Celebrating Halloween Without Plastic or Store-Bought Candy

Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a time when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Over time, the holiday evolved, but at its heart, it remains a celebration of the changing seasons, the mystery of the night, and the beauty of nature. This Halloween, why not bring back those roots by focusing on natural elements?

Ditch the candy-grab focused holiday. Create a cozy, sustainable celebration with homemade treats and nature-inspired crafts and activities, instead.

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Pinecone Spiders

Turn ordinary pinecones into spooky spiders for Halloween decor. Attach pipe cleaners as legs and glue on glow in the dark googly eyes. Set them out as natural decorations, or hang them from the ceiling for an extra spidery touch!

Jar-O-Lanterns

jar-o-lanterns
Decorate repurposed food jars with tissue paper to have fun, Halloween themed decorations. Children will enjoy watching them glow with a lit candle in the jars after the lights go out.

Candy Apples

Boil two cups of brown sugar in half a cup of water until it threads (around 300°F). Stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Skew apples with craft sticks and dip in the syrup. Roll the coated apples in dye-free sprinkles. Place on a silicone baking mat. Refrigerate.

Gluten-Free Halloween Cookies

Gluten-free shortbread cookies for halloween
Mix 1 cup of softened butter with ½ cup of powdered sugar until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 cups of gluten-free all-purpose flour. Stir until the dough forms. If the dough feels too dry, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to bring it together. Once the dough is ready, roll it out to about ¼-inch thick on a floured surface (using gluten-free flour). Cut the dough with Halloween-themed cookie cutters, then transfer the shapes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the sheet before decorating.

Story Improvisation

spooky stories

Parents can create spooky stories with their kids by taking turns adding parts to the tale. Start with a simple setting, like a dark forest. Then, have each person add a couple sentences to build the story. One person might introduce a creepy sound, while the next describes a mysterious figure. This turn-by-turn storytelling keeps everyone engaged and encourages creativity. It’s an easy and fun way to spark imagination while spending quality time together.

Spooky Nature Scavenger Hunt

Halloween Nature Scavenger Hunt

Eight spooky items to find on this free Halloween scavenger hunt printable:

  1. Spooky Spider Web
  2. Black Feather
  3. Orange or Yellow Leaf
  4. Crow or Raven
  5. Mysterious Footprint
  6. Stick Shaped Like a Witch’s Broom
  7. Skull-Shaped Rock
  8. Creepy Tree

Halloween Charades Game

Halloween Charades
Try a family-friendly Halloween-themed charades game.

Paper Mâché Masks

Mix flour and water to form a paste or use Mod Podge. Dip newspaper or packing paper strips into paste and layer them onto a balloon. Once dry, pop the balloon and paint your mask.

Make a Paper Mâché Bat Piñata

Mix flour and water to form a paste or use Mod Podge. Dip newspaper or packing paper strips into paste and layer them onto a balloon. Once dry, pop the balloon and paint your piñata. Fill with trinkets like eyeball erasers before attaching the head.

Pumpkin Seeds

Halloween pumpkin

After carving your jack-o-lanterns, roast the seeds with a mixture of coconut oil/butter, honey, and apple pie spice, for a sweet, nutritious snack.

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