order to reveal the spooky past.

3. Watch horror movies

There are some classic Halloween movies out there that are perfect to watch with your friends and family to get into a spooky mood. Get some Halloween themed snacks and take your pick from the poltergeist, haunting or ghost movie.

Many cinemas in the UK will also be showing Halloween classics, so make sure to check your local in order to see if they are showing any of your old favourites! Top tip – some of them even encourage dressing up which can be a fun activity to do with your friends or family!

4. Throw a Halloween party

The best way to celebrate Halloween with your housemates, friends or family is to throw a Halloween party! Dress up, create some Halloween-inspired cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks and snacks and listen to all the spooky tunes.

Carve pumpkins and decorate your house and enjoy an evening of Halloween games. You could even have a themed party, such as “ghosts and ghouls” or base it on a Halloween movie, such as Coraline or A Nightmare on Elm Street.