10. Movies

This is about the time to break out all those painfully acted horror movies and watch them just to be entertained by the goriness of it all. Blood, guts, and screams. However, there are many movies that have no gore, but seem to be a staple on many Halloween movie nights (the Nightmare before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown).

9. The smell of pumpkins

After this article, you will realize that pumpkins will consume my life for the next couple of weeks and the smell will last through the winter. Once pumpkin spice candles appear in Target, I know that it is time to get cozy.

8. Halloween Stores

Spirit Halloween stores beautify the streets of Fresno. Even passing one gets me energized. The best part is going into one and playing with all of their displays. This year they have a baby head that comes out of a stomach, genius.

7. Treats

Candy. A lot of it. That is pretty much all I’m gonna say here. Oh, and any food and/or beverage pertaining to pumpkins: pie, scone, coffee, ice cream, cake/bread, tea, cookies, brownies, muffins,  

6. Local Events

All around town there are pumpkin patches, cornfields, haunted houses, and neighborhood parties to frighten you to pieces. Check out Angel’s article, in this issue, to see what events are happening in Fresno.

5. Spooky Atmosphere

Stores, houses, yards, and cars are filled with elements of Halloween ranging from cobwebs, spiders, skeletons, witches, and the like. It is always interesting to see how far people and retailers go to obtain the gaze of passersby. Some also are known to use unnatural sounds to lure people in, but it is all in good creepy fun.

4. Creative costumes

I love seeing what people are dressing up as, but, more importantly, I love seeing how creative people can get. Sure, you can buy a costume with everything you need in it to be Snooky from the Jersey Shore. But, in the true Halloween spirit, being Snooky can be done in many different ways and these interpretations makes Halloween more fascinating.

3. Haunted Houses

Being scared is probably one of my favorite things. Most haunted houses are predictable, but still seem to scare the freak out of me. The feeling of anticipation, right before the shriek is like eating pumpkin pie with whipped cream, de-light-ful.

2. Carving pumpkins

I love carving pumpkins. Reasons being: 1) sifting through hundreds of pumpkins to try to find the perfect one, 2) deciding what to carve into it, 3) taking the ewwy gooey mess that’s inside, 4) the smell, 5) sculpting the pumpkin and, 6) lighting the candle and watching it flicker. Priceless.

1. The start of the Holiday season

I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that the main reason I love Halloween is because it is the beginning of the most delightful moments. As Halloween comes nearer the sun starts to fade and the fall season is upon me. Fall is full of warm colors, layering of cozy clothes, and comfort food. Let us not forget that around this time, department stores are playing the jingles and jangles that will have us humming them far into the New Years. Ahhh, the next three months are going to be splendid. So love, eat, and enjoy because it goes a lot faster than it comes.