Let your Halloween door decorations do the spooking for you this year

It’s October—Halloween has officially arrived! Now is the time to get your house ready with your favorite Halloween inflatables and pumpkins (be sure to use one of our pumpkin stencil designs), but what about Halloween door decorations and front porch Halloween decorations? From rustic door panels, crow silhouettes, and even a witch who has a wrong turn, we’ve got 11 easy ideas to make your front entrance shine this Halloween. When you’re done with the decor, plan a movie night by picking one of the best Halloween movies on Netflix, and don’t forget the movie night snacks!

Monster Halloween Door

Would you believe us if we told you there’s no need for a kit when it comes to re-creating this monster Halloween door decoration? Just lots of poster board. We are so inspired by @liz.morrow’s gorgeous setup. For another idea, check out our monster door tutorial.

Pretty in Pink Halloween Door

 

Who says Halloween door decorations have to be scary? This adorable setup gives us just as many thrills as something a little more spooky might.

Halloween Door Panels

Amazon

These rustic signs are made from fabric that is weather-resistant, washable, and easy to put away to use in future years.

Get the look here

Spider Web Halloween Door

spider web halloween door decorations
Ashley & Hallman via Jane Can

This spider web door from Jane Can is too cute to spook! Grab yarn, Styrofoam balls, pom poms, and pipe cleaners to make this large spindly web and multi-legged spiders. 

Get the look here.

 

Related: 14 Genius (Almost) Homemade Halloween Decorations

Shadowy Silhouette Halloween Door

Wayfair

This shadowy silhouette is an easy one to fix up. Plus, there's no adhesive, and you can use it year after year.

Get the look here.  

Mummy Halloween Door Decorations

mummy Halloween door decorations
Carol Speake via Always The Holiday

Little ghosts will brave the walk to your front door when they see this welcoming mummy. A breeze to create with white streamers, black and yellow construction paper, and tape. 

Get the look here.

 

Witch Crash Halloween Door Wreath

Alison Faulkner via The Alison Show

Your little pretties will be bewitched by a crash-landing witch wreath! 

Get the look here.

Eyeball Door Wreath

Nicole & Candace via Crafty Sisters

All eyes are on the costumed guests! Add a little eerie to your door with an eyeball wreath like the one spotted over at Crafty Sisters

Get the look here

Related: DIY Halloween Decorations to Deck Your Haunted Halls

Moving Spiders

Delia Creates

Add a little creep factor with magnetic spiders (that you can move!) like these from Delia Creates.

Get the look here.  

Eek! Door Light

Settle this in next to a few spiders and cobwebs around your door, and it'll be a sweetly scary way to light up your front door on Halloween. 

Get the look here. 

Crows Flying Halloween Door

silhouette birds halloween door decorations
Idle Wife

There’s something eerie about swirling crows (thank you, Alfred Hitchcock), and we love the look spotted over at the Idle Wife.

Get the look here

 

While Phoenix might not be feeling the cool fall weather, we can certainly embrace the coming Halloween season with a visit to the pumpkin patch. Many of these Phoenix pumpkin patches include kids activities like petting zoos, corn mazes and other fall festivities. Scroll through our list of Phoenix-area pumpkin patches below and get ready to pick that perfect one!

Vertuccio Farms
This spot in Mesa offers it all—massive pumpkin patch, corn maze, giant jump pad, mini hay maze and a giant tube slide. This year bring a new-and-improved barrel train ride. Don't miss coming back to the farm in the winter for the Christmas light show!

4011 S. Power Rd.
Mesa, AZ
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

McDonald's Ranch
This spot is well known for its horseback rides and it also has an amazing pumpkin patch in the fall. Your entrance ticket gets you the opportunity to pan for gold, roam the Western Town and play some old-time games like duck races and conk the crow. Kids will love the hay maze that super short and designed just for them.

26540 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

Parker S. via Yelp

Tolmachoff Farms
This four-generation farm has a massive pumpkin patch, petting zoo, hay pyramid and corn box. The crowds love the corn maze and there's even a small version that's perfect for kids. If you are super brave, come back in the evenings for the haunted corn maze!

5726 N. 75th Ave
Glendale, AZ
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

Schnepf Farms
This is the place to go if you are looking for an organic U-Pick garden experience. Throughout October, Schnepf Farms offers fun fall activities like hay rides, a 4-acre corn maze, a pumpkin patch, pig races and, of course, chili. Grab party food like a burger, chili dinner or succotash, and take a spin on exciting rides or the farm’s train. Fireworks light up the sky Friday and Saturday nights. Don’t forget to grab your Halloween pumpkin during your visit. 

24610 S Rittenhouse Rd.
Queen Creek, AZ
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

pumpkins, pumpkin patch, October, fall, halloween, hayride, Autumn,
Laura Green

Mother Nature's Farm
This pumpkin patch is stocked with fresh pumpkins daily, ranging from one ounce to 500 pounds! Shop at Maneau’s Market for great fall decorations and the best pumpkin accessories. Admission gets you into the air bounce, a hayride, spider web crawl, feeding the animals and Alexander’s Adventure Maze.

1663 E. Baseline Rd.
Gilbert, AZ
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

COVID-19 Update: Visitors are asked to wear masks indoors.

—Taylor Clifton & Kate Loweth

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We love a good book: snuggling up in your coziest PJs with a hot cup of tea and a page turner is one of the greatest joys in life. So how do you make reading more joyful and less of a “chore” for kiddos? Answer: Find books they can relate to and actually enjoy, building confidence and a lifelong love of reading. 

Think there isn’t much innovation in the book world for kids? Think again. We are super excited that our friends at HarperCollins publishing has created HarperAlley—graphic novels for early readers, ages 6-10. Graphic novels harness the power of visual learning to engage kids and help emerging readers build their literary skills to become confident, independent readers. And, reluctant readers who might be intimidated by a book with a higher page count can dive right in. Read on to learn about three new graphic novel book series that your child needs on their bookshelf now!

Pea Bee & Jay, by Brian "Smitty" Smith

Like all peas, Pea loves to roll. So when a no-good strawberry dares him to roll all the way off the farm, he swears he can do it—eazy me-zee! But along the way, a powerful thunderstorm strikes and bounces Pea off course...and right into two unlikely new buds: a bee named Bee who thinks she knows it all, and a bird named Jay who can’t figure out how to fly. On their own they may not look like much, but if this trio can stick together, they just might help Pea find his way back home!

$7.99

Get it here.

Arlo & Pips, by Elise Gravel

This is the first book in a new early graphic chapter book series about the friendship between Arlo, an arrogant crow, and a sarcastic little bird named Pips. Like most crows, Arlo has a big brain. But Arlo has something else: a little pal who’s not afraid to tell him when he’s being insufferable! In the first of three stories, a battle of the brains and bird-to-bird banter soon turns into an unexpected friendship. Arlo and Pips' adventures include a visit the big city and a trip to the beach on their hunt for shiny things and French fries. Plus, cool crow facts are included throughout the book.

$7.99

Get it here.

Beak & Ally, by Norm Feuti

A brand-new early reader graphic novel series about finding friendship in unexpected places! Ally the alligator is perfectly happy being alone... until one day a noisy bird named Beak lands on her snout. Much to Ally’s annoyance, this chatty bird likes to sing constantly and has chosen a nearby tree to build his new nest. Even worse, he insists that he and Ally should be best friends. In fact, he has all kinds of friendship goals in mind, and it seems nothing Ally says will convince him that she’d rather just be alone. Nothing beats peace and quiet... except for maybe a new best friend?

$12.99

Get it here

 

Get your hands on these hot reads by HarperAlley today!

 

—Jamie Aderski 

 

Grab your popcorn and head over to Walmart. The Walmart-Drive-In is rolling out to 160 Walmart stores across the country beginning this month. This drive-in movie theater experience was created in partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival. 

Walmart Drive-In

Available for free to Walmart customers, the Walmart Drive-in will transform Walmart parking lots into outdoor cinemas from Aug. 14 through Oct. 21 with 320 showings of hit movies. Starting today at 5 p.m. ET, families can visit www.TheWalmartDriveIn.com to discover dates, store locations and the movies for each stop of the movie tour.

Walmart Drive-In

“We recognize the challenges our customers and their families have faced over the last few months and we wanted to create an experience where they could come together safely to create new memories,” said Janey Whiteside, Walmart’s Chief Customer Officer. “The Walmart Drive-in is one small way we’re supporting the communities we serve.”

The Walmart Drive-in promises families a fun, contact-free experience where they can watch popular films thoughtfully curated by the Tribeca Film Festival. Audiences will be welcomed back to the big screen to enjoy a wide range of films safely from their own vehicle, including:

  • Inspiring sports stories like Friday Night Lights, The Karate Kid and Space Jam
  • Blockbuster franchises including Black Panther, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, The Lego Batman Movie, Spider-ManTM: Into The Spider-Verse, Spy Kids, Teen Titans GO! To The Movies and Wonder Woman
  • Out-of-this-world stories like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Ghostbusters and Men in BlackTM: International
  • Nostalgic favorites including Back to The Future, Beetlejuice, The Goonies and The Wizard of Oz
  • Inspiring true stories from Dolphin Tale to Selena
  • Animated features every member of the family can enjoy like Cars, The Iron Giant, The Lego Movie and Madagascar

Ahead of each feature presentation, audiences will screen one of a number of short films, including Bilby, Bird Karma, Brooklyn Breeze, CROW:The Legend, Fire In Cardboard City, INVASION!, Looney Tunes’ Boo! Appetweet and Marooned

During the tour, filmmakers and special guests will help Walmart celebrate bringing back the big screen to communities across the country. Drew Barrymore will serve as virtual host for all events, welcoming guests to a fun family night experience. She will also make a surprise in-person appearance at one location. Families will also be treated to surprise virtual or in-person appearances from Peter Berg, Jennifer Garner, LeBron James and Chrissy Metz at select showings.

For the complete movie-going experience, families can stock up on their favorite theater concessions to bring along with them through Walmart’s convenient pickup or delivery services.

To reserve a space for the Walmart Drive-in, customers can visit www.TheWalmartDriveIn.com starting today at 5 p.m. ET to pick their desired date and location. Once confirmed, customers will receive an email with a QR code, which will grant their vehicle entry on the day of the event.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Walmart

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The Lady Gaga-curated One World: Together at Home event is coming up this Sat., Apr. 18. At 8 p.m. ET. Late night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert will host the broadcast together. The event will celebrate and support healthcare workers and others on the frontlines as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) as they lead the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global event has already raised more than $35 million to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The broadcast will include leading global health experts alongside exciting performances by the world’s top artists and comedians. Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Lizzo, Chris Martin, Eddie Vedder, Elton John, J Balvin, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves and Keith Urban are all scheduled to appear.

There will be a six-hour pre-show streamed before the virtual concert. The pre-show will include performances from musicians such as John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Sheryl Crow, Ben Platt, Leslie Odom Jr. and more. 

One World: Together at Home will be broadcast by ABC, NBC, CBS and international broadcasters.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Global Citizen via YouTube

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If the world let kids be in charging of naming things, we’d all live in a happier place. From surprisingly accurate descriptions to downright hilarious phrases, our roundup of funny tweets from Twitter parents is bound to make you chuckle. Keep reading for a collection of laugh-worthy ways that kids describe common things.

 

1. Technically this is very accurate, so…

2. What would your “birthday meat” be?

3. So body positive!

4. This is shockingly accurate.

5. Beat Fever doesn’t have the same ring to it.

6. Goodbye crow, hello Halloween Eagle!

7. This would also be a good name to call a purse.

8. Why haven’t we thought of this!?

9. So emotional, and so much better than “tears.”

10. BRB, heading to the airplane store!

11. 😂😂😂

12. Gotta go apply my armpit makeup!

13. Because two-year-olds are the best.

14. 🙌

15. Nailing it, for sure.

16. Pass the pizza sugar, please.

17. Accurate.

18. For REAL.

19. Anyone else suddenly want bacon?

20. We could all use a little extra fiber!

21. #dreadmill

 

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Your kids know all about lions, tigers and bears, but now they can get up close and personal with bakus, tengus and megu-chans! These fascinating creatures are currently on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in the Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art exhibit––and they’re sure to wow your whole family. After all, it’s not every day you see a half-human/half-crow that’s excellent at martial arts, or an elephant, lion, ox tribrid that eats nightmares! Read on to plan this extraordinary museum outing.

An Enchanting Exhibit

LACMA’s Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art exhibit features real and imaginary animals through sculpture, painting, lacquer-work, ceramics, metalwork, cloisonné, and woodblock prints. Kids will learn about mythical beasts including dragons and phoenixes and they’ll also spy dogs, horses, oxen, lions, cats, fish, insects and more, featured in compelling masterpieces that demonstrate Japan’s reverence for nature.

Installation photographs Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, September 22, 2019 – December 08, 2019, photo © Museum Associates/ LACMA

Follow the Family Guide for the Greatest Experience

Immerse yourselves in exploring Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art via an engaging and informational family guide that highlights six artworks and includes fun activities. For instance, kids can find out what their pet or favorite stuffed animal’s nickname would be according to artist Yayoi Kusama after learning about her vibrant, polka-dotted dog sculpture. They can also draw a picture of a baku, a mythical creature that eats nightmares, that’s featured on a pair of pillows in the exhibit. The guide suggests kids cut out and take home their new baku to place under their pillow to ward off bad dreams––prompting them to relish their museum experience long past the confines of the exhibit.

Discover Your Japanese Zodiac Animal

Look for the zodiac animal chart on the wall in the first gallery with your family. You can use your birth years to discover each of your Japanese Zodiac animals and then record them in the chart included in the family guide. Who in your group will be a monkey, a snake, a rabbit or a dragon? You’ll soon find out!

Installation photographs Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, September 22, 2019 – December 08, 2019, photo © Museum Associates/ LACMA

Sunday Funday

LACMA hosts Andell Family Sundays highlighting the Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art, exhibit. Gather your clan and bond at this educational event that will give you all something to talk about. From gallery tours and artist-led workshops where kids can make their own mythical and supernatural animal-inspired creations, this is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Andell Family Sundays featuring this exhibit are Nov 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2019 from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Installation photographs Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, September 22, 2019 – December 08, 2019, photo © Museum Associates/ LACMA

Save the Date!

Mark your calendar to visit LACMA on Nov. 17 to celebrate the Nebuta Festival, a famous festival in Japan, right here in Los Angeles. You’ll behold an enormous paper lantern float depicting the Japanese folk hero Kintoki by Nebuta Master Hiroo Takenami, and be treated to performances by taiko drummers, flute and hand cymbal players, and dancers.

Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art is on display now through Dec. 8, 2019 in LACMA’s Resnick Pavilion. Get tickets today! Bonus: L.A. County youth 17 and under are always free.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-857-6000
Online: lacma.org/art/exhibition/every-living-thing-animals-japanese-art

––Beth Shea

Jazz great Louis Armstrong may have been born in New Orleans, but he made his home in Queens from 1943 until his death in 1971. Now, New York City kids and their parents can learn all about the groundbreaking trumpet player and internationally acclaimed singer via a variety of exhibits and shows geared towards fans of all ages.

Louis Armstrong: Jazz Ambassador
Making Books Sing
311 W. 43rd Street (Third Floor)
Manhattan

Through Sunday, November 18, catch this hour long, one-man show of Satchmo himself (played by Jeremy Giraud Abram) defending his life in front of God (in an invisible cameo role), the Angel Gabriel (he’s the other guy with the trumpet)… and a theater full of enthusiastic families. A few lucky kids even get to go up on stage to learn Pops’ famous dance moves. Though younger tots may have a hard time understanding what exactly is going on, not to mention the references to American Jim Crow laws and Louis’ listing of his multiple wives and how they became exes, the music, highlighting standards like “What a Wonderful World” and “When the Saints Go Marching In,” keeps them engaged and bouncing along in their seats for the duration of the performance. Afterwards, there’s even a chance to meet and chat with the actor! The show offers two performances a day on both Saturdays and Sundays, and will soon be going on tour to Stanford, CA and other locations. So keep an eye out for its return to the city.

Louis Armstrong House Museum
34-56 107 Street
Corona, Queens

“Louis Armstrong: Jazz Ambassador” was staged in coloberation with the Louis Armstrong House Museum, which is open every day except Mondays for tours that leave on the hour.  Visitors stroll through the house where Louis and Lucille Armstrong made their home for close to thirty years, seeing not only Louis’ gold records and art collection, but also photos of the family with members of the community. A highlight of the tour is Louis’ office, where guests can listen to recordings of him working on a new song, see his handwritten notes on sheet music, and kids can ask questions about the other exotic items they’ve never seen before – like the reel-to-reel tape recorder, and a phone that seems to require sticking your finger in a slot and turning it? There is also the outdoor garden, complete with koi pond. Annual family friendly events at the House Museum include trick-or-treating and crafts in the Fall, a birthday party on the 4th of July complete with cake for all, up and coming jazz artists performing outdoors in the Summer, and even a Jazzmobile Block Party with hula-hoop contests to really get the joint jumping. School visits are also available.

A Horn for Louis
Either before visiting the house, to get the kids excited, or afterwards, in order to impart more information, the children’s book, “A Horn For Louis,” presents a simplified version of Louis’ early life and the story of how he acquired his first instrument. As a seven year old boy, Louis worked for a Russian immigrant family of junk dealers in New Orleans, who loaned him the money to buy his first trumpet – as a Hanukkah gift, no less!  Knowing that will help explain why Louis always wore a Star of David around his neck, as well as some of the other artifacts around his house.

Louis Armstrong Statue
East 59th Street & Park Avenue
Manhattan

If your kiddo isn’t quite up for chapter books, hour long theater, or a trip to Queens, start them off slowly – and colorfully – with a larger-than-life polyurethane foam, resin and steel statue of Louis Armstrong, erected as part of a series of whimsical installations on the Upper East Side. Seeing his sparkling coat and glistening trumpet may be just the thing to kick-start a lifelong interest in music. Or it could be kind of fun to climb on, too.

For jazz-loving moms and dads who’d rather their little guys be scatting and bopping to “Wonderful World” over “It’s a Small World,” or humming “Blueberry Hill” as they turn their mouths and palms purple, New York City is the place to be! They even have jamz for “hipsters” as young as six months old!  Check out a complete list of Jazz for Junior classes, here.

“Like” this story below if you plan to teach your kids about this iconic musician by visiting the above sights. 

— Alina Adams (she took the photos too!)