Want an activity that will bring a little spice (namely of the pumpkin variety) into the classroom? School is the perfect time to nurture the inner artist that lives in every child. What better way than to encourage kids to learn to draw something fun and seasonal? Our free printable has step-by-step instructions for teaching kids how to draw a pumpkin. Make it a fun Friday group activity or keep it on hand for your fast finishers.
There’s a video tutorial and images with step-by-step instructions. Plus, be sure to download the free printable instructions so kids can easily follow along.
How to Draw a Pumpkin Video
There are six easy-to-follow steps below for teaching kids how to draw a pumpkin. They should simplify the process for kids of all ages and abilities.
How To Draw a Pumpkin Step-by-Step
Jennifer Kalis for We Are Teachers
Step 1
Begin by having your paper and black permanent marker ready. Start by drawing a curved stem about three quarters of the way up the paper. Draw it going upward. Then, draw a curved horizontal line coming off both the left and right of the stem. Finally, draw two small curved lines that connect the top of the pumpkin to the stem.
Jennifer Kalis for We Are Teachers
Step 2
Now we’re going to draw the sides of the pumpkin. Start at the base of the stem and draw a half circle on the left side that curves outward as wide as you would like your pumpkin to appear. Bring the lines down almost to the bottom of the page. Repeat this step on the right side as well. Add a little hook at the bottom of both half circles. These will begin to form the base of your pumpkin.
Jennifer Kalis for We Are Teachers
Step 3
Now you’ll be creating the base of the pumpkin. Simply connect the two hooks you created at the bottom of the two sides of the pumpkin. Be sure to make it a squiggly line to mimic the rough edge of a real pumpkin.
Jennifer Kalis for We Are Teachers
Step 4
Now we’re going to divide the pumpkin into sections throughout the middle. Follow your own curves along the bottom edge, upward toward the top of the pumpkin. A few of the lines should curve toward the left and a few should curve to the right. When you’re done, your pumpkin should be divided into about five sections.
Jennifer Kalis for We Are Teachers
Step 5
Adding some texture to your pumpkin will help it look a bit more realistic. Draw a few markings of varying sizes inside each of the sections of the pumpkin. Once you’ve done that, you can add a few of these lines inside the stem as well!
Jennifer Kalis for We Are Teachers
Step 6
Finally, we’re going to add a few tendrils and a leaf or two. The tendrils should come off of the stem that you drew in step one. They are thin and often curly. The very last step in our pumpkin drawing is to add a small leaf coming off of one of the tendrils. You can add a few lines inside the leaf for a more realistic effect.
Get your free printable with step-by-step instructions for how to draw a pumpkin
Are you ready to save and print your free pumpkin-drawing printable? All you need to do is click the button below to fill out the form at the top of this page.
The former Eloise Psychiatric Hospital in Westland was brought back to life in 2021, becoming one of Michigan’s largest and spookiest haunted attractions.
Now, Eloise Asylum is getting ready to open doors on Sept. 28 for its fourth season of serious scares.
With 48,000 square feet, two stories, and over 120 professional scare actors, guests can expect their hearts to race for over 45 minutes. One floor offers a high-tech horror experience typically seen in theme parks and immersive art exhibits, while the other is based on the original psychiatric history of the building.
New this year, Eloise Asylum is hosting “Fandom Fridays,” where guests can meet Hollywood horror actors and paranormal YouTube stars, plus get exclusive autographs and photo opportunities. The lineup includes actors such as Douglas Tait of Freddy vs. Jason, Marty Klebba of Pirates and the Caribbean, and Lew Temple of The Walking Dead, among others.
From Oct. 18-20, a special “Haunt or Hunt Weekend” is happening, featuring a one-hour ghost hunting tour across two rarely seen floors of the former asylum, led by paranormal investigators.
To close out the season on Nov. 2, there will be a “High-Intensity Night,” where guests can “experience Eloise Asylum like never before.” The show will be more interactive, with guests being able to take part in the action, plus opt for higher intensity extras.
Since opening, the attraction has faced criticism from some for making light of the real-world horrors that occurred when the building was a psychiatric hospital. Reverend B. Dangerous, a traveling performer, acknowledged such criticisms during an interview with Metro Times in 2022.
“I’ve read different posts that are people talking about the suffering that happened here, and there was suffering,” he said. “I can’t take that away. But it was also a hospital to help some people. There was also good.”
According to its website, a portion of the proceeds from the attraction benefit an on-site homeless shelter that was opened in another one of the former hospital buildings on the campus, “making your visit even more meaningful.”
This season, Eloise Asylum is open from 7-10:30 p.m. every Friday through Sunday in October, as well as Sept. 28 and Nov. 2. The experience is open to those ages 12 and up.
All special events require tickets separate from general admission.
For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit eloiseasylum.com.
This Halloween, Chipotle wants to spice things up and do more than just feed customers; it wants to dress them, too.
The burrito maker has joined forces with Spirit Halloween, North America’s largest Halloween retailer, to launch its first-ever costume collection, it said in statement on Wednesday. The publicity stunt takes inspiration from the viral costume memes that both brands have tapped into in recent years.
Starting on September 6, customers can snag a costume that pays tribute to some of Chipotle’s iconic (and less-than-iconic) items, including: napkin, fork, water cup, burrito, and to-go bag. Each unitard is priced at $40 and will be available in sizes from adult small to XL.
The unitards, or full-body suits, will be up for grabs on Spirit Halloween’s website and at select locations across the U.S., including Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. Customers in Canada can buy a costume online, while supplies last.
Through the collaboration, the companies are trying to monetize the somewhat-dated quirky costume memes inspired by Spirit Halloween’s bags. Two years ago, Chipotle jumped on the bandwagon with a fictional “Chipotle Fork” and a “Chipotle Napkin” unitard, which collectively garnered over 700,000 engagements online, the company said.
But that’s not all – Chipotle says it is brewing up another “scarily great offer” for customers next month, with those details still under wraps. The company once gave away free food to customers who dressed in tin foil — like a burrito — on October 31, however the company has since watered down that promotion into a partial discount.
Let’s take a look at the five unitards Chipotle is offering this Halloween:
After giving audiences the creeps with his surprise smash Smile, filmmaker Parker Finn is back with Smile 2 which aims to elevate the modern Horror genre by taking the terror on tour with a global Pop star.
Source: Paramount Pictures
In Smile 2, Pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) is gearing up for a world tour when she begins to experience increasingly terrifying events. As the horrors ramp up and the pressures of fame take their toll, Skye must confront her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
Check out the creepy trailer below:
Written and directed by Finn, the highly anticipated sequel stars Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage, Rosemarie DeWitt, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Ray Nicholson, Dylan Gelula, Raúl Castillo, and Kyle Gallner.
In an interview with Julia Cunningham and Jess Cagle on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show, Gage revealed that there’s one scene that was so “gory” and “disgusting” that he threw up off-camera while filming.
“It’s so terrifying,” he said. “It was the first time I’ve ever been on a set where I was genuinely afraid and I actually got sick to my stomach in one take.”
“I didn’t think I would. I just, it was so gory and so disgusting,” he continued. “It’s legitimately that scary. I’m not even just lying. I’ve never been on something that truly terrified me. The crew was terrified filming because, I don’t know. Parker Finn is, he knows that genre so well.”
Smile 2 brings its ghastly grins to theaters October 18, 2024.
You may find eroticism and horror movies strange bedfellows, but you shouldn’t — sexy horror films are absolutely a thing, and with so many good ones to choose from, they probably deserve their own genre. We’ve picked the sexiest horror movies out there, featuring everything from blood-sucking vampires and carnal werewolves to unhinged serial killers — with a whole lot of sex thrown in.
Ahead, you’ll find sexy horror movies by the likes of Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, and Keanu Reeves’s erotic dreamscape of an interpretation of the story of Count Dracula in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” And then, of course, there’s Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried’s iconic riff on demonic possession in “Jennifer’s Body” shows that any type of monster can make a good subject for a sexy horror film. But perhaps the scariest movies on this list are the realistic ones.
If you have a strong stomach (believe us, some of these movies make the surgeries on “Grey’s Anatomy” look like a game of Operation), you just might have some steamy, erotic thrillers to pick from on your next date night. Read ahead for some of the sexiest horror movies of all time, perfect for Halloween viewing and beyond.
— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano and Kalyn Womack
It’s the spookiest time of year! The weeks leading up to Halloween (or any time you want to study ghosts) are a great time to engage students in some spooky learning. Choose some of our ghost templates to inspire storytelling, poetry, scary math, and more. We’ve included ideas that are perfect for Halloween and still fun long after the last Halloween candy has been eaten.
Grab all the pages by filling out the form on this page. Plus check out the fun ideas for using each printable below.
Large Ghost Templates
Ghost decorations
Cover ghosts in tissue paper or cotton and add eyes and a mouth. Use ribbon or string to hang the ghosts around your room.
Fa-boo-lous class bulletin board
Each student chooses and decorates a ghost to represent themselves. Create a bulletin board with the class ghosts to show everyone how fa-boo-lous you are.
Large Ghost Templates With Writing Lines
Ghost biography
Choose one person from the past and create a ghost biography of them. What would that person want us to know about them? What advice would they have for us from the grave?
Ghost poetry
Use the outline of a ghost or the inside lines to write a spooky ghost-inspired poem. Here are lots of Halloween poems for kids for inspiration.
Ghost story
Write a silly ghost story. For example, imagine that a ghost is going out for Halloween. What would it dress up as? Write the story and decorate the ghost in their new Halloween costume.
Medium Ghost Templates
Going on a ghost hunt
Create a math scavenger hunt by writing a math problem on one ghost, then write the solution to the first problem and a new problem on the next ghost. Put the ghosts around the room and have students move from ghost to ghost by solving problems.
Solve Halloween math problems
Write a Halloween math problem on one side of the ghost and have students solve it on the other side. After they solve their math problem, they can pass their ghost on to have a peer check their work. Use these again and again by writing the math problem on each ghost, then laminating them so students can solve each problem with markers.
Medium Ghost Templates With Writing Lines
Ghost jokes
Write a spooky joke on one side of the template and the answer on the other. Then, create an interactive bulletin board with jokes, or ask and answer ghost jokes during a brain break.
Teach silent letter patterns like “kn” (know), “wr” (wren), “mb” (comb), and “bt” (debt) using ghosts to show which letters we don’t hear.
Create matching games
Create pairs of ghosts using letters, sight words, math problems and solutions, or whatever you’re working on. Then, students can play Memory with the ghosts.
Ghost graphing
Print and cut out ghosts to use in graphing activities. Students add their ghost to create pictographs or bar graphs about their favorite Halloween candy, whether they like to be scared or not, or if they believe that ghosts are real.
Printable Page of Tiny Ghosts
Ghosts vs. bats
Use the ghosts for the red pieces in a checkers game. The black game pieces are “bats,” and the white ghosts play against the bats.
Ghost bingo markers
Print, cut, and laminate these ghosts to use as bingo chips.
Ghost ten-frames
Print, cut, and laminate these ghosts to model and practice ten-frame activities.
Ghosts in Different Shapes and Sizes
Finger puppets
Have students cut out and decorate ghosts in different sizes. Then, use the ghosts to tell ghost stories. How many ghost characters can students create?
Decorate Halloween bags
These ghosts are perfect for students to cut out and decorate trick-or-treat bags for Halloween night.
Get your free Ghost Template Bundle!
Get all the printable ghost templates featured above by clicking the button and filling out the form on this page.
The internet seems to have decided September is now officially a spooky month. Remember those “Me on September 30/Me on October 1” memes? Everyone’s making them for September 1 now. Why?
Global warming? Jk! Unless…
Blame it on Christmas Creep. Or Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s Venice premiere. Sabrina Carpenter’s “Taste” music video is a factor. It’s possible Demure Autumn isn’t the comedown we really need from Brat Summer. Or perhaps it all comes down to the increasingly distressing nature of the world at large. But for one reason or another, Halloween season is starting in September this year. Spooktober? Meet Spooktember, her creepy haunted doll of a little sister.
You remember Lewis! He’s not a Jack-O-Lantern? Queer icon? He’s back.
You’re asking the right questions, guy we made up in our head. Luckily, the boxderati have acknowledged the September sprawl of spooky season. Cinemonster, architect of movie scavenger hunt Hooptober, has released the guidelines for Hooptober 11: The Return To Texas Because We Need That Extra Push Over The Cliff. Starting September 15, participants ahve to watch 31 horror movies that fit Cinemonster’s elaborate, well-outlined criteria. This year, that includes movies from 6 countries and 8 decades. There’s also more specific boxes to tick, like a movie worsened by weather, and one starring a Black woman. Nope fits both of those, btw.
Now is a great time to catch up on last year’s horror content. Interview With the Vampireis on Netflix now, and TikTok is eating it up. Lisa Frankensteinis on demand. And the “nun impregnated with ____” dueling movies The First Omenand Immaculateare streaming on Hulu.
There’s always Halloween Horror Nights on both coasts. This year, The Weeknd is taking you inside his twisted mind at Universal Hollywood. Will there be a Jocelyn jumpscare? You’ll have to go to find out. Jimmy Fallon is doing much the same thing at 30 Rock in a limited time haunt, Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares.
And if even the grotesqueries of Jimmy Fallon’s unconscious cannot slate your thirst for terror, congrats! We are scared of you.
Do you and your work besties really want to impress your students this year with top-notch teacher Halloween costumes? This list has so many clever ideas for every kind of teacher! From easy, low-prep costumes to those that really go all out, these options will help you get into the spirit of the season.
Holly Herbertson, High School ELA, for We Are Teachers
Insta-Gram
You gotta love a good pun costume, and this one made us chuckle. Teacher Holly noted that she carried around a variety of “filters” to change things up, just like the app.
Willa Barron, 8th Grade ELA, for We Are Teachers
Jenn B., 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Olaf
This lovable guy loves warm hugs, just like a lot of the elementary school teachers we know! These Olaf sunglasses from Amazon would be a cool way to build this costume for yourself.
Danielle F. for We Are Teachers
Diction-Fairy
Who doesn’t love a good costume pun? Pick up an old dictionary at the thrift store, then use its pages to cover this set of wings from Amazon. Ta-da!
Jen E., Middle School ELA, for We Are Teachers
The Girl With the Green Ribbon
Remember that creepy tale from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? She’d never take off her ribbon, and never tell anyone why …
Dalissa Salinas, 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Box of Crayons
Is there anything better than a brand-new box of crayons? Teachers and kids know the answer!
Kathy G., High School Art Teacher, for We Are Teachers
8th Grade Social Studies Teacher for We Are Teachers
Jackie Kennedy
She might be one of the most famous first ladies of all time, and she has lots of terrific outfits to choose from.
Ms. Lupe Palacios for We Are Teachers
A Book
The teacher who crafted this clever costume notes that it opened up to a short story inside, while the back showcased “reviews” from students. So cool!
Liz B., Preschool, for We Are Teachers
Pete the Cat
Add big colorful buttons to a yellow shirt, throw on some cat ears, and you’ve got a Pete the Cat costume! If you can do the different-colored sneakers, even better.
Lisa Jacobs for We Are Teachers
Phileas Fogg
If you really love putting effort into your costume, take inspiration from this incredible Around the World in 80 Days costume! A giant beach ball balanced in a Hula-Hoop forms the “balloon,” and a pair of steampunk goggles adds an authentic touch.
Loretta O., 6th Grade, for We Are Teachers
World War I Soldier
This is an especially cool costume idea for a history or social studies teacher, but it works for any history buff.
Amy, Pre-K-6 Librarian, for We Are Teachers
Super Reader
Readers are the real superheroes! Make a cape from old book pages, or buy some book-printed fabric instead.
5th Grade Teacher for We Are Teachers
Beetlejuice
With the sequel coming out soon, this could be the perfect year to resurrect this mischievous old favorite!
Jenn B., 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Sully (Monsters, Inc.)
If you’ve got a teacher pal, they can dress as Mike for a cute duo costume. But Sully is fun on his own too. Use this Sully horns headband to get your costume started.
Presley, 2nd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Ms. Frizzle
This is one of those teacher Halloween costumes that’s become a perennial favorite. Don’t forget to attach a stuffed lizard pal to your shoulder!
Morgan M., 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Grumpy Librarian
Today’s librarians are nothing like the stern, grumpy book guardians of days past. That makes it fun to dress as one of them for a day! Don’t forget the reading glasses on a chain for a finishing touch.
Kimberly H., 8th and 9th Grade ELA, for We Are Teachers
Cereal Killer
Oh no! Look out, Captain Crunch! A cereal killer is on the loose!
Hilary Statum, Kindergarten, for We Are Teachers
Cindy Lou Who
If you’ve got long hair, put it up in a wacky style to become the adorable little tyke from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. No long hair? Try this fun wig from Amazon instead.
Daletta G. for We Are Teachers
Poison Ivy
It’s easy to find artificial ivy strings. Just dress in green, wrap yourself in vines, and you’ve transformed into the classic comic book character!
8th Grade Social Studies Teacher for We Are Teachers
Political Party
If only politics were always this much fun! This is an especially fun costume for a major election year.
Meenal P. for We Are Teachers
Jellyfish
The beauty of this costume is that you can put it down when you need to, you know, teach. A clear umbrella and iridescent streamers make this a super-easy costume too.
Amy, Pre-K-6 Librarian, for We Are Teachers
Josie M., 2nd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Joy (Inside Out)
Your favorite yellow dress and a bright blue wig are all you need for this costume. Oh, and a super-sunny personality, of course!
8th Grade Social Studies Teacher for We Are Teachers
Electoral College
OK, that’s not really what they mean by “college,” but this costume is hilarious … and educational! Just attach state silhouettes to a grad cap and gown.
Suzi Hanninen, Elementary Special Ed, for We Are Teachers
Carmen Class, 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Amy, Pre-K-6 Librarian, for We Are Teachers
Queen for a Day
This teacher was dressed as royalty to celebrate a Kansas City Royals team day, but this costume works for Halloween too. Dress in your best, and don’t forget to sparkle!
Jenn B., 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Kevin (Up)
This silly bird stole the scene every time he was onscreen in Up! Creating his look using a multicolored tutu is a brilliant idea too.
Brianna Sayegh, High School, for We Are Teachers
Where’s Waldo?
This one works as a solo costume or one for you and your teacher BFF. Wear your own striped shirt, or buy a Waldo costume on Amazon.
Eleanor Z., High School History, for We Are Teachers
Social Scientist
This is another costume you can do on your own or with a teacher friend. Simply borrow or buy a lab coat and cover it with social media logos.
Megan Newman, 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Luxury Tax (Monopoly)
When a Monopoly app became a hit at this teacher’s school, they decided to dress up using a Monopoly, including the Luxury Tax card!
Denise H., SEL, for We Are Teachers
Mama Shark (Baby Shark)
If your students can’t stop singing this super-catchy tune, then this is the costume for you. Find some teacher pals to be Papa and Baby too.
Teacher Halloween Costumes for Duos and Groups
Kaitlyn H., Kindergarten, ESL, for We Are Teachers
Party Animals
Mix animal costumes with birthday hats and noisemakers, and you’ve got the whole cast of characters from Tara Lazar’s adorable book!
Elementary School Teachers for We Are Teachers
The Grannies (Bluey)
The Grannies might be the most popular of all Bluey and Bingo’s make-believe games. And the costumes are easy, requiring only a few blankets and accessories.
Defino Central First Grade for We Are Teachers
Anna L., 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Naomi Meredith, K-5 STEM, for We Are Teachers
Brittany G., 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
The colorful tutus are fun, but it’s those headbands that really make this teacher team costume pop!
Brittany G., 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Charlotte’s Web
Want something the entire school can get it on? Try the farm animals and other characters from Charlotte’s Web!
Naomi Meredith, K-5 STEM, for We Are Teachers
Barbie and Ken
Barbie has made a real comeback, and she has so many different styles it’s easy to find one that suits you. If you don’t know another teacher who can be your Ken, dress up your canine pal instead!
Kimberly H., 8th and 9th Grade ELA, for We Are Teachers
Morgan M., 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Dress Like Your Teammate
Even teacher besties usually have their own individual styles. Make your students laugh by swapping for the day, wearing what your teammate likes to wear.
J. Douglas, 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Museum Paintings
Art teachers, this one’s for you. Dress up as your favorite paintings and give your students a field trip without leaving the building.
Laura Ann Gryder, 2nd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Minions & Gru
You can be a Minion on your own, but it’s even more fun when you do it as a big group. Don’t forget to find someone to be Gru!
Stephanie Gable, 1st grade, for We Are Teachers
Laura Numeroff Characters
If you give a teacher a Laura Numeroff book, they’ll turn it into a Halloween costume! Each teacher can pick their own favorite.
Gabriella S. for We Are Teachers
The Magic School Bus
Where would Ms. Frizzle be without the rest of the gang? Extra points if you can convince someone to dress up as the bus itself.
Brittany G., 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Holidays
What’s your favorite holiday? Everyone can choose their own with this super-easy group costume theme.
Katarina Lupson, 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Grammar Police
Stop, in the name of the Oxford comma! Don’t try to get away with any double negatives, either.
Amanda Mannino, 4th-6th Special Ed, for We Are Teachers
Zoom Buttons
Though these teachers used these costumes during their year of virtual classrooms, they’re still funny today!
Gabriella S. for We Are Teachers
Toy Story
Bring the Pixar classic to life, and watch your students’ eyes light up!
Hilary Statum, Kindergarten, for We Are Teachers
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
How cute is this idea? Brown overalls covered in letters of the alphabet topped with palm leaves and coconuts make an easy costume that works for groups or individuals.
J. Douglas, 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty
Give me your tired, your poor … it’s like it was written just for teachers! Find the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam costumes on Amazon.
Brooke B., 4th grade, for We Are Teachers
Winnie-the-Pooh
You can go all out with Pooh-themed costumes, but you don’t need to. These simple T-shirts and headbands get the idea across perfectly and are much more practical.
Alex Jackson, Middle School, for We Are Teachers
101 Dalmatians
Spend a day being spotted puppies, and don’t forget to find someone to be Cruella de Vil. You can grab her wig here on Amazon.
Hilary Statum, Kindergarten, forWe Are Teachers
Room on the Broom
The book Room on the Broom is absolutely perfect for group teacher Halloween costumes. We especially love the teacher dressed as the broom itself!
Stephanie Gable, 1st grade, for We Are Teachers
The Avengers
We all know teachers are superheroes, so this group costume seems especially appropriate.
Hilary Statum, Kindergarten, for We Are Teachers
Koo Koo Kanga Roo
Adults and kids both love this zany duo, and their costumes are easy to re-create. Don’t forget the gold fanny pack!
Brooke B., 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
J. Douglas, 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Amy, Pre-K-6 Librarian, for We Are Teachers
Seuss Characters
Every kid knows their Dr. Seuss characters, and the huge array of books gives you so many to choose from. Try this Cat in the Hat accessory set for an easy idea.
Naomi Meredith, K-5 STEM, for We Are Teachers
Astronaut and Rocket
Could that dog rocket costume be any cuter? Paired with an astronaut suit, it’s the perfect duo costume for a teacher and her best doggie friend.
Stephanie Sanders, 2nd Grade, for We Are Teachers
The Day the Crayons Quit
Crayon costumes are always a hit, and you can even theme them to the popular book. Birthday hats in multiple colors make perfect toppers.
Jeanne Tholen for We Are Teachers
Ghostbusters
Who you gonna call? These teachers! These Ghostbusters jumpsuits come in sizes to fit every teacher on your team.
6th Grade Teacher Team for We Are Teachers
Camp Counselors
Camp counselors are really just the teachers of summer anyway, right? Love those tie-dyed T-shirts!
Naomi Meredith, 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Starbucks Baristas
Coffee keeps teachers going, so this costume is the perfect nod to their favorite fix. Green aprons, white shirts, and black pants are all you need, but you can add Starbucks caps too if you like.
Brooke B., 4th Grade, for We Are Teachers
Trolls
We love this group costume for those especially wacky teacher teams. Buy troll wig headbands, or make your own with tulle and a few basic supplies.
Jeanne Tholen for We Are Teachers
6th Grade Teacher Team for We Are Teachers
Biker Gang
Feeling tough? Don some tattoo sleeves and round up your favorite black ensembles for this group costume.
Naomi Meredith, 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Beanie Babies
With animal headbands and big hangtags made of cardboard, these costumes are a snap to throw together at the last minute.
Brittany G., 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Wizard of Oz
This group costume idea is always a lot of fun, and there are lots of characters available for big teams.
Amy Flynn for We Are Teachers
Bee Kind
These Bee Kind T-shirts come in every size, and they’re the perfect base for this simple costume idea. Add antennae and wings, and you’re good to go!
6th Grade Team for We Are Teachers
The Biggest Catch
Choose one teacher to wear the shark costume, while everyone else rounds up fishing vests, hats, nets, and other gear. Such a great photo op!
Hilary Statum, Kindergarten, for We Are Teachers
’50s Girls
Poodle skirts and ponytails are always popular. Don’t forget the saddle shoes and neck scarves too!
Naomi Meredith, 3rd Grade, for We Are Teachers
Care Bears
One of the best things about this group costume is that it lets everyone pick a bear that best suits their personality. Personalize some colorful tees and add bear ears, and you’re all set.
6th Grade Teacher Team for We Are Teachers
Traffic Control
Sometimes it feels like teachers spend half their days directing traffic, whether in the classroom, in the halls, or on the playground. You might as well dress for the part!
Hilary Statum, Kindergarten, for We Are Teachers
Johnny Appleseed
If your students have been learning about Johnny Appleseed, they’ll appreciate these adorable costumes. Especially if you wear real pots on your heads!
6th Grade Teacher Team for We Are Teachers
Vampires
Go classic with vampire costumes. (Just remember not to go overboard with the scary aspect if you teach very young kids.)
Katina M. for We Are Teachers
Nerds Candy
Halloween is all about candy, making it a really fun costume idea. All you need are colorful shirts with the Nerds logo (make your own with a die cut machine) ironed on.
Heather Goudge, 2nd Grade, for We Are Teachers
M&Ms
Here’s another colorful candy group costume that’s easy to pull off. The tutus are optional but so fun!
Dark Harbor continues its rise back to life as tickets are set to go on sale soon while more details are released about the haunts coming to the Queen Mary’s widely popular attraction, which had been canceled since 2020.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 14 for the Halloween haunt event and festival that will take place on the ship and the surrounding grounds on select nights from Sept. 20 through Nov. 2.
Since its inception in 2010, Dark Harbor featured several mazes on and off the vessel that were inspired by real stories that happened aboard the ship. It also included a carnival with monsters roaming around, food vendors and performances. At its peak it was the ship’s largest event of the year, attracting more than 120,000 people during its more than monthlong run. But like all other major events it was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic.
When it returns it will bring back some of the familiar attractions as well as a few new twists.
Tickets go on sale Aug. 14 for the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Halloween haunt event, which returns to the ship Sept. 20-Nov. 2. (Photo by Steve McCrank)
Tickets go on sale Aug. 14 for the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Halloween haunt event, which returns to the ship Sept. 20-Nov. 2. (Thomas R. Cordova-Daily Breeze/Press-Telegram)
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Tickets go on sale Aug. 14 for the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Halloween haunt event, which returns to the ship Sept. 20-Nov. 2. (Photo by Steve McCrank)
According to a release from Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, a Halloween-themed entertainment company that will be coordinating the return of the event, the mazes this year will include returning favorites like “Feast,” which has been reimagined for 2024.
This maze takes people through the bloody kitchen of a deranged chef who after years of serving first class passengers, decided to add a special secret ingredient to his meals. The deadly culinary voyage will end in the ship’s Engine Room, where another of the vessel’s famed ghosts may be waiting.
Also set for this year is “Lullaby,” which will take brave visitors into the Queen Mary’s first-class swimming pool where they may run into the ghost of Scary Mary, who is based on a young passenger who drowned in the pool decades ago.
According to the release, there will also be new mazes like “Infirmary,” which follows the spirit of a sadistic surgeon and his accomplice in life, Graceful Gale, as well as “Breakout,” in which people will take on the role of Samuel the Savage, one of the the ship’s most infamous ghosts. In the “Breakout” maze Samuel escapes his cell and those going through the maze will take on the role of Samuel, trying to avoid being captured.
And if you’re afraid of clowns, then just stay home because also new this year is a maze dubbed “Big Top Terror.” where a sinister Ringmaster will lead you through a labyrinth of frights.
“We’ve said from day one that we will honor the history, legacy, and stories of this legendary event,” said Brett Bertolino, director of special projects for Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, in a release. “But we’re also committed to guiding the event’s evolution by adding new and cutting edge experiences.”
Besides the mazes, Dark Harbor’s festival will return with a variety of entertainment, including the Dark Harbor Sliders and the Voodoo Sound Company in the VooDoo Bayou bands, fire spinners, magicians and sideshow performers, hidden bars and rides like the Sinister Swings, Scary Mary’s Ghost Rider, Black Widow, and Rampage Double Wheel.
Welp. It’s that time of year again. The first week of August where everyone starts obsessing over all things Fall, Halloween, and pumpkin spice for absolutely no reason.
Pumpkin beer will start hitting the shelves even though it’s 90 degrees outside. Spirit Halloween stores are already open because I definitely need to buy a costume that won’t fit me by the end of October.
So we thought it was necessary to collect some of the best premature Autumn memes the internet has to offer.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice andBluey fever join horror classics and spooky lore-inspired collections at major home decor retailers and seasonal pop-up giants Spirit Halloween and Party City.
Halloween’s niche in horror fandom has expanded way beyond October 31, so it makes sense that home decor and goods inspired by scary movies, classic monsters, and supernatural legends are becoming more and more a staple of everyday life. Hey—if the comic book and sci-fi nerds do it all year, so can the spooky season folks. What’s so shocking, however, is that Halloween teases are now dropping so soon after July 4. In previous years, anticipation for stores to fill their shelves with orange-and-black delights got more of a chance to build, at least until back-to-school aisles were cleared. And while some retailers are apparently still checking the calendar—including Target, which has thus far kept its Halloween collection under wraps—if you visit the sites or even locations for the Disney Store, Lowe’s, Spirit Halloween, Home Depot, Party City, Michaels, At Home, and Joann, you can start shopping pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, and more.
You’ll have to be quick though! Early-bird horror fiends are already raiding the aisles—as are re-sellers intent on snatching up any items with the potential to go viral and become the Halloween must-haves for 2024. That’s why so many are sold out in the middle of summer—though most will be re-stocked, so if you see something you can’t live without, get on those alerts so you’ll be first in line when it returns. And keep in mind what’s been dropped so far isn’t everything; there’ll be more as we get closer to fall. The Disney Store just started its release schedule with The Haunted Mansion collection but has more planned in the coming weeks. And Beetlejuice stuff has begun to trickle out to retailers like Spirit Halloween—witness this giant inflatable at Party City of the circus carousel ghost with the most—but it’s worth noting that so far it’s only been product from the iconic first film. We have yet to see anything from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, but it’s definitely coming. Tim Burton fans will be happy to learn that The Corpse Bride will be a huge feature at Spirit Halloween as will slashers like Scream and John Carpenter’s Halloween franchise. Home Depot will feature the Universal Monsters, the not-so-scary (but clear-cut kid favorite) Bluey, and more Nightmare Before Christmas with that 13-foot Jack Skellington animated statue (which we hope comes with a Sandy Claws outfit for Christmas).
But what if you don’t need pop culture splattered all over your seasonal decor? Fans of supernatural folklore, witchy classic literature, kooky familiars, sentient pumpkins, and paranormal specters aren’t getting left behind either. Michaels, At Home, and Joann Fabrics have some deeply aesthetic collections of their own out to shop that aren’t IP at all but will make your abode feel supremely haunted. We particularly love the Midnight Moon and Haunted Forest collections at Michaels that harken to some classic monster and A24 atmospheric vibes. Then for those into astrology, traditional Halloween, and graveyard goth, definitely look into the drops at Joann and At Home (but shout out to these awesome Jack Skellington pieces). And lets not forget Lowe’s truly epic aquatic horror line. There’s a huge front yard Kraken that’s already hard to get your hands on, because who doesn’t want to release the Kraken for Halloween?
There’s already something for everyone and picking a theme is going to be so hard this year! Let us know if you’ve managed to secure anything already or if you’re going to wait and show up only to find Christmas aisles in September. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
TAMPA, Fla. — Doug Chappelle is leading a group of human hopefuls through auditions to be ghoulish scare actors at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream.
“Scare acting is an awesome job,” said Chappelle.
Five at a time, actors they take their places in “The Gauntlet Junior,” a wall built to mimic haunted houses.
Chappelle recalls his time in the Gauntlet Junior.
“I was pretty nervous at first. But once I started seeing the types of people that I was around,” Chappelle said, “It felt like I was in the right place.”
It is a place where fear is calculated. And a place where creativity matters, especially when it comes to the walking part of the audition.
Chappelle calls out characters for auditioners to embody.
“How about a deranged lumberjack at the campgrounds looking for a new victim?” said Chappelle.
People lurch forward, their bodies contorted, the screams loud and animalistic.
Chappelle’s parting advice for would-be scare actors.
“You are here for fun—you are here to scare,” said Chappelle.
So relax into your undead shrieking. You are among friends.
There’s been a number of dormant horror franchises that’ve been revived in the past few years—your Alien, Halloween, Strangers, and so on. (Sorry, Jason.) Several of these have come courtesy of Blumhouse, and it’s now working to resurrect another old movie: My Bloody Valentine.
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Per Bloody Disgusting, the horror studio is in the early stages of developing a new film. At the moment, this is the only piece of information about the film: it’s not clear if this’ll be another remake, or a legacy sequel to either of the previous versions. It’s also not known who’s behind it, or if original director George Mihalka will have any kind of involvement.
The original My Bloody Valentine released in 1981, and focuses on a group of young adults whose Valentine’s Day party takes a turn for the grim when a killer in mining gear starts picking them off. It landed a mixed reception at first, but in the decades since, has found a cult audience and made $5.7 million worldwide. Lionsgate took to remaking it back in 2009, which was notably the first R-rated flick to get the 3D treatment. Like the remake overall, the 3D technology didn’t fully go over well with critics, though it ended up making $100.7 million.
Valentine’sremake ended with a sequel tease that co-writer Todd Farmer and director Patrick Lussier intended to make. According to Farmer in 2020, the would-be follow up would’ve been a more psychological movie, and seen some of the survivors from the remake come back. But after the movie’s muted reception, Lionsgate said “no thanks,” and no studio’s touched the pseudo-franchise since. Fans gave the original movie a legacy sequel of its own last year with the Valentine Bluffs fan film set 40 years later and focused on a new killer taking up the miner mantle.
Just when you think found-footage horror has exhausted its last avenue for something creative and new, a movie like Late Night With the Devil comes along. Styled as a Halloween episode of a 1970s talk show that goes way off the rails, it perfectly captures the aesthetic of the era—as well as its burgeoning fascination with all things occult.
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(But first, an important note: if you learned about this movie thanks to its use of AI art, which has been causing a stir online, you can more about that in this Variety piece, in which the filmmakers responded with a statement that reads in part: “In conjunction with our amazing graphics and production design team, all of whom worked tirelessly to give this film the ‘70s aesthetic we had always imagined, we experimented with AI for three still images which we edited further and ultimately appear as very brief interstitials in the film.” They are indeed so briefly used I didn’t even notice that the art was AI-generated while I was watching the film—but if that’s something you don’t want to support, it’s good to have that information ahead of time.)
Long a “that guy” supporting actor(The Boogeyman, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Oppenheimer, The Suicide Squad), David Dastmalchian steps into the lead (rocking sideburns and a polyester beige suite) as Jack Delroy, host of late-night syndicated talk show Night Owls. He’s found some success, but “Mr. Midnight” hasn’t been able to emerge from Johnny Carson’s shadow—and after several years on the air, he’s desperate to boost his sagging ratings. That’s the context we get from Late Night With the Devil’s documentary-style opening, which then rolls right into the “recently discovered master tape” of the infamous episode, including behind-the-scenes footage captured during commercial breaks.
Naturally, it being Halloween, Delroy and his team—producer Leo (Josh Quong Tart) and sidekick/announcer Gus (Rhys Auteri)—cook up a special they hope will delight and maybe frighten viewers. Jack’s guests include a famous medium (Fayssal Bazzi) who purports to be able to speak to the dead; a parapsychologist (Laura Gordon) and the young cult survivor (Ingrid Torrelli) who’s the subject of her new book, the ominously titled Conversations With the Devil; and a stage magician turned skeptic (Ian Bliss) who’s there to question everything, and is quite clearly inspired by real-life debunker James Randi. Plus: music, jokes, a costume contest, mass hypnosis, and… demons unleashed?
Image: Courtesy of IFC Films and Shudder
Sibling writing-directing duo Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes did their research—you can tell many hours of 1970s talk shows were consumed as part of their research process, and as a result Late Night With the Devil feels eerily authentic. The script also does a good job sprinkling clues to the movie’s last-act meltdown throughout. You know from the start that “a live TV event that shocked a nation” (hat-tip to infamous British mockumentary Ghostwatch) is about to happen, but the build-up is nearly as fun as the chaos when it arrives.
Late Night With the Devil hits theaters March 22; it arrives on Shudder April 19.
Hope you like Blumhouse movies, because the company is re-releasing some old ones into theaters later this month.
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Hoping to start a new annual trend, the five day-long Halfway to Halloween film festival sees Blumhouse partnering with AMC Theaters (across 100 theaters in 40 US cities) from Friday, March 29 to Tuesday, April 2. Splitwill kick things off on the 29th, followed by The Purge(March 30), Ouija: Origin of Evil (March 31), Insidious (April 1), and 2020’s The Invisible Man (April 2). In the case of Insidious, that’ll also mark the film’s 13-year anniversary. Each screening will also give viewers the chance to win a giveaway or see a recorded message from a particular film’s director or cast.
For those wincing about ticket prices wherever they live, Blumhouse has got you covered: tickets will run $8 a pop each day. The entire point of the festival, accoding to Blumhouse founder Jason Blum, is to “celebrate local communities of horror fans…with a fun, affordable and slightly evil night at the movies.” Along with big cities like Boston and Miami, theaters in Wichita, Spokane, Dallas, and New Orleans will be a part of the festival.
It’s looking like this’ll be a summer of re-releases. Along with Blumhouse, Dreamworks recently confirmed it was bringing Shrek 2back to theaters to celebrate that film’s 20th anniversary. Sony’s allegedly bringing its eight live-action Spider-Man movies back, too. Not only does Columbia Pictures turn 100 this year, the second entry in each Spider-Man era hits a significant milestone: Spider-Man 2 will turn 20 on June 30, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be 10 on May 2, and Spider-Man: Far From Home hits five years on July 2. (These re-releases may also have something to do with Madame Web underperforming, but who can say?)
You can get tickets for the Halfway to Halloween festival here.
South Korean prosecutors indicted the chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for the 2022 Halloween crush that killed more than 150 people, Reuters News Agency reported. Seoul police chief Kim Kwang-ho was charged with contributing through negligence to the harrowing incident that also injured 133 people, according to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office.
The charges came more than a year after the incident in which celebrants enjoying Halloween in Seoul became trapped and crushed as the crowd surged into a narrow alley in the capital’s leisure district of Itaewon. More than two-thirds of the people killed were young people or women.
Police launched an investigation right after the incident, deploying a 475-person task force to determine the cause of the disaster. Investigators combed through security camera video and interviewed witnesses to determine how so many people lost their lives so quickly.
There were 137 police officers deployed that night to control the crowds in the central Seoul district amid the Halloween festivities. It was estimated that more than 100,000 people attended the celebrations.
At least 20 of the dead were foreigners from China, Russia, Iran and elsewhere. Two American college students were among the dead, the U.S. State Department said. The University of Kentucky said that junior nursing student Anne Gieske had been killed. Kennesaw State University student Steven Blesi, an international business major, was also among those who died, the school said.
President Biden tweeted at the time that he and first lady Jill Biden were “devastated to learn that at least two Americans are among so many who lost their lives in Seoul.”
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According to a Gallup poll, 94% of Americans reported celebrating Christmas in some way, both with secular and nonsecular traditions. What are you doing on Christmas day?
“Shouting at every passing boy to buy me a fine plump goose until one does.”
Samuel Portman, Pet Photographer
Ho, Ho, Ho! I Saw You Masturbating!
“Feeling persecuted by the 6% who aren’t celebrating.”
In photos Ohashi posted on her Instagram Stories earlier this week, the retired gymnast appears to be dressed as Mera, the character played by Heard in “Aquaman,” accompanied by a man who appears to be dressed as Capt. Jack Sparrow, the character played by Depp in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. In at least one of the photos, Ohashi indicated they were portraying “Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.”
One of the photos shows Ohashi with her hands around her companion’s throat.
“I am truly sorry for the decision I made with my halloween costume/post,” Ohashi wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Friday afternoon. “It was insensitive and thoughtless. As someone who has experienced and spoken out against abuse, I understand how wrong it was and expect more of myself. I hope you can accept my apology. I will be better.
I am truly sorry for the decision I made with my halloween costume/post. It was insensitive and thoughtless. As someone who has experienced and spoken out against abuse, I understand how wrong it was and expect more of myself. I hope you can accept my apology. I will be better.
Ohashi competed for the Bruins from 2015-2019 and became known for the viral videos of her performing impossible-looking and perfectly executed gymnastics routines, always with a broad smile on her face. She performed in Simone Biles’ “Gold Over America” tour in 2021 and mentions “photography/poetry” (not gymnastics) as interests in her Instagram bio.
Every year, Heidi Klum’s Halloween party makes headlines. Whether it’s for her over-the-top costumes or the celebrities in costume who show up, we’ve always got eyes on the annual bash, which has been running since 2000.
This year, the party took place at the Marquee nightclub in Manhattan, and we got an inside look, courtesy of the Elevator Boys, a TikTok-famous boy band comprised of Bene, Jacob, Julien, Luis, and Tim. Sporting a “Men in Black”-inspired costume, they shared what it was like to attend Klum’s bash. Scroll to see photos from the night, alongside their diary entries explaining what it was like.
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