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14 Fun Ways to Celebrate Halloween in College

Halloween tends to be one of the most fun and memorable times of the year for students. It’s a holiday where everyone can have a good time with friends and take a break to relieve some the stress and anxiety they have in their lives. Many colleges around the month of October give their students the opportunity to get in the Halloween spirit by hosting annual festivities and other seasonal events around campus.

Anything from pumpkin festivals and annual Halloween parties to spooky scavenger hunts and murder mystery games — these are just a few of the unique activities schools organize during Halloween time to add intrigue and increase engagement. Besides the endless college traditions, there’s many other ways to celebrate Halloween in college that can be just as fun.

1. Check Out Halloween Attractions

Halloween attractions pop up all around the country once October rolls around, so there’s a high possibility your local college town has some spooky places setup for people to visit. If not, then you can always take a little road trip to some other ones around the area.

Many amusement parks do Halloween-themed events, and there’s also more scary attractions that have haunted hayrides, ghost tours, and haunted house walkthroughs. Halloween attractions are definitely worth going to if you want to experience some scary, heart-pumping thrills with your friends.

2. Have a Movie Night

One of the best ways to get in the Halloween spirit is by watching some scary movies (PG ones if you get too scared). Whether you into the iconic slashers like Halloween and Scream or more family-friendly movies like Hocus Pocus and Ghost Busters, there’s something out there for everyone to enjoy. Instead of going out, you can grab your favorite snacks, get comfy in bed, and turn on a spooky movie.

3. Carve a Pumpkin

Pumpkin carving is a classic Halloween tradition people of all ages do. Cleaning out all the pumpkin guts can be annoying, but carving your own unique design is always fun. Even going to a pumpkin patch and picking out the perfect one is pretty enjoyable.

You and your friends can make a friendly competition out of it by voting on who carved the best one. Your college might also have its own pumpkin carving contest for students to participate in.

4. Go to a Halloween Party

Not all college parties live up to the hype, but Halloween parties usually don’t disappoint. A lot of students look forward to Halloween night and the days leading up to it because there’s usually parties going on all over campus and off campus.

Being able to dress up with your friends in wild costumes and let loose at different Halloween parties all within walking distance can make for one memorable night — and is a great way to celebrate Halloween in college.

5. Make a Spooky Playlist

One of the many ways you can get in the spirit of Halloween is by assembling your own playlist of songs that give off those spooky and festive Halloween vibes. My personal favorite is Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, but you can add songs from any genre.

With so many hits out there, the possibilities are endless. Once you have a playlist made, you’ll be able to blast your favorite Halloween tunes when you’re studying or walking to class. You can also use the playlist if you’re having a Halloween party of your own.

6. Make Festive Treats

Get your roommates together, turn on your spooky playlist, and start baking some delicious Halloween-themed treats. Sometimes baking can be tedious when you’re using a lot of ingredients, but many Halloween treat recipes are quite simple and might not require any baking at all.

You’ll be surprised what you can do with just melted chocolate, some candy, and a few other items like marshmallows, pretzels, or fruits. If you need some help figuring out what to make, check out these 54 Halloween treat ideas.

7. Read a Scary Book

Reading a good murder mystery or psychological thriller is a relaxing way to spend your time during Halloween. Instead of getting all dressed up and going out, you can get cozy in bed and crack open a new novel to put yourself in a festive mood.

When it comes to classic Halloween novels, you can’t go wrong with Stephen King or Clive Barker novels; The Legend of Sleepy Hallow, The Haunting of Hill House, and When Things Get Dark are all excellent, spine-tingling reads as well.

8. Have a Bonfire

Bonfires have been a long-standing tradition throughout history well before the celebration of Halloween. Nowadays, bonfires are the perfect way to enjoy a brisk fall night under the stars.

If you’re looking for something fun to do with your friends around Halloween season but don’t want to have a full-on party, a bonfire is a good option. Just make sure to take the proper precautions and check fire regulations in your area beforehand.

9. Play Halloween Games

From candy bucket pong and spooky card games to costume contests and apple bobbing, the amount of games you can play to celebrate Halloween in college is practically endless. Some games you can throw together last minute, but others might take a little preparation.

Since there’s so many fun games to choose from, you’ll be able to spice up your Halloween no matter which ones you choose to play. You can check out these 22 Halloween games for adults if you’re in need some ideas.

Related: 28 Fun Things to Do in College

10. Go See a Scary Movie

There’s always new horror movies coming out around Halloween, so if you like a good scare, grab your friends and go see a scary movie in the theaters.

You could always stream newly released movies on Netflix or Hulu, but it’s not the same as actually going to the movie theater. The experience you’ll get from watching a scary movie in theaters can be quite memorable, especially if you go Halloween time.

11. Explore a Real Haunted Place

Nothing will get your blood pumping more than exploring a place that is actually haunted — if you believe in ghosts. Even if you don’t believe in the supernatural, it can still be unsettling and nerve-racking going to places like Gettysburg or Salem, Massachusetts because of the deadly history of those locations.

I highly recommend researching some haunted places to visit in your area so you can check them out with your friends during Halloween. And if you want to take the creepiness to another level, try going at night.

12. Decorate Your Dorm

Putting up spooky decorations is one of the key staples of Halloween and for good reason. You won’t be able fully enjoy the holiday without adding some festive decorations around your dorm room. It also doesn’t take much effort to decorate your dorm either.

All you really need to do is add a couple Halloween-themed pillows to your bed, hang some festive string lights, and place a few decorative accents around your room. You could also add some flameless Halloween candles for ambiance and hang a wreath on your door.

13. Buy Halloween Candy

Channel your inner child and relive your trick-or-treat days by buying your favorite Halloween-themed candy. Some Reese’s Peanut Butter Bats and Pumpkin Pie Kit-Kats would make perfect snacks when you’re watching a scary movie or reading a mysterious novel in your dorm. And can’t forget the classics like Brach’s Candy Corn and Mellowcreme Pumpkins.

14. Attend Campus Events

As I mentioned earlier, many colleges go all-out for Halloween by hosting any number of events throughout the month of October. If your college has Halloween events going on around campus, they’re certainly worth attending because they can be a lot of fun. They’re also a good way to step out of your comfort zone and make new friends.

Each college and university does their own unique events that have become traditions over the years, such as Harvey Mudd College’s Halloweiner (a costume tailgate barbecue), Penn State’s Pumpkin Festival, and Georgetown’s Healy Howl — which pays homage to The Exorcist film.