How to Celebrate Halloween 2022: Ideas for Dinner, Decoration, Games, and Movies

Halloween is a fun and festive holiday that typically involves spooky costumes, trick-or-treating, and candy. However, the holiday can also be an excellent opportunity to spend some family time enjoying delicious meals, playing games, and watching movies. If you’re looking for some Halloween celebration ideas, in this blog post, we have shared everything you need to know about making this occasion unique and memorable.  

Quick Tips for a fun Halloween

Halloween is an excellent time to get together with friends and family for a festive dinner. Here are some tips to make your Halloween celebration more fun and festive. 

• Start by setting the mood with some Halloween music. There are plenty of great Halloween-themed songs out there that will get everyone in the spirit. This Spotify playlist might help! 
• Get creative with your table decorations. A few simple props can transform your dining room into a spooky scene from a horror movie. 
• Serve some traditional Halloween foods like pumpkin soup or roasted potatoes with black olives “eyes.” 
• Make things fun by turning your dinner into a costume party. Encourage everyone to dress up in their best Halloween costume. 
• Add some interactive elements to your dinner party with Halloween-themed games or activities (we’ve given a few ideas further on). 
• End the night on a sweet note with some delicious Halloween-themed desserts. Pumpkin pie or ghost cupcakes would be perfect!  

Halloween Dinner Ideas

To indulge in spooky fun and treats this All-Saints’ Day, there are plenty of Halloween-themed dishes to choose from.  

Traditional Halloween dishes often include sweet treats like candy apples and cupcakes decorated with black icing, while savory dishes like pumpkin soup and chili are also a hit.  

Modern Halloween dishes include anything with a spooky or festive twist, such as spiderweb pizza or mummy hot dogs. No matter what kind of dish you’re in the mood for, there’s sure to be a Halloween-themed option that will tingle your taste buds. 

Traditional Halloween Dinner Ideas

1. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Start with raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds. Spread them on a baking sheet and roast at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can then season them however you like, with salt, pepper, garlic powder, or other spices.  
2. Ghost Chili Pepper Poppers: For a spooky take on chili peppers, try ghost chili pepper poppers. Cut the peppers, remove the seeds, and then stuff them with cream cheese. Dip them in batter and deep-fry until golden brown. Serve with ranch dressing or another dipping sauce. 
3. Mummy Cupcakes: Start with store-bought cupcakes and decorate them with white icing to create these easy mummy desserts. 
4. Graveyard Dirt Cake: You can prepare this classic Halloween dessert by layering chocolate pudding, Oreo cookies, and gummy worms in a bowl or trifle dish. Top with whipped cream and more cookie crumbs to look like it’s got dirt on it. (Yech!) 
5. Eyeball Punch: For some spooky punch, start with lemon-lime soda and add some green food coloring. Float plastic eyeballs in the punchbowl to make it spooky. Both adults and kids will love it! If you like living dangerously, see how you can use dry ice for props to make this experience even more chilling here.  
6. Jack O’ Lantern Quinoa Salad: This hearty salad is perfect for a Halloween potluck or party meal. Cook quinoa according to package directions, then stir in diced roasted pumpkin, grilled chicken, feta cheese, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds. Drizzle with vinaigrette dressing and serve chilled or at room temperature. 
7. Witches’ Fingers: Almond-flavored cookies shaped like witches’ fingers make for a spooky but tasty Halloween treat! Roll sugar cookie dough into finger-shaped logs, then press an almond into the tip of the nail. Bake according to recipe instructions, then dip the fingertips into red food coloring for some “bloodied” effect. Allow the food coloring to set before serving. 
8. Chocolate Bark: This easy chocolate bark is studded with candy “eyeballs” and makes for a festive Halloween treat! Melt chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler, then spread onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with mini marshmallows, candy eyes, and any other desired toppings. Allow the chocolate to set, then break it into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. 
9. Candy Apples: A classic fall treat, candy apples can easily be turned into a Halloween-themed snack by adding black licorice “stems” and using orange-tinted candy coating instead of the traditional red. Melt the candy coating in a pot over low heat, then dip apples into the coating, twirling them slowly for an even coat. Place on a sheet of wax paper to set, then insert licorice stems before the coating hardens. 

Modern Halloween Dinner Ideas

1. Mummy Dogs: Wrap hot dogs in pre-made croissant dough or refrigerated biscuit dough, then bake according to the package directions. Once cooked, add ketchup or mustard “bandages” and two dots of peas for the eyes.  
2. Spiderweb Pizza: Start with a pre-made pizza crust or make your dough. Spread on tomato sauce, then top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Use a knife to make a spiderweb pattern on the pizza, then set to bake according to the crust. 
3. Frankenstein Kabobs: Use green peppers, mozzarella balls, and olive slices to create easy and cute kabobs.  
4. Witch Finger Cookies: Almond slivers make for eerie (and delicious) witch fingers on sugar cookie bars.  
5. Bloody Brain Dip: Make a gruesome-looking dip with cream cheese, sour cream, gelatin, and green food coloring. Serve it with crackers or pretzels for dipping.  
6. Graveyard Tacos: Prepare tacos with all the fixings, including ground beef, refried beans, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and sour cream. Top them off with crumbled tortilla chips for a crunchy topping.  
7. Bat Wing Cookies: Shape vanilla sugar cookies into bat shapes and decorate with chocolate frosting and candy eyes. 
8. Pumpkin Spice Oreos: Crushed Oreos mixed with pumpkin spice make for a tasty (and festive) take on the classic cookie. 
9. Candy Corn Bark: Swirl the white chocolate with yellow and orange candy melts to create this festive bark recipe. 

Halloween Games to Play

If you wish to include some spooky fun games in your celebration, here are a few Halloween games that are sure to be a hit with both adults and kids: 

1. Bobbing for apples is a classic Halloween game that is always fun. Fill a large tub or bowl with water and add several apples. Players take turns trying to bite an apple while holding their hands behind their backs – the first person to successfully bite into an apple wins!
2. Another fun game is pumpkin carving – see who can create the spookiest, most creative pumpkin designs! You can even make it a contest and award prizes for the best carvings.   
3. Try a scavenger hunt in the dark. Hide various Halloween-themed items around your home or backyard and give players a list of things to find. Make it challenging but not too complex – you don’t want anyone getting lost!   
4. A game of truth or dare is always perfect for Halloween parties – be sure to make the dares suitably spooky! Here are some ideas & suggestions.  
5. Lastly, no Halloween party would be complete without some ghost stories. Encourage everyone to bring their favorite scary tale to share. Just be prepared for some sleepless nights afterward! 

Halloween Movies to Watch

Many people start to get into the Halloween spirit by watching horror movies. If you’re looking for some genuinely spine-tingling films to watch this October 31st, consider checking out some of these classics. 

1. The Exorcist: This 1973 film tells the story of a young girl who becomes possessed by a demon and the lengths her mother will go to save her. 
2. The Shining: Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is a must-see for any horror fan. It tells the story of a man who slowly goes insane while working as a caretaker at an isolated hotel. 
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street: One of the most iconic horror franchises, “Nightmare on Elm Street” follows the dream-stalking killer Freddy Krueger as he preys on the teenage children of his victims. Or check out its 2010 re-make! 
4. Halloween: John Carpenter’s classic slasher film introduces Michael Myers, a murderous sociopath who returns to his hometown to kill again. 
5. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Tobe Hooper’s seminal horror film tells the story of a group of friends who encounter a family of cannibals in rural Texas. 

So get set to curl up with some popcorn and enjoy a good scare this Halloween! 

Halloween is a fantastic occasion to celebrate with family, friends, and your significant other. With some planning (and our ideas) you can create a spooky ambiance, serve delicious food and drink, and ensure that you have a great time. So, get out your costume, dust off your decorations, and prepare for a spooktacular Halloween party.