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Halloween Activities for Seniors to Enjoy With Their Families

Posted on 
October 16, 2023

Enjoying family-friendly Halloween activities is the perfect way to promote togetherness during fall. Whether you're looking for cozy family pastimes for rainy days or want to get out and about with energetic grandkids, there's a Halloween activity in Potomac Falls for every age and budget. Let's explore four fun activities to enjoy with your family this Halloween.

Visit Krop's Pumpkin Patch or Cox Farm

A fall visit to Krop's Crops is a perennial favorite for kids and adults alike. This idyllic seasonal farm is just a 10-minute drive from the Falcons Landing community and boasts plenty of activities to entertain younger family members. On weekends throughout October, the farm offers tractor hayrides to Krop's pumpkin patch, where you can pick your own pumpkin to take home and decorate. It also sells delicious seasonal produce, including crunchy Winchester apples and fresh-pressed cider. 

Further afield, Cox Farm in Centerville, VA, hosts an annual fall festival with fun attractions to suit every age group. The farm is home to an impressive range of slides, swings and tunnels to help kids burn off steam, and it serves a fall menu showcasing local ingredients. For older kids and adults, the farm also hosts a Fields of Fear Halloween event on Friday and Saturday evenings between September 22nd and November 4th — complete with spine-chilling performances and nighttime hayrides.

Pumpkin Painting or Carving

Pumpkin carving is a fun way to bring the family together, and having the right tools can make the job significantly easier. Consider investing in a pumpkin-carving claw to hollow out your squash, or use an ice cream scoop. A serrated knife makes it easier to slice through the tough outer skin, while a paring knife is ideal for carving intricate details. You can even find pumpkin carving kits at local grocery stores and superstores that have specialized carving tools and patterns. If you want your creations to last, try smearing petroleum jelly over the cut edges to stop it from shriveling. 

However, pumpkin carving can be challenging if you have arthritis or another condition affecting your manual dexterity. Cutting through a pumpkin with a knife is also risky and frustrating for young children, so having an alternative up your sleeve is useful. Painting pumpkins is a safe, effective way to create fall decorations without putting strain on your hands and wrists. Acrylic paints are the best option for pumpkin painting because they dry quickly, and you can easily remove any mistakes with a damp cloth.

Make Halloween Treats

No Halloween get-together would be complete without spooky treats. Consider enlisting help from loved ones to create a homemade feast while enjoying quality time together.

You don't need to be an expert baker to make delicious Halloween treats with your family. Purchasing pre-made cookies, frosting and Halloween-themed edible decorations is a straightforward way to involve children (and grown-ups) in preparations. Most recipe sites publish spooky snack recipes during the fall if you want to flex your cooking muscles with something more challenging. 

Want to encourage younger family members to eat something healthy alongside all the sugar? Try making cute popsicles, or "Boonanas," by inserting a stick in half a banana and dipping the popsicle in low-fat vanilla yogurt. Use chocolate chips to create a ghostly face, and place the popsicles in the freezer for a nutritious dessert that tastes just like ice cream. 

Watch Halloween Movies

Scheduling some time to watch Halloween movies can help kids unwind from the excitement of the festivities while giving adults some much-needed downtime. However, many of the classic scary films aren't family-friendly. Fortunately, there are a few nostalgic favorites that are suitable for multi-generational movie nights.

The Addams Family

Based on the popular 1960s comedy show, the 1991 movie "The Addams Family" is a classic. It follows the adventures of a spooky, aristocratic family as they welcome Uncle Fester back to the fold — or so they think. The movie contains plenty of laughs to entertain kids and adults alike. However, the mild violence and innuendo may be unsuitable for very young children, so it could be worth pre-viewing to check the content before sharing it with visiting grandkids. 

Hotel Transylvania

The titular Hotel Transylvania is where monsters, vampires and other supernatural beasts can relax and escape human persecution. The original movie tells the story of Count Dracula's hilarious attempts to stop his vampire daughter from falling in love with a human, and there are also three sequels to enjoy. While it contains all the spooky imagery you'd expect from a Halloween movie, Hotel Transylvania is free from jump scares and frightening content — perfect for viewing with your youngest family members.

Explore Our Community This Season

Falcons Landing offers a wide range of services and amenities to help make family time extra special. Book a tour or contact our friendly team to explore your accommodation options and experience our vibrant community firsthand.

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