13 Ways to Celebrate Halloween That Cost Nothing

Honestly, I am here for it. As a content creator who regularly shares Halloween things to spend your money on—and is occasionally paid to share those products—it can start to feel like Halloween is all about consumerism and you have to keep up.

And it’s not. Not by a long shot.

Ash over at @notebooksofghosts and Chelsea and Erick from Sips & Spirits have all touched on this topic this season…so I thought I’d join them in presenting you with a list of ways to celebrate and enjoy the Halloween season that won’t cost you anything.

(A few items on this list assume you might already own things typical Halloween lovers own.)

13 Ways to Celebrate Halloween That Cost Nothing

Take a pumpkin walk

This was a concept I was introduced to during the pandemic: as we get further into the season, take a walk around your neighborhood to count how many pumpkins you see on your route. I like this one because it’s easy to repeat with different results based on new paths or it getting closer to October 31st when people are more likely to decorate front porches or yards.

You can also take this idea and change it up! Count the number of trees with changing leaves, number of tombstones, number of ghosts, number of inflatables…the list could go on forever.

Wander a cemetery

While it will take a little gas to get there, unless you have one within walking distance, look up local historic cemeteries in your city and take a drive to the closest one. Then, take a walk around the tombstones! Make it a scavenger hunt by noting unique symbols and looking up their meanings. Seek out the oldest or newest headstones. Find the person with the longest lifespan. Find headstones with first names of every letter of the alphabet. There’s a lot of magic and history to be discovered in cemeteries, not just at Halloween.

Friendly reminder to use basic cemetery etiquette, like sticking to walking paths and being respectful of the space, esp. if other people are present.

Go window shopping

Admittedly, this might be the hardest suggestion to pull off on this list…but sometimes it’s fun just to wander a store without the intention of buying anything. (These 7 questions to ask before buying can help curb your impulse purchasing!) I actually enjoy doing this at pop-up shops. It’s fun to walk through and get the Halloween feels by taking everything in.

Bonus points: seek out local stores that sell Halloween goods to check out what they offer.

Movie night

I KNOW you already own some Halloween or horror movies. When was the last time you watched them? Whether it’s via physical media, like DVD or Blu-ray, or via a streaming service you already subscribe to, have a movie night at home and revisit your personal classics.

Read a book

And as long as we’re talking physical media…if you’re like me, I know there are some Halloween/horror/spooky books on your TBR list. Make it a point this season to read one of them and finally cross it off!

Bonus points: swap books with friends for even more free reads!

Create a binge list

Books, music, movies, TV shows—it doesn’t matter what your favorite media is. (You could even mix them all together.) Create a list of everything you’d want to enjoy during the Halloween season and use it as a to-do list from season to season!

Bonus points: make it themed! Create the ultimate list of vampire movies, haunted house stories, or 60s monster songs. Then seek out what you already have access to and enjoy them.

Create a new Halloween vignette

Tired of the same old Halloween decor? Maybe you just need a new way to decorate! Take items you already own and create a new vignette—a small scene of like-items you can gather on places like a kitchen table, a side table, or a bookshelf. The best vignettes use an odd number of items that vary in height or texture.

Need ideas for creating a new vignette? Gather like items, like ghosts or witches. Group items by color. Group together three items a vampire might keep out.

Build a playlist

When was the last time you built your own Halloween playlist? If you had to think about it, it’s been too long, friend! Use these tips to start creating your own. Fill it with your favorites or maybe all songs about a Halloween icon, like ghosts or vampires.

While I’m assuming you likely have a preferred music streaming service you already use, if you don’t you could use a platform like YouTube or the free version of Spotify to get started.

Make up or learn a Halloween dance

If the “Monster Mash” had a dance…what would that look like? Do you know how to do the dance from “Thriller”? Have a little fun on a rainy fall afternoon by making up your own dance or learning an iconic one!

Bonus points if you put it on social media for the rest of us to enjoy. Who knows? It could become THE trend of the season.

Listen to a podcast

I’ll be sharing a list of my favorite Halloween podcasts later this season, but in the meantime, it’s worth checking out one of these!

Visit a local oddities shop

Do you know where your local oddity shop is? Halloween season is the perfect time to find out and stop by. While I always encourage supporting small businesses like this, these spots can be fun to wander as well…and more often than not anymore, I find most carry a few Halloween tricks and treats all year long.

Host a costume fashion show

How many of us have costumes of Halloweens past stuffed in the backs of our closets, under our beds, or in boxes in the attic? Dig them out and host a fashion show! You can do this with your family or friends…or simply do it for yourself.

Bonus points: create a video to share to social media of your costumes for all of us to appreciate.

Enjoy spooky art from home

Did you know Google has curated an entire gallery of spooky artwork for you to enjoy? And it can all be done from the comfort of your couch. Scroll this gallery to enjoy a bit of art this season.

What is your favorite way to celebrate Halloween that costs nothing?

Share it in the comments and let me know which picks on my list you’ll try this season.