Bust out the cobwebs, cadavers, candy and costumes — Halloween is upon us. Get ready to put out your candy bowl and set up your seances. For those of you who haven’t made Halloween your whole personality since Oct. 1, it’s time to get in the spooky season mood. Here are some of the best ways you can honor ghosts, ghouls and goblins alike and enjoy this Halloween.
1. Find your perfect orange companion
The staple and star of Halloween décor is, of course, pumpkins. Venture out to a local pumpkin patch with a friend and pick the perfect pumpkin. For some, the “perfect pumpkin” is a moderately-sized, standard pumpkin. For me, it’s the biggest, inevitably heaviest pumpkin in the field. There’s just something beautiful about picking your own pumpkin — finding that perfect-sized bulbous beauty, fighting through the thorny pain of ripping it off its stem, embarrassingly almost tipping over your wheelbarrow and proudly displaying your yield at the cash register. My family’s pick clocked in at nearly 26 pounds, and to quote the employees at the patch, “that’s what I call a pumpkin.”
2. Build a DIY scarecrow
Another recognizable, infamous and iconic Halloween decorative item is the scarecrow. Now, this spooky season, you can buy a scarecrow that you’re only half-invested in, or you can make one that you love completely. If you had a primary education similar to mine, your 7-year-old heart exploded when your first-grade class got to design, stuff and assemble its very own scarecrow to show off in the courtyard. Making a scarecrow allows you to let your creative juices flow by paying homage to some of your favorite characters, creatures or themes in a pretty hardcore craft. Did someone say Cavman scarecrow?
3. Trick-or-treat on the Lawn
Even though a college campus may not seem like it lends itself to traditional trick-or-treating, the University has a pretty epic way for you to still go door to door without stepping off Grounds — trick-or-treating on the Lawn. Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. this Halloween, stop by the Lawn and West Range for candy and good company — deck yourself out in costume or come as you are. It’s always a treat to see what costumes families from the local Charlottesville community have in store — my favorite from last year was a father-son duo as The Man with the Yellow Hat and Curious George.
4. Marvel at the Great Rotumpkin
Since 2021, Charlottesville artist Jeff Dobrow has partnered with the Office of the Provost and Vice Provost for the Arts and the Division of Student Affairs to showcase his unique Halloween-themed projection mapping show. And he does it on the most awesome canvas imaginable at the University — the Rotunda. Dobrow’s projections on the Rotunda, dubbed the Great Rotumpkin, feature 90-second mini-shows set to music that include skeletons, jack-o-lanterns and ghouls. Between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, make sure to stop by the Rotunda’s north side between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. for a whimsical, musical delight.
5. Watch a scary movie
One of the easiest ways to get into the spooky season is to watch at least one scary movie. Now, all of you repulsed by horror movies, don’t fear — too much. Scary movies can run the gamut from more comical films like Hocus Pocus and Ghostbusters to downright bone-chillers like The Silence of the Lambs and Get Out. Pick your poison based on your fear tolerance, get some popcorn and relax — or stay on edge. Whatever kind of movie you choose to watch, let it bring you whatever you’re looking for this Halloween — thrills, laughs or a mix of both. For all of you horror-enthusiasts, you may be intrigued by a 7 p.m. showing of The Exorcist at the Violet Crown Cinema on Halloween night.
6. Build the ultimate Halloween playlist
Every good holiday needs its own theme music, and Halloween is no exception. To get yourself in a ghoulishly good mood, blast some Halloween tunes on high. Song selection is really up to you, but if Thriller isn’t in the lineup, are you even celebrating Halloween? Enjoy some underrated songs too, like Somebody’s Watching Me and I Put a Spell on You. Listen as you walk around Grounds, make your scarecrow or chill at a Halloween get-together. Music quite literally sets the tone, so this Halloween, make it a spooky one.
7. Suspend your disbelief with an immersive experience
This Halloween season, do something a little less mainstream. If you’re feeling brave, head to the Downtown Mall and book an hour in Unlocked History’s “The Raven” room, an Edgar Allen Poe-themed escape room. Grab a team of three to seven friends and solve the mystery of Poe’s disappearance in his first year at the University. You can also purchase tickets for one of the annual Twilight Tours of Scottsville, where you will follow a lantern guide on a historic tour of the area and be joined by actors portraying characters throughout different time periods. These immersive experiences are what really turn the idea of celebrating Halloween from fun and cute to terrifyingly real.
8. Enjoy some Halloween delicacies
I think many would agree that one of the best parts of any holiday is the food. Spooky season food certainly doesn’t cover all of the food groups, but it sure does do sugar right. From caramel apples to candy corn, dig into some sweet treats even before trick or treating this season. If you’re really feeling the Halloween spirit, spend an afternoon baking with friends and turn snacks into themed food, like gummy eyeballs and witch finger cookies.
9. Carve pumpkins
Remember those pumpkins you picked earlier? Well, it’s time to — brace yourself — cut in and scoop out their guts for the most artistic and skillful of Halloween crafts — pumpkin carving. Take a little time to surf the web for the best templates — if you’re advanced enough to go without one, props to you. For those of you less advanced creatives like me, keep in mind that though they may look cool, the complex design templates are tough to cut out. When it comes to pumpkin carving, simple is usually best. Don’t forget to put an LED light inside of your carved pumpkin on Halloween night to make its wicked smile glow.
10. Dress up in your own way
I know what some of you are thinking — I’m too old for a costume. I’ll push back — dressing up for Halloween doesn’t have to mean “costume” in the traditional sense. It can mean wearing orange and black or donning your favorite horror movie quote on a t-shirt. It can be as laid back or detailed as you want, and it’s completely up to you who sees it — you can wear your Halloween look in lecture or just in the dorm. Shop online, mix and match various articles of clothing or even hand-make your own costume, if you’ve got the time and just the vision. If you and your friends find costumes that speak to you, coordinate a group theme — last year, I went out with a whole crew of Minions. However you dress for Halloween, have a wickedly good time.
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