Why celebrate Halloween just once a year? We’ll help you throw a Summerween bash your friends and family will talk about until October.
What is Summerween?
“Summerween” is a portmanteau of “summer” and “Halloween.” It’s usually celebrated in July or August and brings some ghoulish fun to the summer months.
Summerween is an excuse to break out your Halloween decorations early and have some fun mixing them with summer activities! Here’s everything you need to throw a Summerween party this year.
Throw a Summerween Movie Night
Celebrating Halloween during the summer calls for an outdoor scary movie night. Choose kid-friendly Halloween movies for a family party or queue up your scariest flicks for an adult Summerween bash.
Set up a projector in your backyard, light the firepit and break out the s’mores and candy. If you have a pool and really want to take movie night to the next level, get some Halloween-themed pool floats and let guests watch movies from the water!
Rain ruining your plans? Bring the movie night indoors and decorate your living room with your favorite Halloween decorations.
Summerween Snacks & Drinks
Treat your guests to some Summerween-themed baked goods and drinks. Some of our favorite ideas include:
Jack-o’-lantern Brownies
Pre-decorate these adorable pumpkin-inspired brownies or let guests decorate their own jack-o’-lantern treats!
S’mores Eyeball Cookies
S’mores flavors + Halloween vibes = the perfect Summerween treat! Add a marshamallow “eye” to a chocolate chip cookie for an eerie dessert.
Ghost Kabobs
Take a skewer and alternate pieces of fruit with JOLLY RANCHER Gummies. Add a marshmallow ghost in the middle to bring in some Summerween fun.
Eyeball Lemonade
Make a pitcher of JOLLY RANCHER Lemonade or Strawberry Pink Lemonade and decorate it with floating “eyeballs” made from ping pong balls.
Summerween Snacks for Movie Night
You can’t celebrate Summerween without candy. Make a Summerween candy dish full of your favorite chocolate and fruity candies for easy movie snacking. Check your grocery store for Halloween candy — you may be able to snag some REESE’S Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Pumpkins early. Don’t forget a bowl of movie night-favorite SKINNYPOP Popcorn, too! You can also make a festive icing dessert board for more shareable snack options.
And of course, any summer party should have ice cream. Set up a create-your-own-sundae bar and let guests make their own cold and creamy treat.
Summerween Activities & Games
It’s easy to give you favorite Halloween party games and activities a summer twist.
Jack-O’-Melon Watermelon Carving
Pumpkins may be in short supply during the summer, but watermelon makes a great warm weather jack-o’-lantern. And here’s a pro move: after you’ve carved your jack-o’-melon, use the fruity insides to make a JOLLY RANCHER Watermelon Slushie!
Summerween Movie Bingo
Halloween movies aren’t just for October anymore. Complete your Summerween movie night by repurposing our Halloween Movie Bingo.
Fire Pit Scary Stories & S'mores Bar
Telling scary stories around a campfire is a classic summer tradition. Add in a s’mores bar and you have the perfect Summerween party activity.
Glow-in-the-dark Witch Hat Ring Toss or Corn Hole
Put a Halloween spin on your favorite summer party games. Turn corn hole into pumpkin hole by decorating orange bean bags or use witch hats for your ring toss!
Glow-in-the-dark Slime
It’s easy to give your homemade slime a ghostly glow. You can use glow-in-the-dark glue or mix in a glow powder to make your slime luminescent.
Summerween Coloring Pages
Kids will love getting into the Halloween spirit early with the coloring pages, featuring their favorite Hershey characters. Download coloring pages here.
Summerween FAQs
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Summerween is a new, informal holiday that celebrates Halloween during the summer. The name is a portmanteau of “summer” and “Halloween.”
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Summerween is celebrated during the summer, typically in July or August.
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Summerween was first mentioned in 2012 in an episode of the television show Gravity Falls. It’s gained popularity over the last few years as more people celebrate their love for Halloween all year long.
