Halloween dates back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This day marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, when people believed the veil between the living and the dead was thin. As Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in the United States, they brought Samhain traditions with them, and Halloween as we know it began to take shape.

By the early 20th century, Halloween had transformed into the costumed, candy-filled celebration we know today. This “Americanization” of Halloween led to costumed parties and a focus on treats over tricks. But that wasn’t until the 1940s when sugar rations during WWII limited trick-or-treat goodies, so children were happy with any treat at all—fruit, coins, and homemade goodies included!

Trick-or-treating became a widespread tradition after WWII, when sugar was readily available again. The post-war candy boom gave rise to classic treats like Hershey’s, Snickers, Reese’s, and the always-debated candy corn. Today, Reese’s Cups claim the crown for the most popular Halloween candy, with Snickers close behind.

And as for candy corn? Whether you love it or leave it, this tri-colored treat has a devoted fanbase. Fun fact: Originally known as “Chicken Feed,” candy corn was developed in the 1880s to look like kernels of corn!

… As the years rolled on, new treats came and went. In the 1970’s,  the legendary Monster Cereals, debuted and took center stage. General Mills introduced the first, Count Chocula, in 1971, along with Franken Berry. Inspired by classic horror characters, these cereals quickly became breakfast table staples around Halloween, with each flavor taking on its own unique personality. Soon after, Boo Berry, with its ghostly blueberry flavor, joined the lineup. Over the decades, these cereals have made limited reappearances, stirring nostalgia for fans, young and old. Though Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry may be the main trio, they’re occasionally joined by rarer ghouls like Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy, making these cereals a playful—and delicious—part of Halloween lore.  In 2023, Carmella Creeper, Franken Berry’s long-lost cousin (and DJ), joined the group, filling the gender gap and taking the party to a whole new level!

What’s Halloween without a killer soundtrack? These tunes have made the spooky season extra groovy for decades:

• “The Monster Mash” – Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s 1962 hit remains a Halloween anthem. A little kitschy, a little kooky, it’s the perfect track for a graveyard smash!
• “Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker Jr.’s 1984 tune is as much a staple of the holiday as the Ghostbusters movie itself. Plus, who doesn’t love yelling, “Who you gonna call?”
• “Thriller” – Michael Jackson’s iconic music video featuring a zombie-filled dance routine became an instant Halloween classic in 1982. It’s a must-watch every year.
• “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell – Paranoia and funky beats make this track hauntingly fun.
• “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC – A rock anthem with a hint of sinister vibes, perfect for a devilish night.
• “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Öyster Cult – A timeless rock track that reminds us all to keep calm…and carry a little more cowbell.
• “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield – This eerie instrumental became a horror staple after its use in The Exorcist.
• “Halloween Theme” by John Carpenter – The iconic piano riff that immediately puts you on edge.
• “Psycho Theme” by Bernard Herrmann – Those sharp violins are the ultimate sound of terror.
• “Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show – A theatrical favorite for everyone looking to time-travel through some Halloween fun.
• “Bury a Friend” by Billie Eilish – A modern eerie addition, perfect for a haunted house playlist.
• “Pet Sematary” by The Ramones – A spooky punk anthem inspired by Stephen King’s horror classic.
• “A Nightmare on My Street” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – A little horror fun with Freddy Krueger and some ‘80s nostalgia.
• “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas – Danny Elfman’s Halloween anthem that brings in both tricks and treats.
• “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – Whether it’s the original or the Hocus Pocus version, it’s an enchanting must.
• “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Haunting and dark, this song adds an ominous touch to any playlist.
• “Disturbia” by Rihanna – Pop with a spooky twist, ideal for any haunted dance floor.
• “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival – The ultimate warning for things about to go bump in the night.
• “Abracadabra” by Steve Miller Band – With its magical, mysterious vibes, it’s just the right amount of enchanting.
• “The Addams Family Theme” – Snap along to this delightfully creepy and kooky classic.
• “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” by Johann Sebastian Bach – This organ masterpiece is an instant gothic atmosphere booster, making everything feel like a haunted cathedral.
• “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” by Bauhaus – This goth-rock classic is both atmospheric and eerie, paying homage to one of horror’s original icons.
• “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” by Andrew Gold – A quirky Halloween favorite that’s perfect for keeping things both spooky and fun.

From creepy tunes of the ‘50s to today’s Halloween hits, these songs keep the party going!

Nothing says Halloween quite like cozying up with a spooky special or a terrifying thriller. Whether you’re in the mood for nostalgic, family-friendly frights or chilling horror films that keep you on edge, here’s a look back at must-watch Halloween classics:

Family-Friendly Frights:

• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – Since its 1966 debut, this Peanuts special has become synonymous with Halloween. Watching Linus’s dedication to the Great Pumpkin is as heartwarming as funny.
• The Legend of Ichabod Crane – This 1949 Disney classic, narrated by Bing Crosby, adapts Washington Irving’s eerie tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow into a thrilling animated adventure. Following the bumbling yet charming schoolteacher Ichabod Crane, we’re drawn into the mysterious world of Sleepy Hollow, where tales of the infamous Headless Horseman haunt the townsfolk. With its haunting visuals, catchy songs, and the suspense of Ichabod’s fateful midnight ride, this Halloween favorite offers a perfect balance of humor and spine-tingling excitement for all ages.  It’s companion, Mr. Toad, may not be set for Halloween, but is also a WILD RIDE!
• The Nightmare Before Christmas  – Is it a Halloween movie, a Christmas movie, or the perfect blend of both? Tim Burton’s 1993 stop-motion masterpiece follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, as he stumbles into Christmas Town and becomes enchanted with the holiday’s cheer.  With hauntingly beautiful songs like “This Is Halloween” and “What’s This?” The Nightmare Before Christmas has become an essential classic that celebrates both the eerie and the merry in one unforgettable adventure.
• Hocus Pocus (and even Hocus Pocus 2) – The Sanderson sisters of Salem became Halloween icons in 1993, and they’ve bewitched us all every October since with their campy charm and spooky spells.
• Casper the Friendly Ghost, Scooby-Doo, and The Addams Family—These quirky characters brought plenty of spooks with just the right amount of silliness, making them perfect for families and Halloween fans of all ages.

Classic Horror Films: For a truly hair-raising experience, these horror classics are a must-watch for those brave enough to handle them:

• Halloween – John Carpenter’s 1978 slasher masterpiece brought us Michael Myers and established Halloween night as his infamous hunting ground. This film set the standard for horror movies with an eerie, hauntingly unforgettable score.
• The Shining – Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel is a deep dive into terror. Jack Nicholson’s iconic “Here’s Johnny!” scene adds to the film’s psychological horror and claustrophobia.
• IT—The original 1990 miniseries and the 2017 and 2019 films introduced Pennywise the Dancing Clown to new generations, ensuring that sewers—and clowns—remain terrifying.
• The Exorcist – This 1973 classic set the bar for supernatural horror. Linda Blair’s portrayal of a young girl possessed by a demon shocked audiences and earned the film a place in pop culture and horror history.
• Nightmare on Elm Street – Freddy Krueger’s debut in 1984 added an element of surreal, inescapable horror—how do you hide from a killer who attacks in your dreams?

Honorable Mentions: Movies like Psycho, Scream, Poltergeist, and The Blair Witch Project added unique scares to the horror genre and have become Halloween staples.  For Marvel fans, there are several great options:  Agatha All Along, Werewolf By Night, Moon Night, and Wanda Vision.

Whether you’re here for nostalgic cartoons or classic horror films that chill to the bone, Halloween movies and specials are a tradition that just gets better with time. So grab some popcorn (or candy corn!) and settle in for the best frights of the season.

Halloween isn’t complete without some real-life scares. Haunted attractions and theme parks go all out with scares every year. From coast to coast, America goes all out for Halloween with haunted houses, corn mazes, and fright-filled experiences that leave thrill-seekers screaming for more. Here’s a list of some big-name haunts across the nation that deliver the ultimate in Halloween scares:

• Knott’s Scary Farm (Buena Park, CA)
  Widely regarded as the first haunted theme park, Knott’s Scary Farm has been terrifying guests for 51 years with groundbreaking haunted mazes, spine-chilling scare zones, and eerie ghost towns filled with costumed actors ready to surprise visitors at every turn. Each year, Knott’s delivers a mix of new frights and fan-favorite mazes, including everything from ghostly Western themes to full-blown psychological horror. This Halloween haunt is a must for thrill-seekers who crave a variety of terrifying experiences in one location.

• Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights (Los Angeles, CA)
  For fans of horror movies brought to life, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios is the ultimate Halloween experience. Known for its cinematic quality, this annual event recreates famous horror films and TV shows through meticulously designed mazes and scare zones featuring characters like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Pennywise. Visitors get fully immersed in the scenes of classic and contemporary horror, with live actors and top-notch effects that transport them straight into their worst nightmares.

• The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor (Long Beach, CA)
  Set on the historic (and reportedly haunted) Queen Mary ocean liner, Dark Harbor takes Halloween to the high seas with a uniquely terrifying twist. This event capitalizes on the ship’s haunted history, creating mazes that explore real-life legends of ghostly passengers and eerie occurrences. Dark Harbor’s themes extend to the ship’s depths, with scare zones, live entertainment, and paranormal experiences that make for a one-of-a-kind haunt set aboard a vessel that’s earned its own ghostly reputation.

• Eastern State Penitentiary: Terror Behind the Walls (Philadelphia, PA)
  Terror Behind the Walls is set inside one of the country’s most notoriously haunted prisons, a historic penitentiary that once housed some of America’s most infamous criminals. Six different terrifying zones play on fears of isolation, darkness, and the supernatural for an immersive experience in which you may find yourself getting very close to the ghouls and ghosts lurking in its cell blocks.

• Netherworld Haunted House (Stone Mountain, GA)
  Known for its Hollywood-quality special effects, highly detailed sets, and incredible creature design, Netherworld is a haunted house on steroids. The two-story attraction includes multiple themed haunts each year, ranging from dark fantasy to horror-filled sci-fi. Visitors beware: its monsters are known for making every inch of the experience scream-worthy.

• The Dent Schoolhouse (Cincinnati, OH)
  This haunt brings a terrifying urban legend to life in an old schoolhouse. According to local legend, the school was the site of gruesome disappearances in the 1950s. Today, The Dent Schoolhouse immerses visitors in this twisted tale, combining expertly crafted sets with blood-curdling storytelling for a truly chilling experience.

• 13th Gate (Baton Rouge, LA)
  Recognized as one of the scariest haunted houses in the country, 13th Gate takes visitors through ultra-realistic scenes, including a bayou swamp filled with real snakes, a haunted asylum, and catacombs that bring the horrors of history to life. With over 40,000 square feet of terror, the attention to detail and the psychological scares make 13th Gate a terrifying journey.

• Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses (Ulster Park, NY)
  This outdoor attraction combines the best of a haunted hayride and haunted houses on a sprawling farm in the Hudson Valley. Named after the famed ghostly rider, the attraction features multiple haunted houses, a mile-long hayride, and themed areas that bring Washington Irving’s tale and other horror stories to life with a spectacular Halloween village vibe.

• The 13th Floor Haunted House (Denver, CO & Other Locations)
  Known for its blend of high-intensity scares and elaborate sets, The 13th Floor is a multi-state haunt experience with locations across the U.S. Each site has its own unique theme, but all draw on the ominous myth of the unlucky 13th floor. Visitors can expect dark corridors, gory visuals, and many surprises that make it a Halloween tradition for fear lovers.

• House of Torment (Austin, TX)
  Everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes the scares! House of Torment is an elaborate haunt known for high-energy actors, terrifying set designs, and interactive horror experiences. Each year, the themes shift, but you can always count on detailed scenes and intense scares that go far beyond the jump-scare tactics.

• McKamey Manor (Summertown, TN & Huntsville, AL)
  Not for the faint of heart, McKamey Manor has earned a reputation as one of the most extreme haunted experiences. Guests must undergo a psychological evaluation and sign a waiver before entering this fear endurance challenge, which can last up to 10 hours. It’s often too much for participants to handle—but if you’re up for the ultimate challenge, this is as intense as it gets.

For those looking for a truly haunted experience, historic haunts in Salem, Massachusetts, and Savannah, Georgia, offer ghost tours that delve into local lore and real-life mysteries.

More Thrills and Chills…