With its crisp October air, autumn in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a welcome reprieve from those sweltering summer months, inspiring such Halloween activities as local festivals, hayrides, porch decorating, candy-inspired games, trick-or-treating, and spooky cookies.
Halloween is a magical time for families, allowing grandparents and grandkids to make lasting memories through DIY crafts, neighborhood outings, and more. Research from the Cleveland Clinic found that spending quality time with grandkids results in more active seniors, including noted improvements in blood sugar regulation and blood pressure.
Plan a day (or even a month!) of intergenerational holiday fun for Halloween with these engaging ideas for the whole family.
Families will find something for every age, starting with the Boo!SEUM Trick-or-Treat event at TCMU in Spartanburg. The museum transforms into a trick-or-treating haven for local kids.
If you're looking for a cozy autumn outing, don't miss Stewart Farms during October. Discover picture-perfect porch pumpkins in the farm's large pumpkin patch. There are also hayrides and corn mazes for the kids.
Kickstart your holiday foodie activities by visiting the Vikings Vendor Market and Fall Festival. Discover local food trucks and a large vendor market for harvest foods and crafts. Kids can also trick-or-treat inside the market!
The Hub City Farmers Market also hosts a Halloween market where families enjoy:
Pumpkin painting is one of the best memory care fall crafts for seniors and fosters special memories with little grandkids.
The SCC Fall Fest held at Spartanburg Community College is a popular event that hosts an outdoor Halloween movie night. Families also enjoy:
Popular senior-friendly games like mini golf are also ideal for the whole family on Halloween. Check out the Spooktacular Mini Golf at Sparkle City Mini Putt. Families can come dressed in their Halloween costumes while enjoying Halloween-themed mini golf games.
Turn Halloween candy into delightful games that develop creative problem-solving in grandkids while sharpening strategic thinking for older adults. According to research from the Society of Behavioral Medicine, playing games results in more effective communication in families while improving reading and math reasoning.
Start with a classic guessing game.Fill a jar with candy corns. Everyone in the family has to look at the jar (without opening it) to guess the number of candy corns.
Incorporate dice into your candy-themed games.
Create a candy pot in the middle of the table. When someone rolls doubles, they're allowed to steal a designated candy bar, like a Milky Way. You can also play this game with individual candy pots, allowing family members to "steal" Milky Ways from each other in a game of friendly competition.
Grandparents are in a unique position to model responsible fun for grandkids during trick-or-treat outings, especially when it comes to trick-or-treating manners.
Older adults should prioritize visibility by handing out glow sticks and adding reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags. Grandkids and grandparents should carry mini flashlights and always stick to well-lit blocks.
Choose costumes that aren't restrictive or oversized to prevent discomfort and tripping. Some masks may obstruct vision too much; in these cases, stick to non-toxic face paint.
Always stay on the designated route and ensure adults back home know the route. There are also smartphone apps that allow parents to track locations. All parties should text throughout the outing to maintain communication and ensure candy isn't eaten before it's inspected for safety.
The most important decoration location for Halloween is the porch!
Create a classic pumpkin display with real carved (or painted) pumpkins or stack various sizes of faux pumpkins in different colors. Make ghosts out of gauze and hang them on the porch ceiling, illuminated by a backdrop of string lights.
Create a mini graveyard scene with:
If the family wants to get even more creative, create a witch cauldron with real dry ice! Dry ice does involve more oversight.
Turn fallen leaves and old flannel clothes into scarecrows for the porch. Top of your scarecrow with a jack-o-lantern head, illuminated with flameless votive candles.
Holiday cookies aren't just for the winter holiday season! Halloween, with its vibrant color palette, is perfect for creative cookies.
Mummy cookies are fun and simple.Bake a batch of round sugar cookies and use white (or colorful) icing tubes to create bandage strips. Add chocolate chips for eyes.
Similarly, any round sugar cookie can become a spiderweb cookie with the right icing decoration. Top them off with gummy insect candy or sugar sprinkles to create sparkly spider webs.
Use cat-shaped cookie-cutters to create dark fudge frosted "black cats" for Halloween. You can do the same with witch hat cookies.
Beyond sweets, there are plenty of savory snacks for Halloween. For example, create a big bowl of Halloween snack mix with:
You can also throw in some Reese's Pieces for some extra sweetness.
Whip up ghost pizza bagels covered with mozzarella cheese and olive pieces for eyes. As a starter, serve a savory pumpkin-shaped cheese ball made from cream cheese and covered with crushed Cheez-its.
Don't miss an opportunity to create new festive family traditions. Spartanburg, SC, comes alive during Halloween with local events and safe trick-or-treat outings. Of course, there are always cozy nights at home with homemade treats and Halloween activities.
TerraBella Spartanburg, a premier senior living community, also hosts crafts and assisted living events all month long through its Celebrations program. You can find bingo nights, aromatherapy, meditation classes, courtyard socials, cookbook clubs, and more. Don't forget to inquire about our Military Veterans Program to see if you qualify for a rental discount!
Call us today to discuss your goals for senior living, whether it's social wellness or nutrition. We're here to help!