Halloween Night -- In
By: Klaire Chandler
Unfortunately, Halloween 2018 falls on a Wednesday. The reality is that many students will be unable to go out on Halloween night. However, homework assignments and Thursday morning classes don’t need to ruin this holiday. What follows is some advice on how to have a great stay-in, low key, hump-day Halloween.
Step one, go out on this weekend. If you want to go out and enjoy downtown Salem or have a crazy, spooky party do it this weekend. You can have all the fun you want without risking a serious headache for you eight o’clock on Thursday, November 1st. There are tons of activities to do in the Salem area on this weekend, just take a look at the City of Salem's Haunted Happenings calendar.
Now that you’re tired out from the weekend, it’s time to talk ideas for a relaxing Halloween. If you are a commuter, make sure you plan to leave school early. You don’t need the extra stress of being caught in holiday traffic. Once you’re home or back to your dorm, try to knock out homework early. This will give you more time to enjoy your festivities and unwind. Just because you're not going out, doesn’t mean you have to spend the whole night studying. Halloween offers you a great excuse to take a break and still have fun.
Once responsibilities are out of the way, it’s time to have some fun. First off, consider having a couple of friends over or plan something your roommates. I wouldn’t recommend a ton of people, just a few close friends to keep things calm. If you live in the dorms be aware that guest policies can make inviting visitors over a bit tricky. The dorm rules are especially strict around this season, so it’s important to be extra cautious.
Together with your friends, you can decide on some activities. Watching scary movies, s, or a YouTube series is always a good relaxing activity. There are tons of new spooky content on Netflix right now that’s perfect for Halloween. Another fun idea is playing scary video games or a board game if you prefer something more low tech. Maybe take it back to the good old days of childhood sleepover and turns off the lights for scary stories. For students with a kitchen who like to cook, consider baking some spooky treats. If you live on a street with trick-or-treaters go sit outside for a bit and greet them in person, rather than just leaving a bowl of candy on the porch. It’s always fun to make a kid's night by giving them a big handful of candy.
Speaking of candy don’t forget to save some for yourself. Halloween is one of the few times of year when you have a good excuse to embrace your inner child and have some treats. Also, put on a costume. Just because you’re staying in doesn’t mean you have to skip out on one of the essential aspects of the holiday. Lots of places sell adorable onesies this time of year. They make for a quick, comfy costume that's perfect for a Halloween night in.