39 Pumpkin Carving Designs That’ll Wow the Neighborhood

by Susie ForesmanOctober 23, 2023

A cool pumpkin carving stencil will make all the difference

Your kids have picked out their favorite Halloween costumes, and you’ve decided whether you’ll go trick-or-treating or attend a Trunk or Treat. Now it’s time to carve out a place of honor for your pumpkin in the neighborhood Halloween parade with one of our cool pumpkin carving templates. Whether you want a Ninja Turtle, Peppa Pig, or classic witch carving stencil, you’ll find a little bit of everything (and all skill levels) in our collection of pumpkin carving stencils. Feeling extra creative? Try your hand at these other amazing Halloween crafts for kids, DIY Halloween decorations, and easy Halloween-inspired treats.

What’s the History Behind Pumpkin Carvings and Jack-O’-Lanterns?

The tradition of carving pumpkins has origins in the Irish myth of Stingy Jack. People began carving faces in turnips to keep Jack’s (and other evil spirits) soul away, and when immigrants came to the United States, they started using pumpkins. Halloween is rooted in the Gaelic celebration of Samhain, which starts on Oct. 31 and ends on Nov. 1 and celebrates bringing in the harvests and ushering in the dark winter months. People would go from house to house in search of food and drink. They would also often carve makeshift lanterns out of potatoes and other root veggies, and as the years passed, several of these traditions blended to become what we now celebrate as Halloween.

How to Use a Pumpkin Carving Template

So, you’re ready to pick your pumpkin carving stencil and get to work. But, do you know the tips and tricks for carving a pumpkin? We love this tutorial from HGTV that offers advice on how to get the best-looking pumpkin on the block. We also recommend using tracing paper with a dry-erase marker or pencil on your pumpkin and having the best tools at the ready. A serrated knife is a must, as is a big spoon for scooping out the seeds and a paring knife is good for carving. You can also invest in a pumpkin carving kit, which will include everything you need to get started.

Ursula Pumpkin Stencil

Ursula pumpkin carving template — Disney on Ice

The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid was a smash hit, and while we adore Melissa McCarthy's take on the legendary Sea Witch, there's just something about the original animated form. Download the template here.

California Sea Lion Jack-O'-Lantern

It's a jack-o'-lantern but with an ocean twist! This adorable California Sea Lion pumpkin stencil is one you won't see on many porches. Download the pumpkin carving template here.

Cute Ghost Pumpkin Carving Template

Ghost in the window pumpkin carving template — Muse Printables

Who says ghosts have to be scary? This adorable pumpkin carving template from Muse Printables is perfect for families with toddlers experiencing their first Halloween. Download it here.

Soccer Ball Pumpkin Carving Template

Got a Lionel Messi fan in the house? Show your love of the game with a soccer ball pumpkin! If there's another sport that your family holds close to their heart, don't worry! There are pumpkin carving stencils for everyone. Check them out on Pumpkin Pile.

Classic Tombstone

This classic Halloween-themed pumpkin carving template will look perfect next to your witch, zombie, or monster! Download the free printable pumpkin stencil at Free Stencil Gallery.

Steve

If your kid is a Minecraft fan, then this pumpkin carving stencil of Steve will thrill their little building hearts. Download the free pumpkin printable from pumpkinpile.com.

Donatello

The new movie came out this summer, so why not add one of your favorite teen turtles to the front porch? Download it here.

Peace Sign

This peace symbol pumpkin pattern will bring good vibes on Halloween night. Download it from Pumpkin Pile.

The Mona Lisa

Carve the world's most famous painting onto your pumpkin with this Mona Lisa pumpkin carving design from Spookmaster.

The Child

Carve up a glowing Grogu this year for Halloween by using a Mandalorian pumpkin stencil. This one from Woo Jr. is super fun.

CurliCrow

This spooky crow must have picked up his witch friend's hat! Get the pumpkin carving stencil over at Pumpkin Lady.

Enter if You Dare

Simple phrases are fun, and this one is perfect for a house that has plenty of Halloween decor. Download the pumpkin carving stencil from Pumpkin Pile.

Tiger

Hey, all you cool cats and kittens! This tiger pumpkin carving design is a way to give a shout-out to the docu-series that rocked our world when the pandemic hit in 2020. Download the pumpkin carving template over at SpookMaster.

Say it with an emoji this Halloween. Not only is this adorable, but this pumpkin carving design is perfect for beginning carvers. Download the template over at DLTK.

Witch Pumpkin Stencil

What's Halloween without a proper witch pumpkin stencil? We love this one from HGTV. It's a basic pumpkin carving template that'll pop at night.

Albert Einstein

This is an advanced pumpkin carving template, but it's an amazing one! Pay tribute to one of mankind's most luminous minds with this fun design. Download the template from Pumpkin Glow.

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's iconic monster does not disappoint. We love Better Homes & Gardens version of the classic Halloween character.

Jolly Roger Flag

Candy looters beware!! The Jolly Roger looms near. This fun skull and crossbones design is especially fun for pirate-loving folks. Grab the download over at Pumpkin Pile.

Indominus Rex

For your Jurassic Park fans, this fairly simple pumpkin carving template of an Indominus Rex is perfect. Download for free at Pumpkin Pile.

Meow

It wouldn’t be All Hallows Eve without a black cat lurking about, and we think this stencil from Woo Jr. is just the right balance of spooky and sweet.

Wednesday Addams

In honor of the Emmy-nominated Wednesday, why not carve Wednesday's unforgettable face on your pumpkin this year? Download the design by leopard toes via Devian Tart.

Goofy Jack-O'-Lantern Template

A classic jack-o'-lantern is always fun, and this one gives a little goof to the iconic pumpkin carving template. Download the design from Pumpkin Pile.

Who You Gonna Call?

Keep the ghosts at bay with this perfectly themed template from Pumpkin Carving Templates. (And have your kiddo dress up as Holtzmann for bonus points.)

I Am Groot!

If you’re a Marvel fan, then you’ve got to make a Baby Groot pumpkin this year, even if only for the cute factor. Get the template from Pumpkin Pile.

Peppa Pumpkin

Everybody loves Peppa Pig, and she’ll look fabulous on your front step this Halloween. Grab the pumpkin carving template from Pumpkin Pile.

Pikachu

Pokemon is as popular as ever, and who doesn't love Pikachu? Parents, you’ll love how easy this design is to carve. Download the template.

Cool Cauldron

Double, double toil, and trouble! Give trick or treaters traveling by broom their own cauldron for the big night with this pumpkin stencil. The hardest part will be making sure the bubbles in the mysterious brew turn out just right. Grab the design over at Celebrating Halloween.

Super Mario

The Mario Bros. have a smash movie hit on their hands, and we are totally loving it! Keep the feels going with this fun carving template. Download the stencil over at Mario Mayhem.

Room on the Broom

Go the more traditional route with Home Life Weekly‘s classic carving, featuring the spooky silhouettes of a witch and her bat friend. Let the little ones carve the large parts like the witch’s hat, and you can take the reins for the details of the bat.

Simple Spider

Spiders love to drop in for Halloween, and with this pumpkin carving template, it's easy! The big sections that need to be carved out make this one perfect for beginners. Click here to grab the pdf.

Feel the (Carving) Force

If your Star Wars fans aren't so sure about joining the dark side, there are plenty of other characters to choose from too. See them all at Star Wars.

Owl Orb

Whoooo wants to carve a pumpkin? A simple and sweet design featuring an owl resting on a branch will make little ones smile. Get the pattern from Pumpkin Carving Templates.

Candy Carving

We love the clever way HGTV uses a pumpkin to make a statement. With this candy arrow, no trick-or-treaters will be left behind.

Guide the Way

Little Wayfinders will be guided by the heart of Te Fiti when it glows brightly on Halloween night. This simple but stunning design will be a hit with the porch parade! Get the stencil over at Free Stencil Gallery.

Light the Way

For a different take on glowing pumpkins, try this candelabra design from HGTV. You can either go spooky with an eerie glow or make it classy with bright shiny light.

Vampire Pac-Man

This design from Woo Jr. takes us back to our days of Pac-Man and pinball machines—with a Halloween twist! The large blocks of pumpkin to be cut out make this a pretty easy design for little ones to pull off, too.

Spell It Out

This one simply says it all. Download it from Pumpkin Pile now!

Pirate Pumpkin

Arrrr! A pirate pumpkin is perfect for the plunder that is Halloween night. Your little buccaneers will even have a fellow matey to welcome them home after a night of collecting serious booty. Download the design over at Pumpkin Pile.

Mummy

A classic Halloween character, this wrapped up moaning monster will be a fun addition to your porch this Halloween. Download the printable from HGTV.

Make sure to capture all the fall fun—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

20+ Facts about Halloween to Share with Your Kids

by Amber GuetebierOctober 17, 2022

How many of these Halloween facts do you know?

Although your kids might think otherwise, Halloween isn’t just about candy! We caught up with some of our favorite folks from Ireland to share the origin stories of our spookiest holiday. From the traditions surrounding Halloween costumes to the backstory of carving pumpkins, here are Halloween facts to share with your little ghouls and goblins.

The Original Halloween: Samhain

interesting Halloween facts — Mick O'Niell via ireland.com

Here's the very first Halloween fact you should know. The celebration began over 3,000 years ago as the Celtic festival of Samhain, pronounced sow-in. Say it out loud and you'll be able to hear the connection to the modern word Hallow-een.

When the Christian holiday of All Hallow's Eve arrived in the 5th century, which took place around the same time of year, the practices began to merge and the more common term became Halloween.

Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and a transition into the darker months of winter, the Celts believed that this was a time when the worlds of the living and the dead could interact, and spirits could move between the worlds.

Walk Among Us: The Tradition of Costumes

In order to avoid being tricked or taken into the Otherworld (aka the world of the dead) people would disguise themselves as spirits like ghosts, fairies, witches, demons, and goblins.

Ancient celts would frequently don animal skins and other elaborate outfits. These costumes would cause confusion and allow the living to walk among the spirits without harm. This is where our tradition of dressing up on Halloween comes from!

Light It Up: Bonfires

Halloween facts about bonfires — Iieland.com

Bonfires are lit on the hillsides to mark the holiday, a tradition that still is popular today in Ireland. Traditionally a Samhain bonfire was a place where clans and communities would gather together to celebrate.

Recent archaeological excavations have suggested that Tlachtaga, or the Hill of Ward, (in present-day County Meath) was used for feasting and celebration over 2,000 years ago. There is also documentation in manuscripts that it was thought that the fire from this hill was used to rekindle all of the fires in Ireland.

Knife Skills: Carving Pumpkins

Another fun Halloween fact is that the tradition of carving pumpkins also has its origins in Ireland. While pumpkins are indigenous to the Americas, the Irish carved turnips and large potatoes into the original jack-o'lanterns.

Why the name Jack? Many believe it's because of the story of a man named Stingy Jack, who tried to trick the Devil. He did not succeed and as punishment, he was doomed to wander eternity with only a turnip with a single ember to light his way.

Some believe that the single ember to light a jack-o'-lantern came from the Samhain bonfire and brought good luck to the household. It was placed inside a turnip and carried to the hearth to light the first fire of the Celtic New Year (Nov. 1).

Trick-or-Treating & Caroling???

a group of kids in costumes is ready to go trick or treating with pumpkins in hand — iStock

The practice of going door to door and asking for candy has its roots in this tradition:

On the night of Samhain, or in preparation for the big bonfire, children and the poor would go door to door to ask for donations for the celebration: food, kindling for the fire, or money.

In exchange, they would sing songs and offer prayers for the dead. Often they were given a traditional food called a soul cake: a flat fruit cake. The tradition was known as "souling."

A Feast...for Vegetarians?

Feasting was a traditional part of the Samhain celebration, and foods included were those that were in abundance at the end of harvests, such as nuts, apples, grains, poultry, beef, pork, and squash.

Eventually, Samhain merged with the Christian practice of All Hallow's Eve (to create Halloween), and the day before became a day of fasting and preparation.

Part of the fasting was to eat no meat, so vegetarian fare became the norm, including the use of apples, squash, turnips, and potatoes.

The classic Irish potato dish colcannon became part of a long-lasting Halloween recipe tradition, along with fadge (an apple cake) and barmbrack.

A Fortune Telling Cake

Barmbrack is a sort of fortune-telling cake that has trinkets or coins baked into it. What you get in your slice could predict what your new year holds. You can find a recipe here (caution should be used when serving this type of cake as there are small pieces that could be hazardous to young kids, so use sound judgment here).

Common items found in barmbracks include a ring (marriage), a coin (wealth), and a piece of cloth (bad luck).

In some places, you'll find other unique items, including a stick (an argument), a thimble (independence), and a button (bachelorhood).

Is That a Love Spell in Your Colcannon?

Colcannon, a beloved Irish dish of potatoes and cabbage, isn't just for warming your belly.

If you were single and seeking a spouse, you would make colcannon on this magical night with similar symbols to barmbrack: a ring was marriage, thimbles a life of living solo, and coins were wealth.

If you were unmarried, you may be sent into the garden to pick the cabbage while blindfolded. Then the colcannon was made with that chosen cabbage, and a single ring was added. Whoever found the ring would be next to marry.

One legend tells of putting the first and last spoonful of colcannon into a sock and hanging it on the door. The first (single?) person to walk through that door would be their spouse.

Find a traditional colcannon recipe here.

A special thanks to ireland.com for the imagery and information!

Target’s No-Carve Pumpkin Kits Are Killing It This Year

by Erica LoopOctober 4, 2022

These mess-free kits are perfect for a no clean-up craft

Pumpkin everything time is here, and that doesn’t only mean the all-important PSL is making a comeback––it’s also pumpkin carving time! This year, Target has a sweet selection of no-carve pumpkin decorating kits for your kiddos that will make your life so much easier.

The kits are already available at Target.com and in stores, and include characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Minions, Disney and Hocus Pocus. Not only do they come in at just $10, they are a great option for avoiding goopy pumpkin seeds and can be used for your decor year after year.

Warner Bros. Batman Halloween Pumpkin Push-In Kit

$10 BUY NOW

Calling all caped crusaders! Embrace your inner Batman with this fun kit that comes with paint, a head, arms, Batman logo and of course, a cape.

Star Wars The Child Halloween Pumpkin Push-In Kit

$10 BUY NOW

Decorate your own Grogu before season three of "The Mandalorian" returns! This adorable kit comes with the perfect sweater-colored paint, two arms and a head.

Disney Nightmare Before Christmas Sally Pumpkin Push-In Halloween Decorating Kit

$10 BUY NOW

Make Sally fit for the Pumpkin King with this fun set. It comes with paint, eyes, a nose and mouth.

Disney Cinderella Carriage Halloween Pumpkin Decorating Kit

$10 BUY NOW

You've wanted to change a pumpkin into a carriage since your were a kid––here's your chance! This whimsical kit comes with gold paint, two weeks and door sashes, one crown and one door with Cinderella exiting your carriage.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

The Ultimate Guide to Halloween Events for LA Kids & Parents

by Andie HuberSeptember 30, 2022

The ultimate list of Halloween events in LA so you can find the perfect Halloween haunt for every superhero, witch, and goblin in your family

Spooky season is in full swing—and with that, the hunt to find Halloween events near me and discover some new ones that are worth the drive are top of mind. From not-so spooky ghostly haunts to scare fests that come with an age-minimum, luckily, there’s something frightfully fun for everyone. Check out our list of must-go list of Halloween events in Los Angeles—from babies and toddlers to tweens and beyond—there’s a fun Halloween event your family is sure to love. Add a pumpkin patch in LA, some apple picking near Los Angeles and a free event or two happening around LA this month and your October is one for the memory books.

Best Halloween Events in Los Angeles for Babies & Toddlers

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Boo! at the LA Zoo
Oct. 1-31: Babies love looking at the animals, and bringing your adorable costumed little monkey for a photo op with the real monkeys is a memory you’ll treasure always. There are activities for kids of all ages, and you can always just watch animals munching on their Halloween treats. Event details.

Carved at Descanso Gardens
Oct. 7-31: Carved is a family-friendly event for all ages (not just toddlers but this age group will get an absolute kick out of the various installations, sculptures and treats along the way. For three weeks in Oct., thousands of carved pumpkins will line a 1-mile walk through the Camellia Forest and Oak Grove. Along with pumpkins, there will be exciting new oversized sculptures made of sticks and other natural materials. Pumpkin carving demonstrations, the ever-popular pumpkin house, a hay maze, and themed food and beverage will all help to create a fun harvest festival ambiance. Event details.

Halloween at Kidspace
Oct. 1-31: It’s pumpkin time! And as our special treat, Kidspace Children’s Museum is hosting the most adorable Halloween event ever for you and your little pumpkin. Everyone is invited to march, dance, and strut the catwalk in our fanciful Halloween parade—costumes encouraged! Plus, there will be pumpkin decorating (for a modest additional charge), mask making, and up-close visits with some not-too-scary animal friends. Event details.

Bob Baker's Halloween Spooktacular
Sept. 24-Oct. 31 (Sat. & Sun. plus additional showtimes): In this hour-long, family friendly boo-sical revue, over one hundred spirited puppets rally to unearth ghastly things on strings. From whirling witches, to the soulful laments of Dracula and Vampira, to a bone-rattling soirée of glow-in-the-dark skeletons in a hidden cabaret, Bob Baker’s Hallowe’en Spooktacular whisks you to the place where imagination lurks. Event details.

Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge
Oct. 1-31: Time to get spooky at Great Wolf Lodge Southern California as it gets ready to kick off one of its famed seasonal celebrations, Howl-O-Ween! Fa-boo-less fun awaits all month long as the lodge is decked out with fall leaves, pumpkins, and other festive décor to celebrate the color-changing season. This year’s event will also include the family favoriteTrick-Or-Treat Trail, a Halloween-themed version of Great Wolf Lodge’s Yoga Tails, Monster Bash Dancy Party, Howl-O-Ween trivia and crafts, and more. Event details.

Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort
Oct. 1-31: Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort brings guests of all ages under its spell, with spook-tacular experiences themed especially for the season. Halloween magic will enchant guests at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park as favorite experiences are transformed into dreadful delights. With seasonal attraction overlays, Halloween-themed décor and food and beverage offerings, plus encounters with dastardly Disney villains, happy haunts seem to materialize around every corner. Event details.

Best Halloween Events in Los Angeles for Preschoolers

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Arachnids Come Alive at the NHM
Now through Nov. 27: What's creepy, crawly and has eight legs? Spiders of course! And the Natural History Museum has dozens of them on display for you to view and learn about. From fangs and eyes to webs and burrows, find out why we could never live without our arachnid friends. See the spectacular spiders and their magnificent webs in this unique, open-air experience. Event details.

LEGOLAND's Brick-Or-Treat Monster Party
Every Sat. through Oct.: The frighteningly-fun Monster Party begins the moment guests enter the Park with Instagrammable photo spots, LEGO Monster Character Meet & Greets, a scavenger hunt and the Monster Security Checkpoint Street Performers checking that only “real monsters” are entering the party! Treat stations themed to each spooky zone featuring an assortment of candy can be found throughout the Park, with friendly ghoulish stilt walkers passing through to say “Boo!” Along the way, guests can collect themed pop badges and a commemorative Brick-or-Treat brick. All guests are encouraged to join the festivities in costume and get ready for a howling fun time. Event details.

Nights of The Jack
Sept. 30-Oct. 31: This immersive experience showcases intricately hand-carved and illuminated jack o’lanterns, Halloween wonderland featuring a live pumpkin carver, gift shop, top LA food trucks, a "Spookeasy Bar" and tons of other “Instagrammable” moments for all to enjoy. Event details.

Haunt-O-Ween Immersive Experience
Sept. 30-Oct. 31: Go trick-or-treating in the Town of Haunt O' Ween, wander through the streets of Ghoul City, visit the Farm House, venture into the Hidden Hollows. At this immersive experience, you can explore over 200,000 square feet. full of performances, games, decorations, photo ops, rides, and more. Event details.

Spooky Science at the Discovery Cube
Oct. 1-31: Stop by the science lab for fun and educational activities, let your toddlers jump on the tractor rides. take the Pumpkin Tetris Challenge, go on a scavenger hunt throughout the science center. Event details.

New Spider Pavilion at the South Coast Botanic Garden
Oct. 1 through Nov. 30: New arthropods will be calling the area home as hundreds of live spiders take over the pavilion. Guests (for an additional fee much like to see the butterflies) can enter the pavilion for 30 minutes to be surrounded by orb-weaving spiders. And while these spiders will be living freely in the pavilion, there will be some additional tarantulas inside glass cases. Check out the Spider Wall that will educate guests about the brown widow, which was “discovered” in Torrance in 2003 as an invasive species on the West Coast. Event details.

Spooky Fun & Painting at the Children's Gallery
Oct. 8: Go to LACMA for spooky fun and free painting! Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the art of brush painting with friendly and helpful staff who will introduce painting techniques, offer tips, and even provide high chairs for very young artists. No prior art-making experience is necessary. Event details.

Free Halloween Goo Craft
Oct. 13: Kids of all ages can get their hands into making some squishy Halloween slime-goo. The whole family can enjoy making a creative mess! Event details.

Go to a Faery Hunt Halloween Party
Oct. 23: On this unique event, join the faery folke on a fun and gentle immersive quest for the Fairy Royalty with A Faery Hunt interactive, musical performance. Come in costume, it is Halloween! Event details.

"Coco" at the Hammer Museum
Oct. 23: Young Miguel yearns to be a singer but, for reasons shrouded in mystery, his family forbids it. On Día de Muertos, he stumbles into the Land of the Dead where he must discover his family’s secret to heal the wounds of the past. This Oscar-winner from Pixar prefigures Encanto with its vibrant palette, buoyant rhythms, and whole-hearted celebration of family bonds, cultural traditions, and musical dreams. Free admission. Event details.

Halloween Carnival at Malibu Bluffs
Oct. 28: Includes bounce houses, carnival games, truck-or-treat, costume cat walk face painting and food are available for a nominal fee. Pre-registration required. Event details.

Boo-nion Station: Family Halloween Fest
Oct. 29 & 30: Boonion Station is back! The free, fiendishly fun event will transform the station’s South Patio into a mystical Halloween Village featuring activities for kids. The Hallowhuts will host performances, Halloween crafts, face painting, tarantula tattoos and puppet shows. Event details.

Scarium of the Pacific
Oct. 29 & 30: The Aquarium will celebrate its 23rd annual Scarium of the Pacific, a Halloween event for the whole family featuring costume and coloring contests, a vampire magician, underwater pumpkin carving, creepy critters, and more. Event details.

Trick or Treat at Westfield Topanga
Oct. 31: Trick-Or-Treating at The Village from 5-7 p.m. In addition to “window to window” trick or treating, the center will also be offering arts, crafts, games, music, face painting, and more! Event details.

Trick-or-Treating at Westfield Century City
Oct. 31: Families are invited to celebrate Halloween at LA’s chicest mall where little ones can enjoy a safe, fun, and festive trick-or-treating experience from 5-7 p.m. Event details.

Best Halloween Events in Los Angeles for Big Kids

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Freaky Flora at the LA Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Oct. 1-31: Why was rosemary traditionally placed in funeral boquets? What flower was once used to preserve dead bodies? Which herb in the Middle Ages was believed to ward off evil spirits? Learn the answers to these questions discover eerier side of our collections as you enjoy a self-guided exploration of our “Freaky Flora” plant list. While weaving your way through the garden, look for little scarecrows tucked along the paths. Each scarecrow indicates a stop on the Freaky Flora list, and has a QR code connected to the full Freaky Flora route, along with fun, spooky facts about all 25 plants. Event details.

All Things Wicked & Wonderful at South Coast Botanical Garden
Oct. 1-31: From looking into the skeleton pasts of Diabolical and Misunderstood plantings in the Garden Graveyard to hundreds of creepy crawlers taking over their first-ever Spider Pavilion, there’s something for everyone, and every scare level. Head off on our Witch Hunt that may have you believing in sorcery as you search throughout our 87 acres for one wicked witch, with special sightings during the last four weekends of October, or bring your four-legged friend to our Howl-o-ween Costume Contest. Event details.

Watch "Cruella" on the Rooftop
Oct. 6 & 20: In 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, a young grifter named Estella is determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella. Event details.

Halloween Cinemalibu: "Ghostbusters"
Oct. 22: There will be food and treats with special guests: D'Amore's Pizza Truck, Kona Ice Truck. The movie begins at sunset and pre-movie activities take place an hour before sunset. Stay after the movie to participate in "Neon Night," a glow-in-the-dark candy hunt. Event details.

Halloween Aaahh-Archery at Terranea
Oct. 28-31: Experience the unique sport of archery at Terranea’s Beach Cove and enjoy sweeping views of Catalina Island along with Halloween-themed adventure – perfect for family fun. Skilled archery instructors will provide guests with a bow and arrow, along with expert instruction, followed by shooting practice and games featuring zombies, pumpkins, and other spooky targets. Event details.

Best Halloween Events in LA for Tweens, Teens & Parents

See "Hocus Pocus" at Rooftop Cinema
Various dates throughout Oct: Enjoy the ultimate open-air cinema experience tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city with mountain views, starry skies and ocean breezes. Doors open 60 minutes before the film, allowing plenty of time to grab your headphones, select a seat and enjoy the rooftop experience. Event details.

See "Ghostbusters" at the Drive-In
Oct. 1 & 20: LA's longest running Pop-Up Drive-In now in Glendale. Watch outdoor movies inside or outside your car, delicious food and great times await! Brought to you by the Electric Dusk Drive-In in Glendale in the Old Sears Parking Lot. Event details.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal
Select nights now through Oct. 31: Summon your scream squad to Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights with 8 haunted houses, the Terror Tram, scare zones, a live show and exhilarating attractions. Whether you’re a superfan, here for the snacks or selfies, scared of everything or skeptical of everyone, remember, never go alone. Event details.

Pick of the Patch: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

by Erin LemOctober 14, 2021

Now that you’ve carved those jack-o-lanterns to the delight of your little punkins’ be sure to hold on to the seeds! This easy recipe that you can adapt to your family’s tastes (spice lovers or not) is packed with nutrition too. Sprinkle a few on salads and pack them in lunches! Read on for the how-to.

Ingredients:

2 cups pumpkin seeds (fresh from a carving pumpkin)

tsp. chili powder (optional)

1 lime, cut in half and squeezed

1 tablespoon olive oil

Pinch of Cayenne Powder (optional)

Directions:

1) Wash pumpkin seeds well in water. Dry them with a paper towel.

2) Put spices, oil, and lime juice on the seeds and mix well.

3) Spread the seeds on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F. for 10-14 minutes, or until crispy, dry, and fragrant.

Recipe adapted from pumpkinrecipes.org

Imagine Getting a Block of Cheese That Looks Just Like You

by Karly WoodAugust 20, 2021

The holidays are a few months away but now is the perfect time to lock in the perfect gift for that hard-to-please relative. Thank to a genius idea, you need look no further than Whisps.

America’s best-selling cheese crisps company is sharing the must-have gift for cheeseaholics: a personalized cheese carving. Yes, you can let award-winning cheese carver, Sarah Kaufmann, whip up a custom cheese sculpture for the ultimate cheesy gift.

The Whisps Personalized Cheese Carving ($200) knows no bounds. All you have to do is upload a hi-res image of your fave pet, place, item or person and allow two weeks for Sarah to do her magic. When finished, it will measure approximately 6.75”x3”x2.5” and will last up to two weeks when refrigerated.

If you’d rather give out a more affordable gift for your fellow cheese lover, look to the Whisps Cheese Carving Gifts ($49.99). The smaller cheese carvings are about the size of an ornament and include a 90’s-inspired flip phone, mini cheese grater and a dollar bill. They also last up to two weeks in the fridge and are totally edible!

Both gift items will be available from Oct. 1 through Dec. 10 on whisps.com.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Whisps

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8 Toddler Games to Play on Halloween

by Meghan Yudes MeyersOctober 2, 2020

From candy to costumes, there’s a lot to love about Halloween. But with ghosts, goblins and even some (fake) gore, it can be a pretty scary night for toddlers. If you’re planning on skipping trick-or-treating this year or you just want to add some more age-appropriate fun to your Halloween weekend, here are 8 ways to scare it up on Oct. 31st—without the fright. These games can be played indoors or out, and during the day or evening for maximum flexibility with your schedule.

photo: Freestocks.org via Pexels

1. There’s a Pumpkin Hiding in the Patch

Play hide-and-seek with pumpkins, ghosts, cats and bats. Print out these free Halloween templates, cut them out, and then hide them around your home or yard for a toddler-friendly Halloween hunt.

2. Pumpkin Hunt

Forget Easter baskets; this “egg hunt” lets little ones fill up their trick-or-treating bag without going door to door. Grab these pint-sized pumpkins and fill them with Halloween candy and tiny toys. Hide them indoors or out, depending on the weather.

3. Glow-in-the-Dark Ring Toss

You don’t have to wait for nightfall for this activity. Grab some glow-in-the-dark necklaces, turn off the lights and fling these rings for some spooky fun. Aim at the stem of a pumpkin, the point of a witch’s hat or the tops of milk jugs (painted with a ghost face, of course). You don’t have to ring a pumpkin to win the game; the player whose rings are closest to the target wins!

photo: Craig Adderley via Pexels

4. Let It Rain…Candy

Sweets take center stage on All Hallows’ Eve, so take it up a notch (literally) by hanging a ghost or goblin piñata and let the sugar pour down! Use a trick-or-treat bag to store the loot or go old school and let the kids scoop the treats into a pillowcase.

5. Pumpkin Putt-Putt

Turn your backyard or basement into a miniature golf course with this great idea from Dollar Tree. Carvable craft pumpkins, the styrofoam kind that make carving pumpkins easy and mess free, make great props for toddler-friendly games. Carve an oversize mouth for kids to knock their golf ball into. Hole-in-one!

6. Put the Boo in Boo-wling

Spook up a spare with a game of pumpkin bowling. Make the “pins” easy for little ones to knock down by sticking ghostly grins (we love this printable) onto empty toilet-paper rolls. To knock down the pins, use a small pumpkin (plastic or real) that’s roughly the size of an adult hand.

photo: Pinch of Parsley

7. Host a Pepper Carving Contest

Hacking into a pumpkin can be tough on little hands. Use peppers instead, and let the youngest of your bunch draw on faces with edible marker. They will need some help cutting the faces, but they can hollow out these vegetables on their own with a spoon. The best part: You can stuff the peppers and cook them after the contest for a festive Halloween dinner! Here’s an awesome recipe for taco-stuffed peppers from Pinch of Parsley.

8. Get Caught in the Spider’s Web

Fluffy, miniature black pom pom balls become creepy, crawling spiders in this fun toss game. Spin a spider web by criss-crossing painter’s tape or masking tape between a door frame. Once you’ve created a sticky trap, let your littles take turns tossing their spiders to see who can get the most 8-legged insects caught in the web.

—Meghan Yudes Meyers

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Get Ready for Halloween With Disney Junior

by Jennifer SwartvagherOctober 1, 2020

That’s how you know it’s Halloween! It’s time to get your little ones excited for all the fun there is to come. Disney Junior has a fun new music video featuring the theme song for Mickey’s Trick or Treats October programming event.

The month-long event includes a series of interstitials hosted by Mickey, the debut of four brand-new Halloween music videos and premieres of some of your favorite Disney Junior shows — Puppy Dog Pals, T.O.T.S. and Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures.

Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures “The Mystery of Hot Dog Lake!/Phantom Wing” premieres Fri., Oct. 2 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Pete thinks he sees a legendary creature known as the ‘Scronchasaur’ in Hot Dog Hills Lake. Legendary musician Alice Cooper returns as the voice of Alistair Coop De Ville.
T.O.T.S. “A Spooky Delivery” premieres Oct. 2 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Pip and Freddy try to help JP get into the Halloween spirit.
Puppy Dog Pals “221B Barker Street” premieres Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. ET. When treats go missing from the Puppy Playcare Halloween party, Bingo and Rolly set off on a mission to solve the mystery.

Starting Oct. 2 the DisneyNOW app will have a Halloween-themed suite of games including pumpkin carving and a haunted house matching game.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Disney

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This Baby Yoda Tiki Mug Is a Must Have for Star Wars Fans

by Jennifer SwartvagherMarch 27, 2020

Baby Yoda merch is everywhere from cute t-shirts to cuddly stuffed animals. Now you can enjoy your favorite drink with Baby Yoda. A Star Wars: The Mandalorian-inspired cup is now available for preorder.

The adorable cup is green and looks like an actual tiki carving. It features Baby Yoda holding his little cup, just like he does in The Mandalorian.

The Baby Yoda Tiki Mug was created by Beeline Creative as part of its Geek Tikis line and is available on Toynk. The cups are expected to ship on Jun.15, just in time for your summer cookouts!

Preorder the Baby Yoda Tiki Mug now for $24.99 with free shipping.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Toynk

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12 Halloween Safety Tips You Might Not Have Thought Of

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 31, 2019

Ghosts and ghouls aren’t the only thing you should be worried about on Halloween. Besides the concern over cavities and staying up a little too late on a school night, there are some other important safety precautions to keep in mind when preparing for Halloween.

Check out these important Halloween safety tips.

Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips

Trick-or-treating is always the highlight of Halloween for kids but there are some simple steps you can take to stay safe. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and other experts suggest the following:

1. Walk on sidewalks and never cut across yards or driveways. Obey all traffic signals and stay in crosswalks when crossing the street.

2. Wear bright-colored costumes to make it easier for children to be seen at dusk or in the dark. Add reflective tape to costumes and treat bags to provide additional visibility.

3. Ensure costumes are flame-resistant and fit properly. The child's vision should not be obstructed by masks, face paint or hats. Costumes that are too long may cause kids to trip and fall, so trim or hem them as necessary.

4. Wear sturdy, comfortable, slip-resistant shoes to avoid falls.

5. Know where your kids are. If your kids are old enough to trick-or-treat on their own, be sure to agree on a plan of where they're heading.

6. Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well-lit. It's not just about the spookiness factor—it's about avoiding slips, falls or other injuries, especially when navigating around in a costume.

7. Carry flashlights to see and be seen. Do not point your flashlight above the chest level to avoid blocking the vision of other trick-or-treaters.

8. Be aware of neighborhood dogs when trick-or-treating and remember that pets can be a threat when you approach their homes.

Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 16,706 patients were treated for Halloween-related injuries last year. Over 3,000 patients were treated for pumpkin carving accidents alone. To have a fun—but safe—Halloween experience, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has some advice.

"Pumpkin carving is a fun activity, but it can result in serious cuts on the hand and injuries to bones and tendons," said AAOS spokesperson and pediatric orthopaedic surgeon L. Reid Boyce Nichols, MD. "Consider having children decorate pre-carved pumpkins with stickers and paint to avoid using sharp objects. This will allow children to join in the fun while eliminating the use of sharp objects and their risk of injury,” Nichols continues.

To stay safe while decorating pumpkins the AAOS suggests these tips:

1. Use a pumpkin carving kit or knives specifically designed for carving. These are less likely to get stuck in thick pumpkin skin. Some Halloween carving devices, designed especially for older children, may be safe for use with parental supervision.

2. Carve pumpkins in a clean, dry and well-lit area. Also make sure there is no moisture on the carving tools or your hands.

3. If you do get cut, apply pressure with a clean cloth and elevate the injured area above the heart. If bleeding does not stop within 10-15 minutes or if the cut is deep, you may need to contact your doctor. Make sure cuts are cleaned and covered with clean bandages.

4. Avoid candles in Halloween pumpkins and other decorations. Instead, use non-flammable light sources, like glow sticks or artificial pumpkin lights.

—Shahrzad Warkentin & Amber Guetebier

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1. There’s a Pumpkin Hiding in the Patch

2. Pumpkin Hunt

3. Glow-in-the-Dark Ring Toss

4. Let It Rain…Candy

5. Pumpkin Putt-Putt

6. Put the Boo in Boo-wling

7. Host a Pepper Carving Contest

8. Get Caught in the Spider’s Web

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Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips

Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips

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