How to celebrate a socially distanced Halloween

Halloween is already the spookiest day of the year – but throw covid-19 into the mix and the thought of getting dressed up, hanging out as a group and taking sweets from strangers' doors takes on a new level of terror. But all is not lost! There are still heaps of ways to celebrate that are safe, socially distanced and super spooky – in a good way. 

And let's not forget – our costume idea's sorted. We'll just dress up as covid-19...

Online Tarot card reading

(image: Jen Theodore)

When the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, go get your tarot read for some extra spiritual guidance. 🔮 It can give you answers on some of your most burning questions (“Did I leave the oven on? Will I ever find love again?”). And perhaps most critically, you can even get it done online. Yes! No contact needed.

Go ghosting

No, we don't mean your Tinder matches 👻 . This involves creating a bag of treats for a friend or neighbour and leaving it on their doorstep without telling them it was you, including a note inside for them to go on and do it for someone else. Go traditional with sweets and chocolate, or mix it up with beauty products, books, tiny bottles of booze… The list goes on. 

Make Halloween-themed snacks

(image: Cayla1)

Seems silly, really quite fun. Make a Mummy out of camembert (yum); coffin-shaped tarts (yum); and witches' hair pasta (double yum). Pinterest is your best bet for creative ideas.

Watch a scary movie

The oldest trick in the book, as it were. But we all love the thrill of a scary movie. Go for something traditional – Practical Magic is a fave – or scare yourself silly with the Paranormal Activity Omnibus. 

Pumpkin picking and carving

(image: Beth Teutschmann)

Fun, satisfying and you get to eat the fruits of your labour in the form of pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie… The lot. Go and pick your own pumpkins for extra brownie points – many farms are operating in a socially distanced way.

Ghost walking tour

The Indytute has not one but THREE spooky walks around London that'll help you see the city in a whole new light. The Pies, Pints & Peculiar Pubs tour combines three of our favourite things; the Ghost of Hammersmith Silent Disco tour has a silent disco in it; and the Old City Ghost Walk will take you around some of London's most historic streets. So no matter what sort of scary celebration you're after, we've got you covered.

FURTHER READING: Spooky shenanigans not your vibe? Try one of these safe, socially distanced and not at all spooky stay-home parties on for size.

Main image: NeONBRAND