Celebrate the spooky season—indoors or out
By Cazzy Lewchuck, Staff Writer
Halloween can be a difficult time for many students, especially those who have just started college and might have no celebrations to look forward to. Although 99 per cent of us look too old to go trick or treating, there are still many options for ensuring a fun October 31.
If you’re looking to stay in, there are plenty of options. You could hide out on the couch and watch scary movies. Whether your tastes are It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or somewhere in between, Halloween night can be the perfect time to marathon all the horror shows not shown in the other months of the year. For extra fun, eat a bunch of Halloween candy.
You could also spend your time making Halloween fun for others by scaring the local children. Dress as something scary (vampire, witch, zombie) and make the little ones scream in terror when they reach your front door or yard. Don’t forget to console the kids by rewarding them with lots of candy.
For the lovers among us, might I suggest you dress up in a sexy or twisted costume, stay at home, and turn the lights out for a night of sexy role play. Although this works better with a partner, it could be a great opportunity for single people to discover new and creepy ways to enjoy themselves.
Leaving the house on Halloween—an extra scary option—is sometimes necessary in the name of fun. Perhaps you could take a friend or neighbour’s children trick or treating. Just because it’s not socially acceptable for you to go without children doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the annual tradition. You can probably even wear a costume without raising too many eyebrows, especially if it goes with the child’s somehow. If you’re really lucky, you may even be able to get some treats out of the deal—it’s like taking candy from a baby. (Do not take candy from infants; they cry).
For some solitude, go to a graveyard. Bundle up and explore a cemetery in darkness on the creepiest night of the year. Bring a friend, a Thermos full of hot drink, and a book of ghost stories to read by flashlight. In the interest of respecting the dead on All Hallow’s Eve, and out of basic human decency, be respectful, not obnoxious, and leave no trace.
Those who are of age can check out a local club or bar. Most of them will probably have at least a vaguely Halloween-themed party going on. If not, it’s still likely someone will be there pre- or post- another Halloween party—an excellent chance to make a new friend or date.
There are plenty of other Halloween events for all ages, like horror movies at a local movie theatre, or ghost trains and tours. The Rio, Vancity, and Cinematheque theatres are all showing scary movies on October 31. The remake of Carrie is also playing in most major theatres, and as for haunted things, the city is full of them. Try Fright Nights, Potter’s House of Horrors, the Stanley Park and Bear Creek Park Ghost Trains, Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tours, or Halloween events in Chinatown. These places may be quite crowded on Halloween night… but hey, you didn’t have any other plans so you don’t mind waiting in line, right?
