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Tips for the Perfect Halloween

October 31, 2017

Whether you’ve just moved in to your new home or are looking to take on your annual spooky celebrations, we’ve collected our favorite tips for having your best Halloween yet. Set the Stage It all starts at home! Before you head out with your children (or get ready to welcome wandering trick-or-treaters to your own home), make sure you’re giving off the perfect vibe. The first place to start? Your front porch! The entrance to your home, this will set the tone for all visitors. Try out one of these ideas for decorating your front porch:
  • For a twist on the typical carved pumpkin, try creating a pumpkin vase! Start by carving out the inside of your pumpkin as if you were going to carve a Jack-o-Lantern. Then, pour in some potting soil and plant in some flowers!
  • Or, try painting pumpkins! Stick with typical spooky silhouettes, or paint them with patterns, your monogram, or simply one solid color.
  • Pick up witch hats and small bats from your local Halloween pop-up or dollar store, then use fishing line to string them across your porch for an eerie, floating vibe.
  • Store your candy in a cauldron for a simple yet decorative way for trick-or-treaters to scoop up their treats.
Stay Safe on the Streets While escorting your children on their trick-or-treating adventure, there are just a few safety tips to keep in mind:
  • Decorate costumes with reflective tape or stickers so your children don’t disappear in the dark and can be easily seen by passing cars
  • Remind children to always walk on sidewalks and check both ways before crossing the street
  • When driving, drive slowly and keep an eye on your surroundings
And even if you aren’t trick-or-treating, be sure to keep your eyes out if you’re out and about between 5:30 - 9:30 P.M. These are the prime hours for trick-or-treaters. Join the Teal Pumpkin Project Ever seen those painted blue pumpkins on people’s doorsteps? There’s actually a hidden meaning behind them! Called the Teal Pumpkin Project, these blueish pumpkins are meant for raising awareness for food allergies. The color of food allergy awareness, placing teal pumpkins on your doorstep originated in Tennessee and launched as a national campaign in 2014. The end goal? Making sure all trick-or-treaters are included in this Halloween tradition. So how can you participate in the project? Simple! Here are a few steps to get started:
  • Provide non-food options for trick-or-treaters.
  • Place a teal pumpkin on your doorstep to indicate you have non-food options available.
  • Display a free printable poster or flyer from FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) to explain the meaning of the pumpkin.
  • You can absolutely still pass out candy - just keep the candy and non-food items in separate bowls (or cauldrons).
Non-food options are an incredibly affordable option - think inexpensive items like glow bracelets, pencils, or stickers. Visit a Halloween Event Of course, Halloween isn’t just about those trick-or-treaters! There are plenty of events in the Columbia, SC area perfect for families of all sizes to visit during this spooky season. Here’s just a taste of the many local events available:
  • Visit the American Farmer corn maze at Clinton Sease Farms. Tickets cost $12, with children 2 or under able to get in for free.
  • Check out the free Scarecrows in the Garden exhibit at the Gardens of the Robert Mills House! Handcrafted by local families, businesses, organizations, and classrooms, these scarecrows are all unique and range from historic to ghoulish to simply charming.
  • Need a corn maze perfect for pint-sized children? Try the one at Wingard’s Nursery and Garden Center! Only $3 per ticket, this corn maze offers children the chance to explore the maze and win a pumpkin at the very end. Tickets must be purchased in the Fresh Produce Market at Wingard’s.
Of course, this is only a taste of all the events available! Check around your local area for more fun autumn happenings to head to this Halloween season. Bring Halloween to the Kitchen Don’t just snack on candy this season - there are plenty of other spooky treats to munch on while waiting for trick-or-treaters to stop by. Even better, turn cooking into a fun family activity! Host a caramel apple decorating contest, for example. Hand out prizes for the most creative or the most hilarious apple before digging into all the sweet goodness. Or, turn on the oven and whip up a batch of pumpkin cupcakes. And no, we aren’t just talking about pumpkin flavoring. Go crazy with the orange icing and make the perfect pumpkin topper! Even better, use icing to create Jack-o-Lantern faces for each cupcake. Do you have any favorite Halloween recipes? Share them with us on Facebook! We love to see what our residents are cooking up. Have Fun! Most important of all, make sure you’re having fun! Whether you’re out wandering from house to house with your children, waiting to see all the adorable costumes in your own neighborhood, or heading out to an event as a couple, you’re sure to have a blast. Happy Halloween from McGuinn Hybrid Homes!

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