10 Ideas To Inspire Sober Halloween Plans
Rather than make you feel like you’re missing out, celebrating Halloween without drugs or alcohol can enhance the holiday. If you’re struggling to come up with some spooky and enjoyable activities to do on October 31st this year, here are 10 ideas to inspire your sober Halloween plans.
- Be the spookiest house on the block: It’s never too late to go all out on your Halloween decorating. Since you’re not spending money on drugs or alcohol anymore, you may have a few extra dollars to splurge on some serious Halloween decorations. If you’re working on a limited budget, there are plenty of DIY Halloween decorating tips on websites like Etsy or Pinterest. Seeing the joy on the faces of children that come to your door for trick-or-treating will be well worth all of the hard work you put into your decorating.
- Organize a scary movie marathon: Grab your favorite scary movies, a couple of supportive friends and set up camp on your couch for the night. This is the perfect option if you’re not certain if you’ll be able to resist the temptation of drugs or alcohol at another party. Organizing your own get together at your own house or apartment gives you control over who will be there and exactly what food or drink will be served. When you’re able to control these factors, you’ll be able to maximize your sober fun on Halloween.
- Have a pumpkin carving competition: Nothing says Halloween more than carving pumpkins. Get a few friends together, grab some pumpkins and start creating your masterpiece. Once you’re done with carving, you and your friend can judge who carved the spookiest pumpkin of the bunch. Whoever wins get a prize- let the winner pick which scary movie to watch, or give them first pick from the candy bowl. You can also roast the seeds from your pumpkins for a delicious snack later in the night.
- Get spooked at a haunted house: If you actually like being scared, Halloween is the last day to enjoy all of the haunted houses that crop up in the area around October. There are likely plenty of options in your area, so research the scariest haunted attraction in your area before going to make sure you’re getting the best scare for your buck. Or, research notoriously scary places in your area and build a custom spooky tour for you and your friends.
- Volunteer for the night: Sometimes, the best way to get out of your own head, is to help someone else. Many children’s shelters and churches will host Halloween parties, dinners or trick-or-treating for less fortunate families in the area. This is a great way to stay involved and give back to your community. Not only is it a great way to enjoy Halloween sober, but you’ll also go to bed knowing that you did something good for others.
- Find a Halloween themed 5K: Working up a sweat is the perfect way to release stress and clear your mind. Most communities have a Halloween themed race such as the Monster Dash or the Zombie Crawl. You can typically sign up the day of, so it’s not too late to start researching races in your area. Even if you just commit to walking the race, you’ll be around others who are sober and celebrating the season.
- Binge watch “Stranger Things”: “Stranger Things” is a thrilling Netflix original series that centers around the mysterious disappearance of 12-year-old, Will Byers. In the hunt to find the missing pre-teen, the town unravels a series of crazy mysteries including secret government experiments and supernatural forces. The series released it’s the second season last Friday, just in time to enjoy during the Halloween season. If you haven’t watched season one, start from the beginning and try to figure out the mystery for yourself.
- Go to a support group meeting: Your local AA or NA chapter may be hosting a Halloween get together- do a little research so you don’t miss out on the sober fun. Even if they’re not doing anything Halloween specific, spending time with those who are struggling with the same things as you is a great way to spend any night of the week. Chances are, you’re not the only person feeling triggered by Halloween, so open up and talk about it.
- Bake spooky and sober Halloween treats: This idea works for those of all ages, but is especially great if you have kids. First, bake some cookies in spooky shapes such as pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons or witches. Pick up different colored icings at the grocery store and let your kids decorate the cookies however they want. Afterward, you and your kids will get to enjoy your delicious and creatively decorated cookies together.
- Pull a Halloween prank: Halloween encourages the feeling of mischief, and sometimes, it’s okay to play into this. Allow yourself to enjoy the holiday and pull a harmless Halloween prank on one of your friends. Make them jump them with some creepy makeup or throw a little toilet paper on their bushes. No matter the prank, own up to it so you and your friend can laugh about it together.
[middle-callout] Just because you won’t be drinking or using drugs this Halloween doesn’t mean you can’t have just as much fun as everyone else. Halloween is a great excuse to dress up, indulge in sweet treats and enjoy a scary movie or adventure. Whatever you do this Halloween, make sure you surround yourself with people who love and support your sobriety. Together, you can have a happy, healthy and sober Halloween.
