http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10501 My son never really enjoyed Trick or Treating, but that cut off age seemed to come all too fast for me. Halloween is my favorite time of year, it always has been, but once my son became a teen, I found myself struggling to find ideas and alternative ways to celebrate other than going door to door begging for candy. Let’s face it, nothing is more irritating than a “way too old kid” showing up at your door (hours after all the REAL trick or treaters are home and in bed.) I refused to have my kid be one of them. Though in Davis at least this age of trick or treat acceptability seems to go up every year.   Besides making decorations and having him help me decorate the house, pass out candy and invite friends over, here are a few other local traditions we’ve enjoyed to celebrate the season with older kids.   ~Corn Mazes There are quite a few in our area. This year we explored the one at Dave’s Pumpkin Patch in West Sacramento. My son loved it, and it wasn’t so huge that I was uncomfortable letting him try to navigate it solo while we sipped cider on a hay bale nearby.   ~Old Sacramento Cemetery I’ve always loved this beautiful cemetery. It’s a great place to take the family for a weekend pic nic and see some living, errr, dead history. Many original settlers of California are buried right here. For Halloween they put on a night time lantern tour. Tickets are $25 per person and they usually sell out months in advance. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a visit for free and enjoy the spooky, yet lovely atmosphere!     ~Pumpkin Carving Contest Show off your creative skills with a family pumpkin carving (or for littler ones, decorating) contest. This is actually how my husband and I met, and is still an annual family tradition. Get a small prize for the winner (and a little something for the attempt if you have more than 1 child.)   ~Sacramento Governers Mansion Tour Special Halloween tours are available. The prices are VERY reasonable. A great creepy mansion, perfect for some Halloween exploration.    ~Movie & Treat For me, nothing can top a homemade treat and old time spooky movie. Involve the family in the treat part! Toss some cider in a big pot and warm it up with a cinnamon stick for each mug. Make some hot apple pie, caramel apples, or caramel corn to enjoy with the movie. Sure to make the most sullen teen grin, even if it is “Family Time.”   ~Play a Creepy Game There are many games out there on the market with a Halloween vibe. We love the card game Frog Juice, and the board game 13 Dead End Drive. This is also something they can do with friends, if mom and dad just aren’t “cool enough” anymore. (Personally, I just don’t offer it up like a choice and he’s smiling by the end of it.) My son never really enjoyed Trick or Treating, but that cut off age seemed to come all too fast for me. Halloween is my favorite time of year, it always has been, but once my son became a teen, I found myself struggling to find ideas and alternative ways to celebrate other than going door to door begging for candy. Let’s face it, nothing is more irritating than a “way too old kid” showing up at your door (hours after all the REAL trick or treaters are home and in bed.) I refused to have my kid be one of them. Though in Davis at least this age of trick or treat acceptability seems to go up every year.   Besides making decorations and having him help me decorate the house, pass out candy and invite friends over, here are a few other local traditions we’ve enjoyed to celebrate the season with older kids.   ~Corn Mazes There are quite a few in our area. This year we explored the one at Dave’s Pumpkin Patch in West Sacramento. My son loved it, and it wasn’t so huge that I was uncomfortable letting him try to navigate it solo while we sipped cider on a hay bale nearby.   ~Old Sacramento Cemetery I’ve always loved this beautiful cemetery. It’s a great place to take the family for a weekend pic nic and see some living, errr, dead history. Many original settlers of California are buried right here. For Halloween they put on a night time lantern tour. Tickets are $25 per person and they usually sell out months in advance. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a visit for free and enjoy the spooky, yet lovely atmosphere!     ~Pumpkin Carving Contest Show off your creative skills with a family pumpkin carving (or for littler ones, decorating) contest. This is actually how my husband and I met, and is still an annual family tradition. Get a small prize for the winner (and a little something for the attempt if you have more than 1 child.)   ~Sacramento Governers Mansion Tour Special Halloween tours are available. The prices are VERY reasonable. A great creepy mansion, perfect for some Halloween exploration.    ~Movie & Treat For me, nothing can top a homemade treat and old time spooky movie. Involve the family in the treat part! Toss some cider in a big pot and warm it up with a cinnamon stick for each mug. Make some hot apple pie, caramel apples, or caramel corn to enjoy with the movie. Sure to make the most sullen teen grin, even if it is “Family Time.”   ~Play a Creepy Game There are many games out there on the market with a Halloween vibe. We love the card game Frog Juice, and the board game 13 Dead End Drive. This is also something they can do with friends, if mom and dad just aren’t “cool enough” anymore. (Personally, I just don’t offer it up like a choice and he’s smiling by the end of it.) en-us Great ideas! My Em is still a little scared of Halloween, so I find the arts and crafts to be much more enjoyable. She loves all things pumpkins. We'll try a little trick o' treating this year, but I'm sure she'll poop out quickly. Have fun with your family! http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10501/#c_85022 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10501/#c_85022 Great ideas! My Em is still a little scared of Halloween, so I find the arts and crafts to be much more enjoyable. She loves all things pumpkins. We'll try a little trick o' treating this year, but I'm sure she'll poop out quickly. Have fun with your family! I remember last year how much she hated dressing up. I'm guessing this year she's over that? Man cub was going to have some friends over, but he said today that he's all socialized out (and going out with friends Friday), so we're doing the pizza, carmel corn and spooky movie deal as a family. How lucky am I that my almost 16yo still wants to hang out with me!? (No... really... I'm not being sarcastic!) http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10501/#c_85023 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10501/#c_85023 I remember last year how much she hated dressing up. I'm guessing this year she's over that? Man cub was going to have some friends over, but he said today that he's all socialized out (and going out with friends Friday), so we're doing the pizza, carmel corn and spooky movie deal as a family. How lucky am I that my almost 16yo still wants to hang out with me!? (No... really... I'm not being sarcastic!) You are VERY lucky he wants to hang out with you! :) I thought Em was into dressing up, but now I'm not so sure. She picked out a costume (super girl), but when we got home, she had NO interest in wearing it. Totally started sobbing. Sigh. So we'll see... http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10501/#c_85024 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10501/#c_85024 You are VERY lucky he wants to hang out with you! :) I thought Em was into dressing up, but now I'm not so sure. She picked out a costume (super girl), but when we got home, she had NO interest in wearing it. Totally started sobbing. Sigh. So we'll see...