It’s creepy and it’s kooky, mysterious and spooky, we’re altogether ooky, it’s time for Halloween!
Raise your hand if you LOVE Halloween? We certainly do and when we realized that Hotel Transylvania 3 would be released on Blu-ray™ and DVD on October 9th, it inspired us to get into the Halloween spirit. Want to join us?
“Haunt” Your House
If you’re like us, you proudly adorned your home with cobwebs, jack-o-lanterns, and skeletons as soon as there was a “great pumpkin” sighting. Decorating your house for Halloween really sets the mood for the entire month of October, and you don’t have to go far or spend much to ‘frighten’ up a few scares. Need a few ideas? Be sure to check out these 12 Terrifying Halloween Decorations Every Home Should Have.
While retail stores may be ready to deck the halls, everyone knows that you can’t really get into the Christmas spirit until you’ve gone trick-or-treating. So go all out! Try your hand at a few DIY projects (like these mummy lanterns) or spook out your neighbors with a graveyard scene on your front lawn with ghoulish props! Be creative and have fun!
Read a Few Bloodcurdling Thrillers
Whether your kids like ghosts and goblins, skeletons and witches, fairies and princesses, or pirates and ninjas, Halloween is a spooktacular excuse to read! Scary and haunting or happy and fun, there’s a book for everyone. In addition to many of the books from The Ultimate Halloween Reading Guide for Kids of All Ages, we added [amazon_textlink asin=’1534417680′ text=’Hotel Transylvania 3: Monster Cruise’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’bomllcdm-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’707f0773-c980-11e8-a160-7beac9cc1c36′] to our stash this year.
Watch Some Spooky(ish) Movies
There are three ways to watch scary movies.
- Watch with all the lights on, windows wide open and during the middle of the day. Follow with a comedy, so you don’t have nightmares.
- Brave watching during the middle of the night in the pitch-black, all while pulling a blanket over your head.
- Or, don’t watch them at all – scaredy cats!
However, whether you choose to watch (or not watch) scary movies, October is full of frightening flicks that the entire family can enjoy. In fact, we’ve created a list of 31 Days of Halloween Family-Friendly Movies, but one movie is missing from our list: Hotel Transylvania 3!
If you’re already a fan of the Hotel Transylvania franchise, this third installment is sure to be an instant favorite. All of your favorite characters are back, and this time they’re heading on vacation. Of course, no family vacation is complete without a little drama. It is a super funny movie (after all, it’s Adam Sandler) and it’ll keep the attention of your kiddos, all the while throwing in some adult humor that’ll go straight over the kids’ heads.
So, go ahead and get the Monster Party Edition and you’ll have almost everything you need to host an awesome Hotel Transylvania 3 movie party including:
- Full AR & VR Experience with VR Activity Book and Goggles
- 2 Mini-Movies
- 7 Scary-oke Sing-Alongs
- Mavis & Drac Monster Makeover Tutorial
- Spooktacular Sleepover Activities
Scare Up a Snack
Speaking of a party, no Halloween party is complete without some boo-licious treats. While mom may have the sweet aromas of pumpkin spice, apples and maple running through her veins, your tiniest goblins and ghosts may prefer something salty, sour, sweet or chocolaty that they can sink their sweet fangs into. However, if you’re looking for something a little healthier, check out these 13 Healthier Spooky-licious Halloween Treats. Whatever your flavor, a quick walk through your local superstore and we’re sure you’ll find plenty of Halloween-themed goodies.
While you’re at the store, be sure to pick up the following ingredients to make a Drac Spooky Smoothie.
- 16 oz frozen strawberries
- 8 oz frozen mango
- 1 can guava nector
- 1/3 cup lime juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp ground allspice
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in the blender
- Blend until smooth
- Add more water if too thick
- Serve in two large glasses (or 4 smaller ones) with Drac Straws (directions can be found on DVD)
If smoothies aren’t your thing, you can always quench your taste for blood with a little strawberry soda. Delicious!
Throw On Your Favorite Costume
You simply can’t celebrate Halloween without at least one costume, and we say why limit yourself to just one?!
Costumes are a perfect chance for kids (and adults) to explore their imagination and express their creativity. DIY or store-bought, it doesn’t really matter as long as you and your kids are having fun.
You could also practice your inner cosmetology skills by using special effects hair and makeup. With makeup (or a special Halloween paint kit), you can create anything from darker eyebrows and lips (to look like Mavis), to deep gashes or vampire blood. If you’re not sure how to get started, don’t be afraid to watch a few YouTube tutorials and work a few practice sessions in before the big night.
Pro Tip: don’t forget to shop the post-Halloween sales for some awesome deals on costumes that can be used all year long.
Do the Monster Mash
Who doesn’t love a good dance party? Remember the first time you heard Thriller by Michael Jackson, or Ghostbusters or Time Warp by the Rocky Horror Cast? There are so many great Halloween songs out there, you’d be remiss not to have a dance party after you’ve gone through all the trouble of getting dressed up, even if that party includes no one other than you and the kids.
One of the great things about the Hotel Transylvania 3 Monster Party Edition is that it includes a number of sing-a-long dance tracks.
Turn up the music and show those monsters who has the best dance moves.
Carve a Pumpkin
As it gets closer to Halloween, don’t forget to save a night for pumpkin carving and/or decorating. Carving pumpkins is a traditional part of Halloween and fun for all ages! Whether you want to use a decorating kit to keep it simple and gut free, aim for the standard triangle eyes and toothy grin, or challenge yourself with an intricate design, you’ll certainly feel the Halloween spirit when you’re done.
If you’re looking for a new design, click on the image below to download 7 new Hotel Transylvania 3 pumpkin carving stencils. 
Devour ALL of Your Candy
Finally, the number one reason that kids love Halloween: CANDY! Buy and eat as much as you want. Tell everyone that you’re going to hand it out for Halloween. Egg your kids on as they go door to door. Encourage them to eat as much as they can when they finish trick-or-treating and then hoard the rest for yourself (kidding, not kidding). Life is too short to deprive yourself of candy so have fun and enjoy.
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In all seriousness, Hotel Transylvania 3 is now available on Digital and arrives on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD on October 9th! Be sure to pick up a copy so you too can fully get into the Halloween spirit!
Looking for more Halloween inspiration? Check out our Holiday section at Daily Mom.
