10 Tips to Celebrate a Spooky and Sober Halloween

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Peace Valley Recovery is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Our mission is to provide patient-centered care that focuses on healing and recovery from addiction. This blog provides information, news, and uplifting content to help people in their recovery journey.

Authored by Elliott Redwine, | Medically Reviewed by Peace Valley Recovery Editorial Staff,
Last Updated: March 5, 2023

Halloween marks the start of the holiday season! It’s the first of many holidays over the next few months where people celebrate with one another. Even if gatherings might look a little different this year, it’s a great idea to be prepared. If you struggle with alcohol or drug addiction, trying to stay sober on Halloween can be a challenge.

The holiday season is one of the hardest times for people in recovery. Drinking and holiday celebrations often go hand-in-hand, whether it’s at home with your family or out with friends. Staying sober during the next few months might feel difficult but it’s definitely possible!

It’s a great idea to head into the holiday season with a plan. You don’t have to drink to get together with friends or have a good time. There are plenty of ways you can meet up with family or friends without having to risk your recovery. These 10 tips to celebrate Halloween sober will set the pace as you head into the holidays!

1. Host your own Halloween party

Host your own Halloween party or recruit a few friends to join in with you. When you host your own party you get to determine the rules which makes it easier to stay sober on Halloween. Keep the party small and invite friends from your recovery community over for a night of sober fun.

Sober Halloween tips for recovering addicts - Host your own party

If you invite people who drink, set a rule that it’s a booze-free evening. Plenty of people will be willing to keep their alcohol at home!

2. Hold a horror movie marathon with friends

If you’re a movie buff or you have friends who appreciate horror films, hold a horror movie marathon. Ask everyone to bring their favorite horror movie, pop some popcorn, and settle in for an evening of frights. Some people like to set a projector up on their lawn to bring the fun outdoors and share the experience with their neighbors. If you do choose to take the marathon outside, though, keep the scariness to a minimum!

3. Have a pumpkin carving contest

How about getting in touch with your creative side? Having a pumpkin carving contest is an exciting way to bring people together. Everyone can tap into their creativity or their competitiveness and carve a pumpkin. Let everyone know ahead of time so they can plan what they want to work on in advance. Pick someone to be the judge and then encourage everyone to bring their A-game. Don’t forget to set all the seeds to the side and bake some pumpkin seeds afterward to snack on for the next few weeks!

4. Go Trick or Treating with your kids or with a friend and their kids

Watching kids experience Halloween is one of the best parts of the holiday. Kids love spending the year planning who or what they want to be for the evening. Helping them bring the vision of their costume to life can be a great way to stay sober on Halloween. It’s hard not to smile when you watch how excited they get as they run from door to door. If you don’t have kids of your own, ask a friend or family member with kids if you can join them for the night.