Halloween weekend is finally here! While we might have a bit of a cold front ahead, there is still plenty of fun to be had celebrating with all the ghosts and ghouls in your house! Here is our family’s “Halloween Weekend Itinerary,” I hope it helps to inspire pumpkin-filled fun in your house too!
FRIDAY
It’s the end of the week, and let’s face it, we are tired. It’s like our boss/co-workers didn’t get the memo that prepping costumes for kids all week left us with little time to rest and recharge. Halloween movie night to the rescue! For kids, it’s themed fun. But for adults, it’s a moment of quiet and snuggles that we can all enjoy. Schedule yourself a pizza delivery and click here to find a Halloween movie that’s best suited for the age groups in your household.
SATURDAY
This is the final Weekend of Haunt the Zoo at the OKC Zoo! Our family loves to gather the cousins and make a day of trick or treating while it’s still light outside. This fun family event is so precious to take part in, but it also gives a great “sneak peek” at the displays for the upcoming Zoo Lights events as well!
After a morning of walking around the Zoo, we were all craving a sweet treat. Give me cinnamon-flavored anything on crisp days like this! Make it an “activity” with the kids, or enjoy some creative baking time with a good podcast. If you haven’t given Raising OKC Kids a try, click here to find episodes on parenting tips, stories and inspiration from local and national experts.
On Saturday evening, plan to attend Storybook Forest at Arcadia Lake! This dreamland event is one that even bigger kids can enjoy alongside the littles. We purchased dollar store Halloween glow sticks to wear so we didn’t lose track of anyone, but it also doubled as a fun “prize” for the kids to “ooohh and ahhh” over. If the kids already gathered too much candy don’t worry! Storybook Forest is also open on Sunday and Monday. Purchase your tickets in advance to ensure they don’t sell out.
SUNDAY
Our family pattern for success on the weekends is rest, then play, then rest. If you followed this itinerary thus far, you know it’s time for a rest! Break out the crafts and your hot coffee/slippers combo and soak it in, mama. We love getting last-minute craft supplies at Michaels, as the holiday-themed crafts are usually marked down the weekend of Halloween. Pumpkin placemats, wall art and characters/monsters were on the agenda for these two! My son is working on letters and my daughter is just working on pointing a marker in the right direction so it was fun, but controlled chaos.
If crafts are not your thing, bundle up and grab a Halloween Scavenger Hunt! This doubles as a great way to get the wiggles out, and also get even the furriest members of your family involved. If you’ve got littles, this might be a great time to “practice” wearing the costume and saying “trick or treat” and “thank you” throughout the neighborhood. Plus all the Halloween decor will be at their peak this weekend so it’s a great time to sight see. Click here to view more ideas for at-home or budget-friendly fun. Again, grab that hot coffee and enjoy!
At this point in the day we’re all ready to get out of the house and enjoy a change of scenery. The Halloween Train is taking off at the Oklahoma Railway Museum on Sunday. Trains Leave the Oakwood Station at 12, 1:15, 2:30 and 3:45 p.m. This not-so-spooky Halloween ride gives us all a chance to feel festive and snuggly, plus mom and dad can actually sit down (rather than chase the littles). Winning time!
The best thing about holiday weekends in OKC is that no matter what your budget is, there is festive fun to be found that creates core memories of togetherness. It doesn’t have to be expensive, elaborate or extravagant to be exciting. As parents we have the privilege and responsibility to set the tone for our kids, and that includes how we have fun together too! I hope this list helps you find moments of calm, chaos and love, hopefully in favorable or at least equal parts (LOL!). Happy Halloween!
Kirsten Holder is a transplant from Michigan but calls the “land that is grand” her home. She graduated from Oklahoma City University and is passionate about the arts, community development and small business. She is the senior project manager for MetroFamily Magazine, and lives in a historic pocket in OKC with her young kids Jimmy and Millie, husband Andrew and new puppy, Roserock.
