The weather outside may be somewhat frightening and not in a cozy, Christmas-carol kind of way, but Halloween is happening next week just the same.
This year just feels so different from any other, with such an odd lead-up to Halloween. We loved visiting Pumpkinville at Myriad Botanical Gardens this past Saturday; that really felt like fall to me, with all the beauty of autumn. I'm sad it ended but there's still so much around to enjoy.
If you're looking for fall fun activities, there are corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides and so many events happening. The weekend forecast looks perfect to get out and enjoy all that's amazing this season. This Saturday, Oct. 27, the Wings Annual Fall Festival has been extended for one extra day and admission is just $3.
This is the first year I am really on-board with public suggestions to move Halloween from Oct. 31 on a random, rainy Wednesday night to a weekend evening. I wish it was this weekend or next, both of which are forecasted to be sunny. Since that's not likely to happen, I'm already finding thermal layers to add under my sons' odd assortment of baby lion, Transformer, Iron Man and DJ Marshmallow costumes.
We'll have fun no matter what.
I'm sure neighborhood trick-or-treating will happen rain or shine, but here are four must-have lists of indoor options to celebrate Halloween:
- Where to Eat on Halloween: That evening is always such a fast crunch to pick everyone up from school and feed them something to balance out the sugar rush from what they've already eaten at class parties and what's to come. I've tried soups, slow-cooker meals and pot roast in the oven. Our family keeps eating out to exactly once a week at most, usually on Friday nights, but I'm willing to make an exception just to have one less detail to prepare for in advance. Find our list of restaurant discounts for Halloween night here.
- Where to Trick-or-Treat Indoors: Use those costumes more than once and go trick-or-treating this weekend at organized events. Our top six locations for indoor trick-or-treating are here. There are also four spots for Oct. 31. Find them all here.
- Attend a costume event: There are plenty of Halloween parties happening nearby, many of which are hosted indoors. Find them all here.
- Make other plans: Here's what's happening Oct. 31, some Halloween-related, some not, almost of all it inside.
Click here for all of this year's Halloween fun lists. 
I'm more interested in observing Dia de los muertos this year, which is All-Souls Day, Nov. 1. I've heard it described as Mexican Halloween and that's definitely a false idea about what's actual a sacred day. It's not meant to be scary and is more like Memorial Day, to remember lost family members and past generations. My kids are dual citizens of Costa Rica, where it's not celebrated, but it's important for them to know as part of general culture. 
I recently finished the novel "Coco: A Story about Music, Shoes and Family" by Diana Lopez with my middle child and it's even better than the Disney movie so we're taking some time to better understand related traditions. There are a couple of events this weekend in anticipation of the holiday and one on Nov. 1 at UCO.
I know that no matter what happens with Halloween festivities, we'll end up with too much candy at home. If it's like that at your house, strike a deal with your kids and use this Candy Buy-Back list to send it off for a good cause.
No matter where you spend your Halloween, I hope you have fun together.
Happy Halloween!
