In case you’ve been wondering how to make the most out of your Halloween this year, here are some steps to have a spooky night.

Start with some movies: Turn on some old or new films, and get in the mood. Pop some popcorn, grab a blanket, and cuddle up to a movie. Time is limited so don’t be afraid to watch some cheesy Halloween classics. ABC Family has movie nights almost every weekend, but a movie night doesn’t have to be a Friday or Saturday. If a Thursday is a better day, other movie options are available. Hocus Pocus, the Halloweentown movies, The Adams Family, or even Scream are great options!

Eat some killer sweets: Put a Halloween twist to a simple cookie dough recipe, try some spooky cookie cutters, or even bake some already Halloween-themed sweets! Use orange colored chocolate chips, rather than just plain brown. Collect some creepy frosting, food coloring, and sprinkles and add a festive vibe to dessert! Pillsbury makes sugar cookies with prints of ghosts, witches, and pumpkins, making these a great and easy way to have some Halloween Spirit.

Go to a corn maze or a haunted house: A classic way to get festive for the fall holiday is going to a haunted house or haunted walk. In Colorado Springs, there are plenty of options for a scary experience. The Haunted Mines, Ghouls Gulch, and Mind Seizure are all some spooky ways to prepare for Halloween. Not quite the terror fan but still want a scare? A haunted corn maze is a great alternative!For less of a fright, but still a good time, a corn maze is another way to have a blast.

Find the perfect pumpkin: Picking a pumpkin for carving is never boring, and is an easy way to enjoy the fall festivities! Go early, if you wait until the last weekend, all the good ones will be gone! A trip to a pumpkin patch isn’t necessary to find the one, most grocery stores will have a large number of pumpkins for sale. Selecting the perfect pumpkin can be very difficult, but once the right one is found, it is smooth sailing! One with little dents and one that is less dirty is going to be helpful when it comes to carving, as one with a relatively flat side will be beneficial as well.

Carve your Pumpkin: This activity can be done with many people or very few, so this is a perfect opportunity to bring friends together and have some holiday fun! Research for an idea of a pattern that would be fun and easy to carve. First timers and children should pick out a simple design, while adults could try a relatively more difficult piece of artwork. To add to the full fall experience, roast the cleaned pumpkin seeds in the oven for a quick and yummy snack; all while filling the house with a festive scent. After completing carving, set some candles in the pumpkins and light them. A few photos and this autumn will be one for the memory book!

Go costume shopping: Whether at a store that sells costumes or at a thrift store this can be a great time with some friends. Try on the most ridiculous costumes in the store and take some pictures. Find a costume that is fun and will be easy to have a good time in! At the thrift store, get creative! Pull the worst outfits off the rack and try them all on. Pick out an outfit for a family member, or even for a pet. Going to the thrift store lacking an idea for a costume is okay; there will be inspiration there.

For the Big Night: Be sure to make plans for the night. Trick-or-treating, going to a costume party, or a scary movie marathon are all ways to spend the night without missing out on the holiday! Some of these options even allow mixing all of the pre-holiday tips to make an epic night. So eat some candy, candy corn, bake some cookies, and turn on a thriller! Go out, have fun at a party, or hit the blocks for some candy. This spooky holiday will be over in a blink of an eye!