Summerween, Hot Ghoul Summer, whatever you wanna call it… it’s upon us. And I know that if you’re reading this right now, you’re down to participate. We’ve been itching for all things creepy since November 1, and we’ll take any excuse to revel in it. (Val-oween anyone?) So my job today is to give you some ingredients for a haunt- I mean hot- summer celebration.

Clearly, for any party you have to hit a few key elements, right? In my humble opinion, you’ve got to have:

A theme
Great decor
Delicious food and drinks
Music to set the mood
And some kind of fun activities

If I’m giving you the recipe, let’s start with ingredient number 1. I’m a HUGE fan of theme parties, and this is no different. I mean, “Summerween” would be a great vibe on its own, but let’s take that a step further. Maybe we could do “Summer Camp Slasher” or “Red, White, and Boo”. Maybe you're having a pool party? How about “Demons of the Deep”? The opportunities are endless!

In terms of decor, the #CodeOrange sightings have blessedly begun and various stores everywhere have started selling their Halloween goodies a few months ahead of schedule. (Check out our last blog of Code Orange stores and keep checking back because we’ll keep updating!) While I imagine we all have a hearty collection of wreaths, knick-knacks, pillows, doormats, and the like, why not pop into places like Lowes who not only have released their Halloween wares, but have released spooky stuff that’s PERFECT for summer (check out their Haunted Harbor line).

If stores don’t have quite what you need, pick up some pointers for how to create your own Hot Ghoul Summer supplies from DIY sites and pages- just search phrases like “summerween DIY” on the usual suspects like Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok to get some ideas. (While you’re at it- I love the banner from Spooky Little Halloween).

Theme and decor really set the tone for your day (or night- we are creepy people after all) but the FOOOOOD… now that really makes or breaks it. For your scary summer shindig, you can look to typical Halloween fare for inspiration- pumpkin-shaped pizza, “skeleton” charcuteries, brain-looking cupcakes- but you should also consider uniquely seasonal things like summer gourds, which can double as decor! You know what else would make an excellent centerpiece AND be refreshing and tasty? Try a watermelon jack o’ lantern, and use the guts you scoop out to make a yummy fruit salad. Whatever you do- don’t forget the ghost s’mores!

What kind of haunted hostess would I be if I didn’t give you a signature cocktail to go with that spooky spread? I’m a big fan of a classic Sangria here- it’s blood-like, it’s refreshing and summery, and it reminds me of my beautiful late grandma, so it’s a win all-around. Another creepy classic is the tiki bar staple Zombie cocktail. This one’s strong, but hits all those traditional tropical vibes of summer with three kinds of rum and fruit juice, while “Don’s Mix” uses a touch of cinnamon to tie in a taste of fall. Not a drinker? Try a frozen blackberry lemonade to cool off in the heat. This is one of my go-tos all summer long.

Do you live by the same motto as me- work smarter, not harder? Y’all, life is short, and summer is shorter, so don’t spend hours upon hours scouring the internet for the perfect songs to play (unless that’s your thing of course, in which case you do you, boo). There are endless summerween playlists out there on whatever your favorite music app may be. I’m not going to reinvent the wheel, but try to pick a playlist that suits your theme- are you going beachy? Try some surf-rock to complement your tiki drinks and Haunted Harbor setup. Did you go the slasher/summer camp route? You can’t forget the 70s and 80s rock and of course throw in a few horror movie theme songs to bring it all together.

I’d be willing to bet most of us agree that you don’t need much more than good food, good people, and good vibes to make a great party, so some of you may skip this part, but in case you want a few ideas for some summertime spooky shenanigans, here’s a few fun games and activities to add to the mix. This has been a staple on social media the last several years but if you have a pool (or pond? or lake? or ocean?) consider renting an inflatable screen and projector and showing Jaws as it’s meant to be seen- in the dark, in the water, from the “safety” of your float. Speaking of floats, head to Five Below and grab their skull float before they’re gone! There’s also plenty of opportunity for a campfire and ghost stories to round out your night, no matter which theme you choose.

Before I go, I wanted to throw out a few final suggestions for making your Hot Ghoul Summer Party one for the books. Ask people to dress in costume! Set the tone with fall scents like cinnamon and apple. Consider goodie bags or favors for people- you may not be able to actually trick-or-treat but your guests can still leave with bags of candy, and this is a great way to use up any leftover treat bags from parties of the past just lingering in the back of your cupboard (or check out these cute neon ones from Oriental Trading) .

No matter what route you go, no matter what food you make, remember to relax and enjoy the moment with your people. I mean, it’s summer, and you’re pretending it’s Halloween. What can be better than that? If you celebrate this year, please be sure to tag us in the pics! We can’t wait to hear all about it.

Alright Paranormal Pals, until next time… Keep It Spooky Sibs!

This Is Summerween... This Is Summerween...

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