20 Halloween Traditions to Start With Your Family

One of the best parts of Halloween isn’t the costumes or the sweets (though those are pretty great!) — it’s the traditions. Those little rituals we come back to year after year are what make the season feel magical, especially for families with children and teens. Whether you’re carving pumpkins, baking something delicious, or simply lighting a candle to honour the season, these traditions create lasting memories.

Here are 20 Halloween traditions to start with your family — fun, affordable, and meaningful ways to bring more joy, connection, and cosiness into October.

person decorating a halloween pumpkin — Photo by Daisy Anderson on Pexels.com

1. Carve pumpkins

No Halloween feels complete without a carved pumpkin glowing on the doorstep. Make it a family event: pick your pumpkins together, scoop out the insides, and let everyone design their own creation.

2. Watch the same Halloween movie every year

Choose a classic — Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family, or Casper — and make it “your” family’s Halloween film tradition.

3. Bake pumpkin bread together

The smell of pumpkin bread in the oven instantly makes the house feel cosy. Get the kids (or teens!) involved in stirring, mixing, or even experimenting with chocolate chips or spices.

4. Have a costume dinner

Who says costumes are only for trick-or-treating? Host a silly or spooky family dinner where everyone shows up in costume. Even better, theme the menu around Halloween foods.

5. Light candles for loved ones

Add a moment of reflection into the fun. Light candles in honour of loved ones who have passed or simply to appreciate the changing season.

6. Do a family photoshoot

Capture the memories year after year. Whether it’s in costume, at the pumpkin patch, or just kicking leaves in the garden, make photos part of your tradition.

7. Visit a haunted attraction

If your kids are old enough (and brave enough!), make a tradition of visiting a haunted house, ghost walk, or spooky farm trail.

8. Share ghost stories

Turn off the lights, light some candles or sit by the fire, and take turns telling ghost stories. For younger children, keep it silly — for teens, go a bit spookier.

9. Make caramel apples

Sticky, sweet, and perfectly seasonal. Dip apples in caramel, then let everyone decorate with sprinkles, nuts, or chocolate drizzle.

10. Trick-or-treat swap

If your kids come home with too many sweets, make a “swap table” where they can trade for small treats, books, or family activity tokens.

11. Build a spooky playlist

Every October, add a few new songs to your family’s Halloween playlist. From Monster Mash to movie soundtracks, it will grow into a soundtrack of memories.

12. Make Halloween crafts

Paper bats, pom-pom spiders, or DIY lanterns — simple crafts bring the spirit of the season into your home and give kids something fun to display.

13. Hold a pumpkin carving contest

Make it competitive — funniest, scariest, most creative. Give small prizes, or just enjoy laughing together at the results.

14. Do a “boo your neighbour” gift drop

Leave a small bag of treats or baked goods at a neighbour’s door with a little note. It’s a simple act of kindness that spreads Halloween cheer.

15. Host a games night

Play Halloween bingo, charades, or board games by candlelight. You could even make a spooky prize bag for the winners.

16. Bake and share treats with friends

Spend a Saturday baking Halloween biscuits or cupcakes, then deliver them to friends, teachers, or grandparents.

17. Visit a pumpkin patch

Turn it into an annual outing. Take photos, sip hot drinks, and pick out your pumpkins. Many patches also have hayrides or corn mazes for extra fun.

18. Create a Halloween scrapbook

Each year, add a page with photos, drawings, or written memories of what you did. Over time, it becomes a treasured family keepsake.

19. Try a different costume theme every year

Choose a theme — superheroes, witches, movie characters — and let everyone’s creativity shine. It makes for great family photos, too.

20. End the night with gratitude

After the fun and sugar rush, sit down together and name one thing you loved about Halloween this year. It’s a gentle way to close the evening and turn the focus to gratitude.

Create your new Halloween traditions this year…

A few little rituals repeated every year are what make Halloween magical. Whether it’s carving pumpkins, telling ghost stories, or baking together, these traditions become part of your family’s story — the memories you’ll look back on fondly.

Why not start one or two this year and see which ones stick?

Happy Halloween,

Chat soon,

Ciara x