How to Plan the Spookiest Summerween Party for Your Kids

Fact-Checked by Olivia DeLong | July 19, 2024

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Stuck indoors on those scorching summer days while your little ones reach peak "stir crazy"? Don't let the heat give you a summer scowl! Dive into the latest parenting trend: hosting a Summerween bash — yes, you read that right — where Halloween meets the summer sun. Dress your tots in their most beloved costumes, set up games like pin-the-spider-on-the-web, and soon enough, you’ll be as cool as a jack o'lantern on an autumn evening.

For Halloween lovers, like party planning experts Lindsay and Jonas, Summerween is the perfect treat (with a side of tricks) for summer. The duo has lots of party tips to share, so get ready for a fun summer bash that is sure to be spooky!

What is a Summerween party?

Simply put, a Summerween party is a Halloween celebration that happens during the summer. The idea originated in 2012, when characters in the Disney show Gravity Falls had a Summerween party.

Since Gravity Falls’ Summerween falls on June 22nd, many people choose to celebrate on that day — though Lindsay and Jonas say it’s fine to celebrate any time you want to add some spookiness to your summer fun.

How to throw a Summerween party

Thinking of hosting your own bash? Check out these Summerween party ideas from Jonas, Lindsay and our What To Expect Community moms:

Invitations

Here are some fun Summerween invitations you can choose from:

Try this customizable ghostly pick from Etsy.
Go digital with this "spooktacular" option on Evite.
Get creative with these "Come if you dare" ticket-style invites from Zazzle.
If you're having a pool party, try this on-theme pick from Zazzle.
Be clever with these "Eat, Drink and Be Scary" cards from Minted.

Food

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Try some spooky spaghetti. Spaghetti and eyeballs is an easy twist on a toddler favorite.
Cook up some Jack-o-lantern cheeseburgers. Get a Jack o’ lantern cookie cutter and use it on some American cheese slices to make these super cute Summerween cheeseburgers. Just remember to leave the top bun off so your guests can see the spooky face.
Try your hand at creepy crudités. This skeleton-shaped veggie platter is healthy and super easy to make — you can even use pre-cut and pre-washed veggies to make all the bones.

Costumes

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Give last fall’s costume a second go. Assuming your kiddos’ costumes from last October still fit, take advantage of having a great excuse to get a little more use out of that pumpkin onesie.
Get crafty with DIY cardboard box costumes. Use household items (especially all those Amazon boxes you have hanging around from buying party supplies) to make some one-of a-kind costumes. With a little paint, glue, markers and paper plates, you can transform that diaper box into a Thomas the tank-engine costume or a life-sized lego, just like that.
Keep it light. Does the idea of a fall-friendly costume make you break out in a sweat? Choose a costume with lightweight materials to keep everyone cool. These butterfly and lady bug costumes are just a light cape. And these vests will let your kid dress up as 10 different careers, from firefighter to chef.

Games and activities

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Load up on watermelon! "We use watermelons since they are great for carving and their eyes glow red,” share Lindsay and Jonas. Enjoy the watermelon “guts” in fruit salad and place an electronic tea light to get that signature glow at the eyes.
Count on a classic coloring book. Keep your little ones busy with this Halloween For Toddlers coloring book. Just be sure you have lots of Halloween-colored markers and crayons at the ready — don't forget multiple shades of orange, purple, white and black.
Carve a watermelon! Watermelons are in season, so carve this summer treat instead of a pumpkin (which will be super hard to find this time of year anyway)! But remember, you'll need to be the one doing all the carving. Buy some pumpkin carving tools and let your creative juices flow. Your little one can be in charge of selecting which stencil design they want you to carve, and they can help place the carved watermelon pieces in a festive bowl for eating later. These stencils are perfect for Halloween and Summerween alike, plus they're reusable!
Make some ghost art. All you need to make some cute cotton ball ghosts is some cardstock or construction paper, glue, a paint brush and some cotton balls. Outline the design of the ghost, then let your child experiment with dipping the paintbrush in the glue and adding the cotton balls and eye cut-outs wherever they’d like.
Play pin the spider on the web. This take on the classic pin the tail on the donkey is sure to be a hit for adults and kiddos alike. It comes with everything you need; you'll just need to find a place to hang it up.
Pick up a piñata. This Summerween pull-string piñata blends decor, play and trick-or-treating. Just load it up and let the kiddos (and adults) go nuts.
Try spooky story time. Summerween is truly the best time for telling spooky stories, while barbecuing hot dogs and smores,” say Lindsay and Jonas. Don’t have a spooky story of your own? Use a picture book (and flashlight, if necessary). Little ones who like spooky (but not scary) will enjoy Little Blue Truck’s Halloween and Ten Timid Ghosts.
Bust out the paints. Keep your kids busy with a pumpkin (or mini watermelon) painting contest. Just grab some ceramic or paper pumpkins from Amazon, some washable paint or markers and let them go to town. The one with the most creative design wins a prize!
Set up a terrifying tattoo parlor. Cover yourself (and everyone) in these glow-in-the-dark Halloween temporary tattoos.
Have a spooky movie night. There's nothing better than a cozy spooky movie night after a Summerween day, say Lindsay and Jonas. Press play on Bluey’s “Ghostbasket” episode, or a kid-friendly Halloween movie for older siblings.

Decor

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Repurpose your tried-and-true items. For the easiest (and most cost-effective) option, pull out your favorite Halloween decor, like that 8-foot skeleton sitting in your garage.
Hit up Etsy. Etsy has some fun options for Summerween decorations, from this groovy confetti to this Summerween-themed banner.
Get sticky. Your little ones will definitely want to help you decorate the house with these Halloween window clings. Save this activity for your older toddler, though: it’s best for kiddos who can resist putting them in their mouths.
Bust out last year's artwork. Remember that bin of artwork your kiddos made last Halloween? Now is the perfect time to get those out to hang up throughout the house. And if you're up for an adult craft, try painting a jack o'lantern on pineapple cups — these are what we call a functional craft.