Halloween Date Ideas That'll Make Staying In a Treat

Got someone under your spell this year but can’t find a cool Halloween date idea for couples? Fret not, for when the dead rise from their graves and witches ride their brooms on All Hallows’ Eve, they bring forth a legion of spooky activities, so there’s no shortage of fun Halloween date ideas. Whether you prefer something spooky and haunting or romantic and cozy, your date-night options are endless. Don’t be afraid to have a little holiday skele-fun this year and enjoy a Halloween date with your crush—we promise you’ll have a wicked time.  

The Halloween Dates to Plan this Season

1. Decorate Your House Together

Spend an afternoon with your boo transforming your place into a spooky mansion. Buy all the things you need for your DIY crafts and create frightening home decorations such as cutout ghosts, goblins, antique-looking candles, and spider webs. Not only is it a cute Halloween date idea, but also rewarding. Don’t settle for being the best-dressed this year; aim for having the most festive house on the block and give them s'pumpkin to talk about. 

2. Carve Pumpkins

Sometimes, cheesy Halloween date ideas are the best ones out there. Carving pumpkins is a classic, on-theme activity that’ll help you both show your creative sides and get to know each other better. Teach bae how to properly carve a jack-o-lantern in the spirit of the haunted season. If you want to take it up a notch, engage in a friendly competition for the best-carved pumpkin. 

3. Take A Virtual Tour of a Haunted House

Just like carving pumpkins, touring a haunted house is a classic spooky date idea. The scary experience will get your blood pumping and make you hold on to each other for dear life. Everyone’s go-to haunted house is the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. Supposedly possessed by those who have been killed by a Winchester rifle, the bizarre mansion offers tours for people intrigued by the spirits inhabiting the lonely hallways, dark passages, and ornate rooms. Take a virtual tour (or brave an in-person tour) this Halloween for a hair-raising experience. Once you’ve both gotten your adrenaline rush, you and your date will have an even stronger bond. 

4. Have a Horror Movie Marathon at Home

Is your list of must-see movies getting longer? Invite your date over for a Halloween movie marathon that’ll leave you two scared to the bone. Watch spooky Netflix movies and TV shows filmed in the Golden State or opt for an Alfred Hitchcock movie binge-watch sesh. Prepare a list beforehand to keep track of all the horror flicks you watched. Make sure to include movies directed by John Carpenter, Wes Craven, George A. Romero, Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, and Mike Flanagan; they may just inspire you to visit a few horror movie film locations or to head to your nearest drive-in movie theater for a night of horrors. Boo-ckle up—it’s about to get scary.

5. Bake Halloween-Inspired Treats Together

The best way to satisfy your sweet tooth and lift your spirits is to get together to make frightfully delectable desserts. Fall in love at first bite while the two of you prepare Halloween-themed sugar cookies together. Combine your baking skills with your date’s creativity for scary-good treats that’ll make you go batty. Put on your aprons, grab your whisks, and prepare the cutest ghost meringues and coffin sandwich cookies. Bon(e) appétit! 

6. Enjoy a Halloween-inspired Picnic

Whether it’s a cemetery, forest, abandoned warehouse, or jaw-dropping structure with unnerving history, a fall picnic at these types of mysterious locations makes for an intimate yet spooky Halloween date idea. Create a romantic and eerie scene at an appropriately safe spot where you can watch the sun go down. Bring the seasonal desserts you baked together and enjoy each other’s company. Play some songs, listen to binge-worthy podcasts, and share horror stories and urban legends about the place you live in. (If you’re planning a Halloween date at the cemetery, remember to be respectful and safe.) 

7. Make Costumes Together

If you just started dating, it might be too soon to dress up as Romeo and Ghouliette, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get to dress up in Halloween costumes together. Make a date out of curating spooktacular and fa-boo-lous looks or searching for items at home that you can use to throw together a last-minute costume. Get more creative this season and create a Halloween costume inspired by the Golden State. 

8. Book a Night at a Haunted Hotel

An awesome Halloween date idea is staying in a hotel possessed by supernatural beings. Plan a Halloween weekend getaway and check in to a haunted hotel that’ll give you the creeps all night. Although you might want to sleep with one eye open, the experience itself is an adventurous way to get in the spirit of the holiday and create a deep connection with your partner. Learn about the paranormal activity of the hotel before arriving in order to be prepared for any ghostly encounter, and get ready for an unforgettable night.