Halloween is, and will forever be, our number one holiday. But, it doesn’t have to be all costumes, candy and drinking games (though we’re not knocking those either). If you’re like us, running a business, starting a business, corralling a family or all of the above, the energy to actually get into the spirit of the Fall season can be just another thing.

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So, here are 10 different, simple, and even last minute ways to get you into the Halloween spirit (that don’t involve Pumpkin Spice anything):

1. Set the Mood

It doesn’t have to take much to get the creeps tingling. Throw some [white] sheets over the furniture, light a few candles, throw on a little music (chains and moaning will do) and BAM you’re in business. Hell, you can even do this in your home office. Might be a nice change of pace?

2. Watch an Old Movie

‍If you’re into old films, The Uninvited from 1944 is still considered one of the most haunting films out there (and one of my personal favs).

3. Watch a New Movie

‍A Shudder account is FREE for 7 Days. They have the most up to date, entertaining and sure to make you shiver movies out there. Need a recommendation? Try the Shudder original: Host. It scared the bejeezus out of us.

4. Read Short Stories

‍We can’t all build a campfire and exchange creepy (and usually lame) tales with friends. So, check out the short stories of: Jack Ketchum (scary af), Edgar Allan Poe (an old-school staple), Stephen King (a standard), Ray Bradbury (a master of the strange), and Shirley Jackson (weird & wonderfully funny). If these authors don’t get you in the creepy feelies, I don’t know what will. Find digital copies of their collections on Amazon, Apple Books, and Nook for cheap-o.

5. Listen to a Podcast

‍While there are a huge number of horror, true crime and all around unsettling podcasts out there, my husband and I got especially hooked on Radio Rental on a drive from NY to FL in the middle of the night. Try it on for size and see if you can sleep…

6. Play a Game

‍No, we’re not talking Saw-level (hopefully that’s not your thing), but during our quarantine days we discovered several cooperative games including: Horrified and Mysterium. Find them at Target and Barnes & Noble if you’re looking for a quick pickup. If you want something a little more immersive, try Hallows Hill by Wolf Escape Games–an online escape game sure to keep you guessing. And, tried and true, Ouija is always good for a scare…or a possession.

7. Binge a Show

‍Where would we be without you Netflix? We, as a culture, have a fascination with the morbid, grotesque, and otherworldly. Netflix does not disappoint. Check out series like: Haunted, Unsolved Mysteries, and Dahmer. These shows will give you the spine tingles well after Halloween.

8. Fall Down a Rabbit Hole

‍Nothing gets us going like our own minds and conspiracies on the internet. Grab a glass of wine and journey down the rabbit hole for some underground thrills. Visit Creepypasta, Atlas Obscura or Reddit. A simple search like: Salad fingers, Serial Killers, UFOs, hauntings or the like should be enough to get you clicking.

9. Take a Field Trip

‍My husband and I tried this a few times. Apps like Randonautica and Geocaching use your coordinates to take you on off road and often unsettling adventures. Read up on some of the encounters people have had…we’ll let you be the judge. DISCLAIMER: Be SMART and SAFE when using these apps. Don’t go alone and if something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.

10. Get Nostalgic

‍Halloween always makes us ache for the old days. So, indulge a little and find those things that made you giddy as a kid. Watch some old TV episodes, read a scary story, play in the leaves, carve a pumpkin, or visit a graveyard. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Have fun, be a kid.