Photo by Whitney Irick
Halloween is upon us. Whether you enjoy trick-or-treating, dressing up as a character other than yourself, cuddling up to a movie that has you afraid to go sleep or are simply not a fan of the October holiday, Halloween is an event that the American masses participate in, young and old.
Young children, escorted by their parents, rush to fill their candy bags with the most sweets – in order to brag about how much candy they received compared to their friends. Adults without children expectantly wait by their doorway for the anxious knock of ghosts, princesses or superheroes, eager to receive a sweet treat of some sort. The gap between children and adults is filled with teenagers and young adults purchasing tickets to a theme park dedicated to scaring the breath out of attendees. Knott’s Scary Farm or Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights anyone?
With so many options, what Halloween-themed activities will you partake in? Many teenagers still find joy in trick-or-treating, an idea that might not be half-bad in Malibu. You might also be thinking of what alter ego you could create for yourself. Cat or bunny? Maybe even the newly revived ninja turtles could be an option when choosing your outfit for Oct. 31. Well, wait no longer, this is the answer to your Pepperdine prayers. Find fun activities to attend on the night of and in the days leading up to Halloween.
Costumes
Mario and Luigi:
Guy or girl, anyone can pull of this super duo. Simply grab a pair of overalls, a green or red shirt depending on which video game hero you prefer and a hat with the letter of the appropriate character. For full authenticity, you can even make a faux mustache to use as a prop throughout the night (or just to take silly pictures with).
Olaf:
Want to bring winter to the warm Malibu weather? Dress up in white from head to toe, from a white beanie to white shoes, and channel your inner snowman. Cut out three black circles to tape or glue to your top for buttons, and roll a triangular piece of orange construction paper to look like a carrot for a nose. You can hole punch two holes on each side of the carrot, then tie a piece of string to the holes to put around your head to complete Olaf’s character.
Sandra Dee and Danny Zuko:
Don’t just be a classic ‘50s couple for Halloween, kick it up a notch and impersonate the legendary “Grease” couple! Girls, wear an all black outfit with your favorite red heels, curl your hair and throw on some red lipstick to channel your inner Sandy.
Guys, wear a black T-shirt with black jeans and black shoes or Converse. To step up your game even further, gel your hair to match Danny Zuko.
James Bond:
This one is simple, boys. Wear a black suit and practice your “unimpressed and serious” look to become the one and only Bond. James Bond.
Spooky Events
Ringing in the Halloween holiday means different things to different people. Some may not enjoy a day that is dedicated to remembering the dead, and others might find happiness and excitement in dressing up as somebody else for the night. Either way, you deserve to enjoy yourself on Oct. 31.
If you just want to relax like it is any other Friday, then grab a few friends and pick out some of your favorite movies. If Halloween isn’t quite your cup of tea, get some friends and watch classic movies like “The Breakfast Club,” “Star Wars” or “Mean Girls.”
Depending on if you are in the holiday spirit you can opt for the scary and spooky with horror films like “Paranormal Activity,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Saw” or “The Exorcist.” You could even pick fun Halloween movies like “Halloweentown” or “Beetlejuice” that get you in the spirit but do not quite make you turn the lights on in every room of your house. Movies are an easy go-to for nights when sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and your best friends is more appealing than a night on the town.
Don’t want to settle for just a simple movie? Four theme parks and attractions – all within close proximity from Pepperdine – may be able to give you that Halloween thrill you’re searching for. Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Queen Mary and Knott’s Berry Farm all transform their amusement park or tourist attraction into a location of horror. Knott’s even changes their name from “Berry” to “Scary” to make the experience even more of a contrast to the fun daytime park. The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is the cheapest of the bunch, but all four locations are below $65 (Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights caps it at $62). To get a discounted price, purchase your tickets to the location of your choice online ahead of time.
Trick-or-treating is another classic route you can take for Halloween 2014. Take advantage of the Malibu area and ring some doorbells with your friends — relive your childhood.
Or you can visit Underwood Farms in Moorpark. Underwoord Farms is holding a fall harvest festival complete with a pumpkin patch, a face painter and various food vendors. Show up in costume and receive free admission. Parking is free.
Whether you choose a classic Halloween tradition, or opt for the laid-back movie night or theme park visit, your Halloween is bound to be a scarily fun one. Let loose in a clever, cute or creepy costume, cuddle up to a movie or even volunteer to get scared by people being paid to do so. Consider these options while you’re making your plans for Halloween night and don’t forget to thank me later – candy is an acceptable gift.
Happy Halloween, Waves.
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Follow Davina Morales on Twitter: @davinaraeann
