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California’s Top 5 Things to do at Halloween

After sitting picking at the double-knotted laces on rather tacky trainers, a slightly glazed look surfaced from beneath the shadow of a tilted Mexican hat. “I’m going skinny dipping in the sea,” announced Adam Mulligan, who was dressed “as a tourist” in a migraine-provoking shirt and shorts.

An iPhone alarm beeped accusingly as it turned 4 am. “Only in California…” came a slurred voice entering the room as he stumbled over a sleeping Indiana Jones who was casually bundled up in blankets on the floor, cradling a burnt out pumpkin.

Only in California indeed. And only at Halloween.

So what are the favourite five festive affairs that should be made mandatory for any tourist who happens to stumble upon Halloween in California? Well, here are five traditions that if followed, won’t fail to create the full experience.

 

5. Hide indoors
How did this make it to number five? The reason is simple. Careful studies and observation has revealed that Americans love to huddle up on their sofas in the dark to hide from trick-or-treaters whilst gradually falling deep into a sugar coma. They also stick on a chain of back-to-back horror films so that they can blame what they’re doing on the fact that it’s Halloween. “We were watching the Saw movies and eating our Halloween candy…” We’re on to you Americans.

 

4. Show up to a house party
…Or several house parties! No matter what age you are, there is a house party for you. If you’re four years old, firstly well done for reading this article, and secondly you’ll probably find yourself being told to attempt to demolish a doughnut hanging from a string or apples bobbing in a bucket of water. If you’re 10 you’re more likely to have to stick your face onto a plate of flour and pull marshmallows out with your teeth, or to be blindfolded and touch “eyeballs” to try to identify that they are in fact peeled grapes. At sweet 16 you’ll probably discover Halloween punch for the first time at a guy from high school’s house with all your friends. Oh, but if you’re a girl be aware that dressing scary doesn’t apply to you anymore. For you, Halloween is now a challenge to see who can wear the least clothes but still manage to be an identifiable character or animal. Watch Mean Girls for further explanation for that one. Halloween doesn’t end with high school. If you’re in your 20s, get yourself to a frat party. These house parties have the funding to be, how to put this… impressive. Unlimited free drinks all night, good music, beer pong, flip cup – if you don’t know what these are: get to know. If you’re any older than your twenties then you don’t need to be reading this, you have had plenty of house partying experience. Use Halloween as an excuse to recreate your favourite house party and show the kids how it’s done.

 

3. Go trick-or-treating
Candy corn, Reese’s peanut butter cups, Laffy taffy, Pop tarts, Whoppers, Junior Mints, Smarties, Hershey’s Kisses, Milk duds, Twizzlers, Red Vines, Twinkies, Baby Ruths, Butterfingers, Razzles, Tootsie Rolls… This isn’t some freaky other language, these are American sweets. They are the only reasons needed for number three. If you wear a costume, knock on a random person’s door and say the three magic words “trick or treat” they give them to you.

 

2. Brave a theme park
Globally recognised for wiping the smirk off of even the cockiest guys’ faces, is Universal Studios. Have zombies scream in your face, meet a midget dressed as Chuckie and be constantly watched by clowns. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but certainly a Halloween experience you’ll remember.

 

1. Visit a pumpkin patch
Say these two words to any American and dare them not to beam. It seems that every American child visits a pumpkin patch and experiences a warm glow and a childish burst of excitement whenever they reminisce, even as adults. What originally began as an event to buy pumpkins to carve grew into an event with pony rides, fun fair attractions, popcorn, petting farms, stalls and ways to win prizes – including goldfish. Even if you feel like you’ve outgrown this scene, you’re probably right, but you’ll never be able to comprehend the American inner-glow of Halloween exhilaration if you don’t experience a pumpkin patch. That’s why visiting a pumpkin patch is at number one.

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