Halloween Traditions in Utah!

Growing up, my mom made Halloween so fun for us kids. She hand made costumes when we were really little. We had a lot of traditions and as I got older I added my own too. My husband didn't grow up with Halloween being celebrated as much so we have found our own traditions that work for us today. Here are my favorite Halloween traditions from my childhood and now today. 

Rowley's Red Barn: (Santaquin & Washington, UT)  My husband and I were looking for Apple Cider Donuts one year and found that Rowley's Red Barn had them made in house. We drove an hour to get there and are so glad we did. The Apple Cider Donuts are soft, fresh, and have just the right amount of flavor. We also love the cider floats which can come with vanilla or caramel ice cream. The Caramel ice cream makes it so good. We have gone two years in a row now and look forward to it again this year. 

Pumpkin Pizza: Every year for dinner my parents would get the pumpkin shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's. We loved it! We usually still do pizza on Halloween night, but not the pumpkin shaped ones now. It is a quick and easy dinner before all the trick or treating happens. There are so many fun meals to get that are festive for the holidays. 

Hocus Pocus Night: My sisters and I started this tradition a few years back where we get together, make Halloween treats, and watch Hocus Pocus. My mom had shirts for us made since we have done it so much. We have a few staple treats like butter beer and Heath apple dip but then we make new treats each year as well. I'm excited for this year to have a new Hocus Pocus to watch! 

Trader Joe's: We go to Trader Joe's every year now to see all the fun Fall foods. They have cute pumpkin Joe Joe's cookies, pumpkin flavored items, pumpkin shaped items, and some beauty products that are pumpkin scented. It is one of my favorite things we do! 

Haunted House: (Salt Lake City, UT) My best friend from high school and I went to quite a few haunted houses back in the day which is where my love for them started. My husband doesn't love them as much, but he has been a good sport and have gone to a few with me. I love the "This is The Place Haunted Village" the best. It is an outdoor/indoor haunted village. Each building has different themes and you travel through each building as part of the haunted house. Nightmare on 13th is another fun one to go to. The parking is easy and the price isn't too bad and the wait goes really quick. 

Pumpkin Steamers: This is a must if you like pumpkin flavored things. The steamers have the perfect amount of flavor and just tastes like fall. Kneaders, Beans and Brews, and of course, Starbucks are my go-to spots for a pumpkin steamer. I love all warm drinks this time of the year so any flavored hot chocolate is good too! This year, it has been really warm during September in Utah so I branched out and tried the Pumpkin Frappuccino's and those are delicious as well! 

Granny's House: If you are from West Valley, Utah you would know exactly what I'm talking about. We had a granny in the neighborhood that knew just about everyone. She was the sweetest lady and every Halloween she would invite you into her home for a big size candy bar. It was my favorite house to visit every year growing up. Do you have a favorite house to visit in your neighborhood? Start a tradition of visiting family members, neighbors, or the fun houses while trick or treating. We always drove over to my grandmas house to see her and her neighbors, my cousins would stop by our house, and we always went to my mom's work to visit. 

Halloween Decorated Treats: You can either make your own or find some cute treats to eat for Halloween. I love cookies so I tend to find all the fun decorated cookies from bakeries, but they are also very easy to do at home. Donuts are always done so cute, cupcakes, brownies, and whatever other sweets you like will have some cute options. We found Candy Corn colored or Halloween Sprinkled donuts at Lee's Market this year. My sister made the cutest chocolate covered strawberries that looked like ghosts and she made a pumpkin flavored Rice Krispy Treat that looked like Cany Corn. 

Homemade Root Beer: My parents had made this a few times, but it was always the best at my best friends house when we were in high school. We always had fun parties for Halloween where there would be homemade root beer with dry ice in it making it look like a witches cauldron. I much prefer homemade Root beer over store bought. 

Butter Beer: Another drink option for the season. While I was on a mission we had gone to a families home for the night of Halloween where they made home made butter beer. I fell in love and have made it every year since. My little sister is hooked on it too. You can also get butter beer at any soda shop in Utah or go to Harry Potter Land for the real deal, but that can get a little pricey. 

Pumpkin Carving: My nephew is obsessed with pumpkins. One year he asked for seven pumpkins and he got them and then some. It is always so fun for kids to carve the pumpkins. The older I get the less I like it, but we did it every year growing up. I like that painting pumpkins is starting to be a new trend which is less messy and crazy. 

Pumpkin Patch: It's always so fun going to a pumpkin patch! My husband and I went to one our first year married and we just laughed and had a really fun time. We bought little baby pumpkins for our front porch and I couldn't stop looking at it. This is a very family friendly activity. There are tons of pumpkin patches all over Utah.  

Candy Cauldron: Every year since I can remember my parents used a witches cauldron to put all their candy in to pass out to the kids. I love the idea of it and it isn't Halloween without sifting through all the candy in that cauldron. I loved all the fun bowls that people use to pass out candy with. 

Halloween Musical House Shows: We had a family in our neighborhood that would decorate their home with lights that danced to the music. It seems like quite a few people do this now. Look it up for your own neighborhoods to see if you can go watch the show. It really is fun to drive around in your car finding all the fun decorated houses. We also had a homemade haunted house that we went to every year that was so much fun.

Gardner Village: This is the cutest little village in Utah. They decorate the whole area with witches and pumpkins every fall season. There is a witches night out where everyone dresses up and there are lots of food and activities. You can visit anytime of day though to see all the cute décor. There are very cute boutique shops, dessert places, and restaurants. We love the caramel apples from the Chocolate Covered Wagon candy shop. I have gone both to the witches night out and during the day and both are super fun and cute. 

Corn Maze: There is a place called "The Crazy Corn Maze" that is in South Jordan, Utah that has a haunted part. I went multiple times growing up to this location. It was my favorite. It is fun to go with a group of friends and even with your siblings. Any corn maze will do though. They all are so different and fun. 

Halloween Parades: The kids parades are the cutest! I had the chance to go to my my little siblings parades when I got older and now my nephews parades. The kids are always so cute and it's fun to go sit with my family and laugh. It's probably weird to go if you don't know anyone there, but if you have family or friends participating then it would be fun. 

Homemade Halloween Treats: Pumpkin anything is the best during the Halloween Season. I love making pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, scones, breads, waffles, and pumpkin steamers during the month of October. I do like going out to get these treats too, but it is a fun activity to bake in the kitchen. 

What are your favorite Halloween Traditions?