Host the ultimate Halloween night at home: activities, decorating ideas and more

By Tamia Miller on August 11th, 2025
Hallmark Halloween Night In

Gummy eyeballs floating in a glass bowl filled with bright green punch. That is my very first memory of Halloween and the moment that changed my definition of the perfect way to spend it. I was 10, dressed in an itchy witch’s costume, entering a Halloween lover’s dream (aka my favourite childhood neighbour’s living room). Giant cobweb and spider decorations, bursts of purple and green and orange everywhere, a table full of creepy yet cute foods—I was amazed!

Since then, I’ve always loved the idea of celebrating Halloween night at home. It’s the perfect way to start a new tradition outside of the usual festivities like trick-or-treating or costume parties (which are also great, of course!). So whether you’re a self-proclaimed scaredy cat or the one doing the scaring, we’ve got the guide to your best Halloween night in ever!

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Hallmark Halloween Night In
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Halloween ideas for the nostalgic one

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You have one goal on Halloween: to feel like a kid again. Your dream celebration is all about recreating that childlike magic with wacky costumes, familiar icons like pumpkins and ghosts, and king-size candy bars for trick-or-treaters.

How to decorate:

Nothing says classic Halloween like the Peanuts gang, so these new goodies are perfect for your vibe!

  • First up, some essentials for couch snuggles, like the Peanuts® Snoopy Peek-a-Boo Pumpkin Plush with sound and motion, Peanuts® Great Pumpkin Comic Strip Throw Blanket and the cutest Peanuts® Jack-o’-Lanterns Floppy Snoopy Plush.
  • Throw on warm Peanuts® Great Pumpkin Linus and Flying Ace Novelty Socks and you’re ready for the Great Pumpkin.
  • For guests and trick-or-treaters, you can make adorable DIY pumpkin surprise treat bags ahead of time or toss some candy in goodie bags. Set them in a cute candy dish​, and you’re good to go!

What to do:

Grab some pumpkins and make ’em pretty with these Peanuts Snoopy pumpkin carving designs. They’re way easier than they look, seriously!

What to snack on:

Delicious Halloween little smokies—because finger foods bring out everyone’s inner child.

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Halloween ideas for witchy vibes

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I’d bet a pot of witch’s brew that there’s a deck of tarot cards on your nightstand. Purple and black are your signature colours (with a hint of something neon sometimes, because range!). Skip the crystal ball—a Halloween night in with your best buds is guaranteed to be full of fun and fabulous witchiness.

How to decorate:

Cue your new theme song, “Walking in a Witchy Wonderland”—these decorating ideas are a witch’s dream.

  • Set the mood with the motion-activated Witch’s Hat with light and sound and the Disney Hocus Pocus water globe with light and motion.
  • For more fun with the Sanderson Sisters (our favourite witches of all time), go all out with the cauldron pillow with sparkling lights, a cauldron mugfor warm drinks to ward off the chill and a contour glass set for bubbly beverages.
  • Want some décor that doubles as a costume? This Winifred Sanderson hooded blanket is a serious showstopper. It sold out last year after going viral on social media!

What to do:

Send your guests home with the cutest witch broom treat bags. You only need a few supplies to make them, and they can double as a creative craft to pass out to trick-or-treaters.

What to snack on:

Try this sweet-and-salty snack mix with mini witch’s hats, along with a cauldron of witch’s brew Halloween punch.

Loving this vibe?

Then you’ll want to check out ALL the ideas for throwing a Disney Hocus Pocus Halloween party!

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Halloween ideas for the glam ghoul

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To you, Halloween is all about the aesthetic. Gross, gooey or grotesque? Out. Sticker stations, matching plushies and cute treats with favourite characters? In! For your Halloween night at home, you’re ready to light a few pumpkin-spice-scented candles, snap some glossy shots for your scrapbook and make fun new memories with your besties.

How to decorate:

  • Greet your guests at the door with an adorable Trick-or-Treat Skeleton Plush with sound and motion.
  • Add more ghostly fun with a themed blanket, fringe pillow and a cute charm to go at the bottom of your glass for the night.
  • For a sleek finish, try black metal Jack-o’-Lantern candle holders.
  • Create the prettiest pumpkins ever (and some DIY fall décor) with these no-carve pumpkin painting ideas.

What to do:

Host a Halloween plush exchange and ask your guests to bring their favourite to share. Choose yours, and don’t forget a festive gift bag to put it in!

What to snack on:

Say cheers with some festive Halloween cocktails, then have fun decorating Halloween gingerbread cookies together.

Missing someone special on Halloween?

Wishing your long-distance BFF could be there for the festivities? Send them a Halloween card! We’ve got so many fun ones to choose from, plus some super-sweet message ideas to write inside.

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Halloween ideas for the scaredy cat

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I can think of quite a few things the average person is afraid of—spiders, heights, pictures of that phase when no one told you the bangs weren’t working, etc. At the top of your list, however, is anything related to haunted houses, scary movies or jump scares. And that’s okay! These ideas are all treats, no tricks.

How to decorate:

Embrace some lighthearted fun with favourites from Disney’s Lilo and Stitch!

  • First the interactive Disney Stitch plush with sound or the snuggly Floppy Stitch to keep you company during scary movies.
  • Impress all your guests (and distract them from spewing any scaredy cat allegations) with the Disney Halloween House light-up table decor.
  • Keep your beverage of choice close by with the sculpted Mummy Stitch mug.
  • Finally, use the chip and dip tray to plus up the snacks table.

What to do:

Gather round to do a group puzzle like this colourful pumpkin one (coming soon!) or make a yummy Halloween gingerbread house together.

What to snack on:

This scary good “Cookies and Scream” Halloween popcorn. (This will be the only scary part of your night, so don’t panic!)

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Halloween ideas for the fear fanatic

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Growing up you were the kid who wore a scary costume to school and terrified the rest of the class 🧟‍♂️. You’d be more than happy to find a monster under your bed, as long as they don’t snore or steal your Halloween candy. Creepy, crawly and “can cause nightmares” is your vibe for the night.

How to decorate:

Nothing makes people squirm more than the idea of a spider randomly plopping on their head. Let’s start there!

  • The Drop-n-Greet Spider Plush with sound and motion is ready for the job, but be prepared to hear some squeals.
  • Plus up the scares even more with help from Beetlejuice™, the beloved trickster. Check out the lighted gravestone sign, glow-in-the-dark blanket and sandworm candy dish for decor so fun it might just raise the recently deceased.
  • Treat yourself—sip from a colour-changing mug featuring everyone’s favourite bio-exorcist on Halloween night!

What to do:

In between scary movie viewings, try some of these Halloween paper crafts to celebrate the season.

What to snack on:

These peanut butter spiders are almost too creepy to eat (which is why you’ll probably love them).

Creep out your cocktails

Having an adults-only party? Gross everyone out (in a good way) with Eyeball Highballs, a Devilled Mary and more ghastly garnish ideas.

You’re officially ready for a delightfully wicked Halloween night at home. Call your favourite people over, grab all the candy you can and let the fun begin!

For even more Halloween ideas, check these out: