Halloween – Page 3 – Topical Fruit

“Adultoween” Is the New Holiday Every Parent Wants

Kids might have trick-or-treating, but adults are out here trying to claim Halloween for themselves as well – and honestly, they’ve got a pretty good case.

If you haven’t heard of “Adultoween” yet, here’s what all those grown-ups (especially parents) are getting on board with.

Ferrero (the candy folks) just dropped a new batch of stats showing that adults are fully on board with spooky season, and not just to supervise their kids or sneak one measly Reese’s from their pumpkin buckets.

The company is pushing the concept of “Adultoween” – basically, a night of Halloween celebrations sans kids. And according to their polling results, it’s got some traction.

“Adultoween” is a surprisingly popular idea

Over half of adults – 54%, to be exact – say they wish Halloween included an official night just for grown-ups. No kids. Just costumes, candy, and possibly cocktails.

Here’s a breakdown of the most fun (and petty) takeaways from their Halloween survey.

Halloween is not just for the little goblins.

62% of Americans say the holiday is just as much for adults as it is for kids. And if you’re a parent, you’re even more likely to agree – 71% say adults deserve equal rights to the spooky fun.

Candy taxes are real, and parents are enforcing them.

Two-thirds of parents say they have the “right” to dip into their kid’s leftover candy stash. 58% aren’t even waiting that long – they’ll happily sneak a treat or two during trick-or-treating. It’s called a parenting perk, look it up.

No kids? No problem. Adults are still hoarding candy.

64% of adults say they’ll buy candy in October even if no one’s trick-or-treating at their door. And 71% of parents admit to buying “extra” candy for themselves just in case.

Full-size candy bars reign supreme.

76% of adults say full-size bars are the best kind to steal. But we’re also nostalgic: 67% say they still prefer the same candy they loved as kids, and 72% stick to the classics over newfangled flavors. Why mess with a good thing?

Men take Halloween candy weirdly seriously.

52% of men buy premium candy to make sure their house gets that coveted “good candy” reputation, compared to 41% of women. And 21% of men will absolutely judge you if your candy game is weak. (15% of women admit they will too.)

It’s all about the nostalgia.

For 60% of people, the reason they love Halloween is pure nostalgia, and among parents it jumps to 68%. There’s just something about the smell of plastic masks and the sight of toilet paper on trees that brings us all back.

Is Halloween America’s favorite holiday?

47% of people said Halloween is the holiday they look forward to most. Sorry, Santa.

So should adults get their own official Halloween night? If it means fewer tantrums, more candy, and finally getting to wear a costume that doesn’t involve Disney characters, we say absolutely yes.

Which Halloween Movie Matches Your Star Sign?

October is basically spooky season’s Super Bowl, which means it’s officially time to line up your Halloween movie playlist.

But if you’re staring at a million choices and can’t decide between witches, ghosts, or chainsaw-wielding maniacs, “People“ magazine has you covered. They teamed up with an astrologer to match every Zodiac sign with the perfect Halloween flick.

Whether you believe in horoscopes or just want an excuse to rewatch a classic, here’s what the stars picked for you:

Aries gets “Friday the 13th”, since this fiery sign matches the film’s nonstop intensity.
Taurus is paired with “Scream”, because calm, steady Sidney Prescott embodies their grounded Earth energy.
Gemini is all about “Hocus Pocus”. Mischief, witty banter, sibling chaos? That’s peak Gemini.
Cancer gets nostalgic with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”. Tender, sentimental, and cozy—like a pumpkin spice latte for the soul.
Leo takes center stage with “Halloweentown”. The drama, the sparkle, the flair? Leo to a T.
Virgo aligns with “Ghostbusters”. Practical, resourceful, and obsessed with problem-solving. Who you gonna call? Virgo.
Libra is matched with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Bold, over-the-top, and a little scandalous—sounds about right.
Scorpio gets “Halloween”. It literally takes place in Scorpio season, and Michael Myers’ unstoppable energy is very on-brand.
Sagittarius gets the chaotic fun of “Beetlejuice”, a sign as wild and adventurous as the movie itself.
Capricorn connects with “The Addams Family”. Dark humor, gothic vibes, and Saturn-approved deadpan wit.
Aquarius lands “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. Quirky, innovative, and never satisfied with the ordinary—Jack Skellington could be their mascot.
Pisces gets dreamy with “Casper”. Whimsical, emotional, and just delusional enough to fall for a ghost.

So, if you’re ready to start spooky season right, maybe let your Zodiac sign pick the movie tonight. And hey, even if you don’t totally vibe with astrology, at least it’s a solid excuse to queue up a classic.

The Best Halloween Song You’ve Never Heard Is by… Ryan Gosling?

If you’re tired of playing those spooky classics like “Monster Mash” and the “Ghostbusters” theme on loop, here’s the best Halloween song you’ve never heard – and it’s by Hollywood royalty.

Finding success with a holiday-specific song is exceedingly rare these days. Novelty songs like “Monster Mash” may have found their lane in the ’60s and ’70s. But in 2025? Yeah, that whole highway has pretty much been shut down.

The good news, though, is there’s no need to hope and pray for a new Halloween banger when there’s already one that’s locked and loaded and ready for your eardrums.

Hang on a second… that Ryan Gosling?

Yes, the same guy with three Oscar nods is also a pretty talented musician, often performing under the pseudonym “Baby Goose.”

You might remember his piano chops from “La La Land.” He actually learned to play for the movie… kinda. You’d be hard pressed to find any former Mouseketeer who hasn’t tickled the ivories at least a little. But when the movie was in pre-production, he was still wholly unqualified to play a jazz aficionado.

Most actors would have just used stand-in hands for the piano parts, but he made it happen on his own – with some help from a piano teacher. She worked with him for several months ahead of shooting, calling him a “very musical guy.”

But before he was pretending to be an accomplished jazz pianist or singing “I’m Just Ken” in “Barbie,” he’d already tested out his chops on a full album of Halloween-centric material.

Dead Man’s Bones

Ryan and Hollywood producer Zach Shields had bonded in the mid-2000s over their shared love of all things spooky, including Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride. So in 2009, they formed a band together called Dead Man’s Bones that would go on to release a grand total of one album.

The eponymous album “Dead Man’s Bones” came out just in time for Halloween on October 6, 2009, and featured a chorus of singers from the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children’s Choir. Ryan and Zach also toured, looping in a different kids’ choir in each city they visited. (They found the chorus of children’s voices creepy, because… yeah.)

(One of those touring members was actress/singer Dove Cameron, who was just 13 when Dead Man’s Bones cruised through Seattle and gave her her first paying gig. She talked about the project in an episode of “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” calling Ryan incredibly talented and a guy who “can do f*cking everything.”)

“My Body’s a Zombie for You”

The full Dead Man’s Bones album is worth a listen. But if you only give one song a chance, make it Track #5, “My Body’s a Zombie for You.”

It’s 60’s doo-wop meets haunted prom-night rock – like if Tim Burton lived in Motown. Add it to your Halloween playlist and wait for your friends to ask, “Who is this?”

They’ll be just as shocked as you were.

You can check out the full Dead Man’s Bones album on YouTube and Spotify. The band itself may be defunct, but the music lives on. Very zombie-esque. 🧟‍♂️

Bonus: Check out a live performance from their 2009 tour.

Pop Culture Is Your Halloween Costume This Year

If you’re aiming to win Halloween this year, forget the tired old vampire and pirate routines. Pop culture is serving up fresher, weirder, and way more extra inspiration for your costume planning.

According to Variety, this year’s best Halloween looks are ripped straight from the biggest headlines, cult shows, viral trends, and yes, plush toys.

Topping the list is Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Bob Ferguson from the buzzy satire One Battle After Another. It’s the perfect look if you’re into layered political metaphors and award-bait cinema. But if that sounds a little too high-concept for your costume party, don’t worry—there’s plenty of playful and recognizable picks too.

Like Labubu—yes, the wildly collectible plush toy that looks like it crawled out of a creepy-cute forest dream. It’s adorable, slightly unsettling, and totally on trend.

And if you’re part of the Swiftie universe, get ready to sparkle: Taylor Swift’s glitzy “Life of a Showgirl” concert look is officially a Halloween favorite. Sequins mandatory.

Other standout costume ideas for 2025 include:

Chappell Roan in her oversized red wig from her “Subway” video.
Oasis, for the retro music lovers ready to bust out parkas and sibling tension.
Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in F1, perfect for those who want to bring racecar energy to the party.
Glinda and Elphaba from Wicked—thanks to the movie release, witchy duos are back in style.
Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy from The Bear, for anyone who owns a white tee and can look perpetually stressed.
Michael B. Jordan’s dual role as twins Stack and Smoke in Sinners, which sounds cool and confusing in the best way.
Characters from the animated action flick KPop Demon Hunters, including the all-girl group Huntr/x.
The Guillermo del Toro version of Frankenstein’s monster for horror fans who want to go cinematic.
Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter also made the list—because no pop costume roundup would be complete without a little Gen Z glam.
And finally, if you’ve got a toddler to dress up, or just love educational YouTube, there’s always Ms. Rachel.

Whether you’re going high-fashion with Taylor or all-in with monster makeup, this year’s costume picks reflect everything we’ve been obsessed with in 2025. So go big, go weird, and go viral.

The States That Love Halloween the Most… and the Ones That Are Party Poopers

Spooky season is officially here, and a new survey ranked how much each state actually loves Halloween.

Turns out the most obsessed trick-or-treaters live in… Delaware, Idaho, and North Dakota. Those three scored a 4.2 out of 5 on the Halloween Spirit Scale, which basically means their houses are covered in fake cobwebs and 12-foot skeletons before October even starts.

Nipping at their heels are Alabama, California, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. So if you live there, expect to see entire neighborhoods that look like Tim Burton movie sets and parents competing for “Most Over-the-Top Front Yard” like it’s the Olympics.

But not everyone’s feeling the spooky spirit. Arizona landed dead last. Maybe it’s hard to get in the Halloween mood when it’s 102 degrees outside and your Snickers melts before it hits the candy bucket.

Wisconsin, Montana, Hawaii, South Carolina, Nebraska, Virginia, Alaska, North Carolina, and Georgia also didn’t exactly scream “boo” with enthusiasm.

Now, let’s talk candy, because Halloween isn’t Halloween without it. The average American household buys 4.5 bags of candy every year, and nearly half of us go straight for the party size bags. Altogether, 132 million households stockpile about 745.8 million pounds of candy every Halloween season.

So whether your state goes full haunted house or barely carves a pumpkin, one thing’s clear: America runs on sugar, costumes, and a little bit of chaos. And for some of us, spooky season doesn’t end…it just hibernates until next August.

Parents Are DIY-ing Halloween Costumes… Because Apparently We All Have Free Time

October is here, so it’s crunch time for parents who promised to make their kids’ Halloween costumes.

A new survey says 52% of parents are going the DIY route this year, especially in Colorado, Iowa, California, Maryland, and Arkansas. Somewhere out there, a mom is already crying into a pile of felt.

Money is the big motivator. Store-bought costumes are averaging more than $70, while a handmade creation usually runs under $40. That’s a huge deal if you’ve got more than one kid, because nothing says “spooky” like spending $210 on matching polyester jumpsuits… that get worn once… and disintegrate before next Halloween.

But it’s not just about cash.

Parents say homemade costumes feel more creative, unique, and sometimes just… necessary, since the store-bought options are either flimsy, overpriced, or completely sold out.

For some families, it’s even a tradition. (The tradition being: panic-shopping at Michaels on October 29th.)

Then there’s the social media pressure. A whopping 81% of parents say they feel the need to make costumes Instagram-worthy. Idaho parents are the most stressed about it, followed by those in Missouri and Connecticut. Nothing says Halloween spirit like comparing your kid’s glue-gun disaster to a Pinterest mom’s hand-stitched masterpiece.

As for what kids are demanding, Pokémon is still going strong, Taylor Swift costumes are in the mix, and Labubu is unfortunately a thing.

You’ll also see the classics (witches, skeletons, vampires, werewolves) and of course superheroes.

And then there are “unique creations,” which is code for “your kid saw it on YouTube once, and now you’re up at 2 a.m. turning a cardboard box into something unrecognizable.”

So here’s wishing all the crafty parents good luck. May your glue sticks last, your sewing machine not jam, and your child not suddenly decide they actually want to be Elsa… the day before Halloween.

Best Halloween Movies for Kids by Age (From Toddlers to Teens)

Spooky season is officially here.

If you’re planning a family movie night, you’ll want something festive without accidentally giving your toddler nightmares. Here’s your ultimate guide to the best Halloween movies for kids of every age group.

Little kids, ages 2 to 7
At this stage, “scary” means maybe a pumpkin with slightly pointy eyebrows. Classics like “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and Disney’s “The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad” bring cozy nostalgia with zero trauma. If you’re looking for something newer, “Hotel Transylvania” gives you a monster mash with Adam Sandler’s voice leading the way, while “Monsters, Inc.” proves once and for all that even scary creatures can be lovable.

Big kids, ages 7 to 11
Now we’re talking about kids who actually want a little fright with their fun. Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is the ultimate spooky-but-sweet option, while Disney Channel’s cult favorite “Halloweentown” is peak ‘90s kid magic. “Casper” keeps things ghostly but friendly, “Frankenweenie” lets Burton flex his black-and-white quirkiness, and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” may not be a “Halloween movie,” but between the costumes, the candy, and the aliens, it earns its spot.

Tweens
Middle schoolers live for chaos, and these movies deliver. “Hocus Pocus” is basically required viewing if you want to be allowed into spooky season. “The Addams Family” nails that goth-but-funny energy, while “Goosebumps” (with Jack Black as R.L. Stine) is scarier than it has any right to be. For straight-up silliness, there’s Adam Sandler’s “Hubie Halloween.” And if your tween wants a comedy that also features a truly disastrous party, “Fun Size” is the pick.

Teenagers
The training wheels are officially off. “Beetlejuice” and “Poltergeist” are classics that bring the perfect mix of creepy and campy. “Gremlins” proves that small pets can, in fact, destroy your life. “Ghostbusters” is always a crowd-pleaser (and yes, the special effects are gloriously retro), while “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” finally puts those haunting childhood book illustrations onto the big screen.

So whether you’ve got a toddler who thinks pumpkins are hilarious or a teen who insists they’re “too cool” for movie night but secretly still wants popcorn and ghosts, this list has you covered. And if you’re the parent who’s on their 87th rewatch of “Hotel Transylvania,” just remember… it could be worse. At least it’s not “Caillou: The Halloween Special.”

Your October Cheat Sheet

October is here, and while we say goodbye to summer and start dodging pumpkin spice everything, there’s plenty to actually get excited about this month. From big-time sports events to major movie releases (and yes, a few bizarre food trends), here are some of the top things happening in October 2025.

Sports Fans, This Is Your Month

If you’re into sports, October is kind of a buffet. Baseball’s postseason is in full swing, with Game 1 of the World Series scheduled for October 24. Over in the NBA, the new season tips off October 21, and hockey fans get their fix starting October 8 when the NHL drops the puck on its new season.

In short, you can basically glue yourself to a couch and not run out of games to watch.

Big Movies (and Big Stars)

The box office is stacked this month. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is back in action with The Smashing Machine, an MMA biopic landing in theaters this Friday. If you’ve missed Daniel Day-Lewis (who hasn’t?), he returns after a seven-year hiatus in Anemone, also out this Friday.

Tron: Ares hits theaters October 10, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein drops in limited release on the 17th (before heading to Netflix), and Jeremy Allen White stars as The Boss in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, coming October 24.

So basically, whether you’re into robots, monsters, or moody musicians, you’re covered.

TV Shows Are Coming Back to Life Too

Streaming fatigue? October’s got some comfort food TV returning to your screen. Abbott Elementary is back, Saturday Night Live returns for its 51st season this weekend, and Grey’s Anatomy and 9-1-1: Nashville premiere October 9. Other dates to circle: Elsbeth and Tim Robinson’s new HBO Max show The Chair Company on October 12, NCIS on the 14th, 9-1-1 (OG flavor) on the 16th, Tracker on the 19th, and The Witcher season 4 wraps it all up on October 30.

So yeah, your DVR (or algorithm) is about to get real busy.

Holidays, Both Big and Bizarre

Obviously, Halloween caps the month off on October 31. But along the way, we’ve also got Yom Kippur starting tonight, and a double holiday situation with Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 13.

Some of the lesser-known holidays are a little more… creative. Like International Beer and Pizza Day (October 9), National No Bra Day (also the 13th, which makes for a fun combo), and National Cat Day on the 29th.

Whether you’re watching baseball, binging TV, or contemplating green spaghetti (we see you, Arizona), October 2025 is ready to entertain.

Get Paid $666 to Watch Horror Movies This Halloween

If your idea of the perfect night is turning off the lights, grabbing some popcorn, and screaming your lungs out at a horror flick, CableTV.com has a gig for you. The site is offering $666 (yes, the devil’s favorite number) to watch, rank, and review five scary movies as part of what they’re calling a “Thrillternship.”

This spooky side hustle isn’t just about the cash. The chosen “Thrilltern” also gets a $50 Uber Eats gift card for their midnight snacks and a one-year subscription to Screambox, so the scares can keep on coming long after the experiment is over. But there’s a catch: applicants must be 18 or older, and the deadline to apply is October 7th.

CableTV is clear that this isn’t for the faint of heart.

In their words, they want “real fans of fear, enthusiasts of the eerie, and devotees to the dreadful.” Translation: if you’re the type who hides behind a pillow during “Hocus Pocus”, this job probably isn’t for you.

The assignment is simple but chilling. You’ll choose five movies from their curated list of 13 of the scariest horror films ever made. And it’s a heavy-hitting lineup.

Think classics like “The Exorcist” (1973), “Halloween” (1978), and “The Shining” (1980), alongside modern nightmares like “Hereditary” (2018) and “Get Out” (2017). The list also includes cult favorites like “The Thing” (1982), “Candyman” (1992), and “The Evil Dead” (1981).

Your job is to watch, survive, and then rank and review them. Easy money, right?

Unless you pick something like “Martyrs” (2008), which has been traumatizing audiences for years.

These kinds of promotions pop up every Halloween season, with companies paying people to binge horror movies in exchange for their screams, opinions, and social media buzz. The $666 payout is a clever marketing nod, but the free snacks and streaming subscription sweeten the deal.

So if you’ve got nerves of steel, a love of horror history, and a tolerance for creepy late-night Uber Eats deliveries, this Thrillternship might be your dream (or nightmare) gig. Just don’t forget to sleep with the lights on after “IT” (2017).

Would you sign up for $666 to scare yourself silly, or are you leaving this job to the horror junkies?