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Marilyn Monroe Haunts Here

If the rumors are to be believed, Marilyn Monroe still gets around. Fifty years after her untimely demise, the ghost of […]
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Rudolph Valentino’s 13 Ghosts

One can read about Rudolph Valentino’s many achievements and super stardom elsewhere, but what interests the local paranormal community about […]
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The Gay Ghosts of Los Angeles

Obviously, when dealing with historical figures, the subject of sexual orientation can never always be definite, so those listed below […]

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CreepyLA Features and Exclusives

CreepyLA Features and Exclusives

Knott’s Scary Farm Hosts ‘Elvira Look-A-Like Contest’

Taylor Thorne
October 17, 2016
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What better way to celebrate the Queen of Halloween than to summon all of her darkest dames? On Saturday, October 15th, Knott’s Scary Farm hosted a competition to find the BEST Elvira doppelgänger. After the night’s first performance of Elvira’s “Danse Macabre,” show, dozens of women (and men) came onstage... The post Knott’s Scary Farm Hosts ‘Elvira Look-A-Like Contest’ appeared first on HorrorBuzz.

Haunt Review 2016: The 17th Door Haunted Experience

Kendra
October 15, 2016
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Last year, the talk of the Southern California haunt community was the 17th Door in Tustin. At the time, we were intrigued, but our packed haunt schedule in 2015 didn’t leave us time to visit the haunt during its inaugural year. And, in full disclosure, we’re typically not fans of the “extreme haunt” experience, so we […]

Delusion Returns to Los Angeles for 2016… with Teeth!

Rick West
October 6, 2016
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Delusion: His Crimson Queen just may be the hottest ticket to any event this Halloween season here in Southern California. Ironically, Delusion isn’t a haunt – it’s immersive theater set within a spooky environment, dressed up in frightening tales, and performed flawlessly more » The post Delusion Returns to Los Angeles for 2016… with Teeth! appeared first on Theme Park Adventure.
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Sex, Black Magic, Showbiz and Rocketry: The Strange Life and Death of Jack Parsons

Gregory Burkart
October 3, 2016
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Few people would say that science and magick have anything to do with one another. Jack Parsons would disagree with you. Co-founder of Jet Propulsion Laboratories and father of the modern rocket, Parsons was also a devout follower of famed occultist Aleister Crowley and best friends with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Parsons was born […]
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The Ultimate List of Halloween-themed Movies

Sarah E. Jahier
October 3, 2016
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I made a list a few years ago of movies centered around, set during, or containing elements of Halloween. Since then, I've noticed that list becoming sadly out-of-date and incomplete, so I decided to start a new, more comprehensive list of movies that are Halloween-themed. All of the films listed below contain Halloween elements, whether briefly or for their entirety. Some are set during Halloween, others just use the autumn season as a backdrop for their stories, some are directly about Halloween, but they will all help evoke that special Halloween spirit!In this new list, I've not only included films I'd missed on the old list as well as new movies, but I've also broken down the movies into categories, from horror movies to family-friendly films to comedies and so on, as well as noting whether I recommend them or not. I've labeled each movie (at least the ones I've seen) with a rating of "recommended," "watch at your own risk," or "skip it."The Ultimate List of Halloween-themed Movies:Horror Movies:31 (2016) - Set on Halloween night, but lacking Halloween atmosphere. Plus, it was super-polarizing in theaters - watch at your own risk.Abandoned Mine (2013) - It has some nice Halloweenie atmosphere at the beginning, but doesn't really pay off. Watch at your own risk.The ABCs of Death 2 ("N is for Nexus" segment) (2014) - Great costumes, nice NYC Halloween atmosphere. Recommended (as is the whole anthology).All Hallow's Eve (2007) - Haven't seen this one yet.All Hallow’s Eve (2013) - An anthology film whose wrap-around story is set on Halloween. It wasn't as bad as I expected and has a creepy clown; recommended.All Hallow’s Eve 2 (2015) - Not nearly as good as the original; skip it.The Barn (2016) - A fun, well-done film that is set and filmed like it's the '80s - highly recommended if you can find it (it's doing the festival rounds now)!Boo (2005) - Set on Halloween night at an abandoned, haunted asylum, this one is surprisingly ok for a low-budget film. Recommended!Clownhouse (1989) [watch on YouTube] - Set two weeks before Halloween, so it's not too Halloweenie, but crazed killer clowns are entertaining nonetheless. Recommended.The Clown Murders (1976) - Haven't seen it.The Crow (1994) - Set on Devil's Night or the night before Halloween, recommended!Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) - This made-for-TV horror movie is bigotry and revenge in a small town, set around autumn and Halloween. Recommended!Donnie Darko (2001) - Time-travel film with a twist set around Halloween in the '80s, complete with Halloween party, costumes, and a great soundtrack. Recommended!Flesheater (1988) - Haven't seen it, but it's a low budget zombie movie set on Halloween night.Frayed (2007) - Recommended!The Fun Size Horror Vol. 1 (2015) - Anthology that has a nicely animated Halloween intro, but the stories themselves are not very Halloween-related. Watch at you own risk.The Funhouse Massacre (2015) - Set at a haunt on Halloween where a group of escaped mental patients masquerade as scare actors and start killing off guests. A little light on story, but somewhat entertaining, watch at your own risk. Ghostwatch (1992) - A faux documentary investigating a haunted house and set on Halloween, it convinced millions of British viewers that it was real. Recommended.Ginger Snaps (2000) - Love this film, and the Canadian autumn imagery and Halloween costume party makes it a fabulous werewolf film to watch around Halloween. Recommended.The Guest (2014) - Fantastic film about a drifter crashing at a family's home who may not be who he says he is. Lots of Halloween decor in this one. Recommended!Hack-o-Lantern (aka Halloween Night) (1988) - Satanists on Halloween! Yes, it's supremely cheesy, but recommended if you can find it!Hallow’s End (2003) - This low budget is set at a Halloween haunt and was better than I expected, recommended!Halloween (1978) - Do I even need to say anything? Probably THE Halloween movie! Highly recommended!Halloween II (1981) - Picking up right where the first one left off. Recommended!Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - This one leaves out Michael Myers altogether for a more Samhain-centric storyline. Recommended!Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) - Michael Myers is back, and though not quite as strong as the first two films, still recommended.Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) - Watch at your own risk.Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) - Watch at your own risk.Halloween: H20 (1998) - Recommended.Halloween: Resurrection (2002) - Skip it.Halloween (2007) - Full of Halloween atmosphere, but really depends on whether you care for Rob Zombie's films, watch at your own risk.Halloween II (2010) - Sequel from Rob Zombie, and also has lots of Halloween style, but watch at your own risk based on whether you like Rob Zombie's style.Halloween Night (2006) - Skip it.Halloweenight (2009) - Haven't seen it.Hell Night (1981) - This is kind of a cheat since I don't think it is set around Halloween, but the characters wear costumes so I am including it. Recommended.Hellbent (2005) - Slasher set on Halloween in West Hollywood, recommended!Hellions (2015) - Trippy visuals and nightmarish atmosphere featuring otherworldly trick or treaters on Halloween, recommended!Holidays ("Halloween" segment) (2016) - the Halloween segment itself is awful, recommended for the rest of the shorts which are themed around other holidays, otherwise skip it.Hollowgate (1988) - Awful low-budget slasher set on Halloween. Skip it.The Hollow (2005) - Set at a hayride on Halloween with a headless horseman running amuck. Yes, it's cheesy, but I had fun with it! Recommended.Home Movie (2008) - Only briefly set on Halloween, but the film itself is chilling and recommended.Honeyspider (2015) - Fantastic Halloween atmosphere and music, but lacking good acting or a fully realized storyline. Watch at your own risk.House II (1987) - A zany sequel that's set around Halloween, complete with brief scenes of a costume party. Recommended if you like weird movies.House of 1000 Corpses (2003) - A group seeks refuge with a backwoods family after their car breaks down Halloween night, though unbeknownst to them the family has murderous intentions. This has some cool Halloween imagery and decor, and is directed by Rob Zombie. Recommended.It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To (2009) - This indie film about a Halloween party delivers! Recommended.Jack-O (1995) - On Halloween night, the vengeful monster Jack-O is released from his grave to continue its bloodthirsty quest begun nearly one hundred years before. Cheesy, but in a so-bad-it's-good way; watch at your own risk.Lady in White (1988) - A young boy sees a ghostly vision on Halloween night and becomes involved in tracking down a serial killer that has been plaguing his quiet community. Lovely autumn visuals and a nostolgic feel! RecommendedThe Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1977) - I think there is only a scene or two set around autumn/Halloween, but it's a good film; recommendedMay (2000) - Shy May just wants a friend, but when those around her continually disappoint her, she decides to make her own. Recommended, though only the last part of the film is set on Halloween night.The Midnight Hour (1985) [watch on YouTube] - Highly recommended for goofy '80s fun as the whole film is set at a Halloween party! Plus the soundtrack is pure Halloween goodness!Mischief Night (2013) - A blind woman must protect herself against a mysterious intruder the night before Halloween. Better than I expected, but it has no Halloween atmosphere/decor at all. Watch at your own risk.Mischief Night (2014) - Haven't seen it.Mr. Halloween (2007) - Skip it.Murder Party (2007) - A lonely man shows up at a Halloween party with killer consequences. I didn't care for this one, but a lot of people liked it; watch at your own risk.Night of the Demons (1988) - At a Halloween party in an abandoned funeral home guests start getting possessed. An '80s classic; recommended!Night of the Demons 2 (1994) - Not as good as the first, but also recommended.Night of the Demons (2009) - I dug the soundtrack to this remake and thought it was well done; recommendedPay the Ghost (2015) - One year after a man's son disappears on Halloween, he begins to unravel the mystery behind his son's disappearance. Surprisingly decent (even with Nicholas Cage) and I liked the Halloween carnival and general atmosphere of this one; recommendedThe Pumpkin Karver (2006) - Skip it (though I do love the pumpkin patch scenes).Pumpkinhead (1988) - Witches, pumpkin patches, and demonic pumpkin-headed monsters? They are all here, and though Halloween isn't really overtly mentioned, this is very Halloween-y feeling. Recommended.Satan’s Little Helper (2004) - A bratty boy befriends a man in a devil costume on Halloween, not realizing that the Halloween pranks he is involved in are all too real. This dark comedy is one of my Halloween faves! Recommended.Scare Zone (2009) - Workers at a Halloween haunted attraction are killed off one by one. It has a good haunt atmosphere, but the story is meh; watch at your own risk.Sleepy Hollow (1999) - The legend of the headless horseman and Ichabod Crane who sets out to solve the mystery. This Tim Burton tale has a New England Halloween feel, full of jack-o-lanterns and a gloomy, fog-drenched woods. Recommended.Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) - This film is big on nostolgic small town Halloween celebrations and autumn imagery, plus a classic tale from the King of the October People himself, Ray Bradbury. Recommended!Tales of Halloween (2015) - A fun, goofy, anthology filled with Halloween-themed short films, recommended!The Houses October Built (2014) - Halloween enthusiasts travel the country looking for the most extreme haunted attraction, but the one they find may scare them to death. I didn't care for this one, but the haunt scenes were cool; watch at your own risk.Trick or Treats (1982) - An escaped madman comes home Halloween night when his son is playing pranks on the babysitter. Some fun Halloween gags, but the rest of the film drags. Watch at your own risk.Trick or Treat (1986) - A loner metalhead accidentally brings his favorite rock 'n' roll idol back-from-the dead after playing his unreleased material backwards. You can't go wrong with metal and Halloween, plus this one has some neat cameos. Highly recommended!Trick 'r Treat (2009) - This wonderfully done Halloween horror anthology is a new classic and sets the bar high for Halloween stories and imagery. A must-watch every Halloween, and it goes without saying that it is highly recommended.V/H/S (segment “10/31/98”) (2012) - A goup heads to a Halloween party, but unknowingly get the wrong house and stumble upon something terrifying. Recommended.WNUF Halloween Special (2013) - This is another faux news documentary and has a great retro feel, recommended!Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines (2012) - Skip it, it's set on Halloween but there isn't a lick of Halloween decor or atmosphere, plus it's just a really bad movieShort Horror Films (links go to YouTube or Vimeo - there are so many of these, I've only listed a few I enjoy!):Bits and Pieces (2013)Candy. (2010)Candy (2014)Halloween Hugs (2013)The Halloween Kid (2011)Happy Halloween (2014)Jack Chop (2009)Just Take One (2010)Monster Problems (2015)My Friend Josh (2010)Peter Goes to Hell (2012)Scary Mask (2013)Selfie (2013)The Tiffany Problem (2007)Witches Brew (2013)Yummy Meat (2015)Family-Friendly Movies/Cartoons (again, there are tons of these, I've only listed a few!):Beetlejuice: A Halloween SpooktacularBetty Boop’s Hallowe’en Party (1933)Bugs Bunny’s Howl-oween Special (1978)Casper (1995)Disney’s Halloween Treat (1982)Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993)Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)Fat Albert's Halloween Special (1977)Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)Girl vs. Monster (2012)Goosebumps: Attack of the Jack-o-Lanterns (1996)Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask, part 1 and part 2 (1995)Halloween is Grinch Night (1977)The Halloween that Almost Wasn't (1979) [watch on YouTube]The Halloween Tree (1993)Halloweentown (1998)Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001)Halloweentown High (2004)Halloweentown: Return to Halloweentown (2006)Hocus Pocus (1993)Hotel Transylvania (2012)It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)Monster House (2006)Mostly Ghostly (2008)Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? (2014)The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)Over the Garden Wall (2014)ParaNorman (2012)R.L. Stine's Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls (2015)R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It (2007)Scary Godmother (2003)Tom and Jerry's Halloween Hi-jinksTom and Jerry: Tricks and TreatsTower of Terror (2007)Twitches (2005)Under Wraps (1997)When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001)Witch's Night Out (1978)Comedies:Addams Family Values (1993)Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)Fun Size (2012)Gravy (2015)Grown Up, Tony Phillips (2013)Idle Hands (1999)Mad Monster Party (1967)Mean Girls (2004)Once Bitten (1985)The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) Roseanne: Tricks and Treats (Halloween episodes from various seasons)The Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror (various seasons)Documentaries:The American Scream (2012) - recommendedEvery Other Day is Halloween (2010) - recommendedHalloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006) - recommendedHalloween: The Happy Haunting of America (2007) - recommendedThe Haunted History of Halloween (1997) - recommendedI'm sure I've missed some Halloween-themed movies, so please feel free to leave any films I should add in the comments below!SOURCE: www.thespookyvegan.com

Photo Essay: Upon the 75th Anniversary of the Ghost Town at Knott’s Berry Farm

Sandi Hemmerlein
October 2, 2016
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It's kind of hard to believe that another amusement park has managed to thrive in more or less the next town over from Disneyland. I mean, Disney is Disney, after all. It's the happiest place on earth!But Disneyland has been evolving and modernizing. It's been shifting its focus away from Frontierland in favor of Tomorrowland. And that means Knott's Berry Farm will soon have the market cornered on amusement park depictions of American pioneers and frontier life in the Old American West.Yes, Knott's has a water park and some roller coasters in its main park. But for me, the main attraction is its Ghost Town.Funny enough, the Ghost Town was built to keep people occupied while they were waiting (sometimes hours) in line to get into Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.You could pass the time by taking a look at the 19th century (G)old Trails Hotel, which Walter Knott had moved to Southern California from Prescott, Arizona. The ghost town was free back then—and Walter Knott didn't start charging admission until 1968.And thus began his large-scale assemblage art project, building his own "authentic" ghost town by relocating abandoned and neglected buildings and artifacts that he collected.Unfortunately, some of them—like the Gold Trails—didn't exactly stand the test of time, so what you see there now is a replica.But other facades—like the "peek-in" storefronts—haven't had to endure much wear and tear and have been relatively untouched over the years.Of course, Walter would find certain anchor buildings for his ghost town, put them into place, and then fill the spaces in between with custom-built "fill-in" buildings that fit right in.Walter had seen the blacksmith shop structure off the side of the road not far from where he'd started farming back in 1920. So 20 years later when he began building his ghost town, he moved it here—in one piece.You can still pay the blacksmith a visit and watch him make real horseshoes.Among the other artifacts that were "rescued" by Walter Knott include "Old Betsy," an antique wood-burning engine that was a modern upgrade to the 20 Mule Team used in borax mining in the Death Valley area. Walter found this one in Trona.The windmill by the livery stable is a replica, and together they mark the end of Main Street. Walter Knott didn't expect his ghost town to grow beyond that.But indeed, it grew as Walter continued to collect neglected farmhouses......and even a famous boxing venue from Burbank known as "Jeffries Barn" (named after heavyweight boxing champ Jim Jeffries).There's the one-room red schoolhouse, which looks like something out of Little House and the Prairie......even though it was actually relocated to Knott's from the city of Pico Rivera (about 12 miles northwest of Buena Park) in 1959.You can sit in the schoolchildren's desks, but you might have to explain to your younger companions what a blackboard / chalkboard is.And, of course, it's not a real ghost town unless it's got its own bottle house......with 3082 bottles embedded in the concrete walls (neck side in)—just like the one in Calico Ghost Town (also a creation of Walter Knott) and the one in Rhyolite, outside of Death Valley.Except these bottles appeared to have crumbled bits of newspaper or currency stuffed inside of them.In fact, the Knott's ghost town draws from many other authentic towns of the Old West—not just Prescott, Calico, and Rhyolite, but also Tombstone, Arizona. Walter built his own version of the Bird Cage Theater......as well as Boothill Cemetery.Some of the headstones (well, wooden slabs) are actually real.Walter would find vintage grave markers that were badly damaged, buy them, and then pay to replace them.Lester Moore isn't actually buried in Buena Park......but if you stand on the grave of Hiram McTavish, you can feel his heart still beating through your shoe.An expanded Knott's Ghost Town afforded Walter the opportunity to build his own railroad, where he could store—and run—the vintage trains he'd also collected, like the No. 41 "Red Cliff" from the Rio Grande Southern line.......or the historic locomotives from the Denver & Rio Grande line.During peak holiday time and weekends, you can stand in line to catch a ride on the vintage steam train, but during the week when it's a little quieter, it's "The Galloping Goose" that will take you for a ride on the Ghost Town & Calico Railroad.It's a narrow gauge, lightweight machine—one of only seven ever built in the 1930s—that was used as a more economic alternative to the heavyweight steam engines. This one was in service in Colorado until 1953, and its transport costs were reportedly more than its purchase price.Watch out for bandits.I figure, if you're going to take a ride on a train through the Knott's Ghost Town, then you ought to also take a ride on an authentic, horse-drawn stagecoach.The Holloday, part of the original Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line, takes passengers on a scenic ride through Knott's Berry Farm—either inside the coach or up top.If you're sitting up top, you'd better hold on—and buckle your seat belt.Of course, if you're going to ride a train and a stagecoach, you might as well partake of some of the more modern amusements as well. The Pony Express—a rollercoaster whose horses feel more like motorcycles—is a surprisingly rowdy ride (as evidenced by how tightly they strap you in).For something a little more relaxing, there's the Calico Mine Company ride, which takes you right to the "glory hole" of the Calico Mine in your own mining cart—without a seat belt. Beware of the blasting!Sure, it's all a bit silly, but there's some real history at Knott's Berry Farm. Walter Knott saved a lot of historic stuff from destruction, demolition, and neglect.And while it amuses us, maybe we can learn something, too.Related Posts:Photo Essay: Calico Ghost TownPhoto Essay: The Death Toll of TombstonePhoto Essay: Glimpses of ArizonaPhoto Essay: The Museum of Misfit Houses

The 17th Door Turns The Shock Value To 11

Brian Tull
October 1, 2016
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With the recent debate over using real-life issues as thematic elements in haunts, haunt fans and owners are taking a closer look at where to draw the line when bringing dark, traumatic human experience into these fictional worlds. For one haunt in particular, the answer to that question is quite... The post The 17th Door Turns The Shock Value To 11 appeared first on HorrorBuzz.

The Spooky Vegan’s 2016 Halloween Season Bucket List

Sarah E. Jahier
October 1, 2016
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Can you believe October 1st is already here?! It's unbelievable how fast it crept up on me this year, especially when I want to savor each magical fall moment (even though it's been in the 80s and 90s the past week, wah!).Per tradition, October 1st kicks off 31 Days of Halloween, an event hosted by Countdown to Halloween and one I've been participating in since 2010! The gist is that I will publish a Halloween-related post daily (or as close to daily as possible) for the month of October. I'll be sharing all sorts of ghoulish goodies this year, including eerie entertainment recommendations, morbid music to set the stage for spookiness, rancid recipes, dreadful decorations, and much more! Join me...if you dare!To kick off the 31 Days of Halloween, I have a custom of sharing my annual autumn bucket list on the first day of October. It serves as a running to-do list for me and keeps me from losing my head this macabre month! I'm looking forward to a low-key celebration this month, but plan on squeezing in lots of autumn and Halloweenie fun! Below is what I hope to accomplish...My Autumn 2016 Bucket ListPic from last year's Halloween Leftovers post!-Visit pumpkin patches-Watch as many horror movies or spooky-themed movies as possible via Netflix, on DVD, etc.-Smell like Halloween - find some cruelty-free, vegan scents so I can smell like burning leaves-See some new horror movies in theatersPic from last year's Halloween Leftovers post!-Go to a haunted house, haunt or hayride-Try new vegan autumn recipes-Find some creepy-cool new goodies on Etsy-Eat as many pumpkin-based foods (that are vegan) as possibleFrom 2014's Halloween Leftovers post!-Send Halloween cards to friends and family-Drink apple cider/pumpkin tea-Score some cute new Halloween clothes or accessories-Bake muffins, bread, scones, cookies, etc. in autumn flavors (pumpkin everything!)From my Ghost with the Most Pizza post! -Make creepy and/or creepy cute Halloween foods-Wear scarves, boots, sweaters (quite the challenge in SoCal)-Complete a Halloween craft project-Watch old school Halloween-themed movies, TV shows, specials, etc. that I may not have seen yetFrom last year's Big Lots Halloween post!-Hit up the big box stores for Halloween goodies-Make my home smell like pumpkin spice 24/7 with essential oils-Buy a new cozy Halloween blanket-Visit a place that actually FEELS like autumn, where I can crunch in the fallen leaves and feel a cool autumn breezePic from last year's Halloween Leftovers post!-Carve pumpkins-Decorate my front yard-Visit some historical cemeteries-Host a pumpkin carving party or horror movie nightFrom my How to Keep the Halloween Spirit Alive Year-round post!-Crank up the Halloween music-Hand out vegan candy to trick or treaters-Come up with a costume to wear on Halloween night-Decorate the house even MORE than usualFrom my How to Keep the Halloween Spirit Alive Year-round post!-Read The Halloween Tree and other Halloween-themed stories/books-Watch Halloween cartoons-Paint my nails orange and black-Go to a Halloween-themed play, concert, etc.From a Roger's Gardens visit in 2014!-See the Halloween display at Roger’s Gardens in Newport Beach-Roast pumpkin seeds-Complete the 31 Days of HalloweenNot a lot of events on my bucket list, but I like simple autumns where I can sit back and enjoy the season rather than running around trying to cram in everything in such a limited amount of time. Still, it's gonna be a great month and I can't wait to share it with you!You can also keep up with my Halloween adventures on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!What are your plans this October?SOURCE: www.thespookyvegan.com