10 Easy Not-So-Spooky Halloween Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Perfect Halloween Activity - Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays (besides Christmas), but with little kids I prefer the cute, colorful, not-too-scary side of Halloween—pumpkins, costumes, treats and getting outside to play.

My active boys are much happier when an activity involves running, digging, building or trucks, so I've been testing out some easy Halloween activities with them this fall. And honestly, we've been having so much fun with them! Most of these work just as well with one or two kids as they would with a preschool class, playdate or a whole park full of kids.

And these aren't complicated Halloween crafts that require an hour of prep...only to discover that YOU are the one who actually has to hot glue and assemble everything.

Look, there will be some setup. But hopefully you can set up the activity, send the kids off to play and have a minute to take a sip of apple cider—or buy a new Halloween book on Amazon. 😉

Even better, most of these activities use the same handful of inexpensive supplies over and over again.

I don't know about you, but I love finding new ways to repurpose toys and supplies we already have. I have fewer things to store, and the kids get to use their imaginations and discover completely different ways to play with the same things.

Halloween Activity Supplies for kids - Pumpkin Easter Eggs and Halloween gems

The Halloween Activity Supplies We Reuse

You definitely don't need everything on this list, and you may already have quite a bit of it at home.

The idea isn't to buy supplies for ten different activities. Instead, grab a few basics and reuse them throughout Halloween.

Here's our basic Halloween activity shopping list:

• Mini plastic pumpkins

• Halloween acrylic gems

• Small orange traffic cones

• Sidewalk chalk

• Construction truck set

• Plastic spiders or bugs

• Halloween stickers

• Orange or pumpkin-shaped trick-or-treat buckets

• Painter's tape

• Blocks or Magnetic Tiles

You'll see the same mini pumpkins, trucks, chalk and cones pop up again and again below.

This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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Halloween Carnival with toy trucks and ferris wheel magnetic tiles

1. Build a Halloween Carnival With Toy Trucks 🎡

We love Halloween carnivals, so why not build one at home?

The Setup: About 5 minutes—or make building the carnival part of the activity!

What You Need

• Construction trucks

• Blocks or Magnetic Tiles

• Mini pumpkins

• Road or Painter's tape

Use roads from any playsets you already own—Hot Wheels tracks, magnetic-tile roads or even roads made from painter's tape—to create a path around the playroom floor. Then use blocks, Magnetic Tiles and toys to create different destinations along the road.

You could make:

Pumpkin Patch → Carnival → Haunted Barn → Truck-or-Treat Stop

Then hand over the construction trucks and let the kids take over.

Dump Truck can deliver pumpkins to the pumpkin patch.

Excavator can move supplies.

Crane Truck can help build the carnival rides.

Kids can add booths, rides, houses, parking lots or whatever else they imagine. There really isn't a wrong way to build it.

This activity was inspired by my children's book, The Trucks That Saved Halloween, where Dump Truck, Excavator and Crane Truck work together to transform an old farm into a cheerful Halloween carnival.

We decided our carnival needed a Ferris wheel! I didn't even realize some of our magnetic-tile pieces had holes in them until I started looking for a way to build one. I happened to have a little wooden dowel saved in my craft box (craft hoarding for the win!), and it worked perfectly. I followed this Instagram video to figure out the basic construction.

2. Have a Pumpkin Truck Race or Pumpkin Delivery 🚜🎃

Here's an EASY one—and you can play it inside or outside.

The basic idea is simple: use construction trucks to transport pumpkins from one place to another.

The Setup: About 3 minutes

What You Need

• Construction trucks

• Mini pumpkins

• Sidewalk chalk and/or cones

Outside, use sidewalk chalk to draw a start line and finish line. You could also draw a large box and write PUMPKIN PATCH above it.

Place your mini pumpkins at the starting line or scatter them around the driveway.

Now give the kids their construction trucks.

The challenge is to get the pumpkins to the Pumpkin Patch without touching them with their hands.

Push one with a bulldozer.

Carry one in a Dump Truck.

Try to scoop one up with an Excavator.

If you have several kids, turn it into a race. You could also skip the competition and have everyone work together to get all the pumpkins safely into the patch.

Try It Inside

Scatter the mini pumpkins around a room and put a trick-or-treat bucket or container in the middle to become your Pumpkin Patch.

The kids have to use their trucks to collect and deliver all the pumpkins.

Make a Halloween Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course

3. Make a Halloween Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course

This one is perfect when the kids need to MOVE.

And you don't need to build an actual obstacle course. Your driveway and a box of sidewalk chalk are enough.

The Setup: About 5 mins

What You Need:

• Sidewalk Chalk Set

• Orange Cones

Draw a course that winds its way across the driveway or sidewalk.

For example:

🎃 START

➡️ Follow the winding road

🕷️ Jump over 3 spiders

🎃 Hop from pumpkin to pumpkin

👻 Tiptoe past the ghosts

🌀 Run around the cauldron 3 times

🧙🏻‍♀️Balance on the Witch Broom

🦇 Run to the bats

🏁 TRUCK-OR-TREAT!

Once you've drawn it, the kids can run through it again...and again...and again.

Which is sort of the point. 😂

We made ours Halloween-themed with spiders to jump over, pumpkins to hop between, ghosts to tiptoe past and bats to run toward. I also drew a winding road for the boys to follow with their construction trucks, which ended up being one of their favorite parts.

Don't worry about making the drawings perfect—mine definitely aren't! The kids knew what everything was supposed to be, and that's all that mattered. 😂

It’s also cute to have if you have a busy neighborhood for trick-or-treating.

4. Go on a Halloween Scavenger Hunt 🎃

This might be the easiest activity on the entire list.

Take a walk around the neighborhood and see how many Halloween and fall things you can spot.

The Setup: 1 min

What You Need:

• Halloween Scavenger Hunt List

• Clipboard

• Pencil or Crayon

Print or write down a list, grab a clipboard and head outside.

See if you can find:

• 🎃 Pumpkin

• 👻 Ghost

• 🕷️ Spider

• 🦇 Bat

• 🚜 Construction truck

• 🍂 Red leaf

• 🍁 Orange leaf

• 🚚 Delivery truck

• 🧙 Witch

• 💀 Skeleton

For younger kids, you can simply read the list aloud instead of worrying about checking everything off.

You could also bring a trick-or-treat bucket and collect fallen leaves or other safe little nature finds along the way.

Use kinetic sand and trucks to dig for Halloween treasure

5. Dig for Halloween Treasure 💎

If your kids like digging, this one is ridiculously easy.

You can do it outside in a sandbox or make an indoor sensory bin with kinetic sand or another sensory-bin filler you already use.

The Setup: About 2 minutes

What You Need

• Mini pumpkins

• Plastic spiders or Halloween acrylic gems

• Construction trucks

• Sandbox, kinetic sand or sensory bin

Need the supplies? You can find everything I'm using on my Amazon Halloween Activity List.

Then bring out the construction trucks.

Have Excavator dig up the Halloween treasure while Dump Truck hauls everything back to the trick-or-treat bucket.

You can make this one even simpler, too. When I first brought out the mini pumpkins and Halloween gems, my boys immediately started playing with them before I even finished setting up the sensory bin! They put the mini pumpkins together and took them apart, then sorted and counted the gems by color, shape and size.

Sometimes the easiest activity is just putting out a few interesting supplies and seeing what the kids decide to do with them.

You can also turn it into a counting game:

• Can you find 5 pumpkins?

• Can you dig up 5 spiders?

• How many gems did Dump Truck collect?

Just make sure anything small is age-appropriate for your child and supervise little ones closely. 

This ties in with the next activity…

6. Go on a Pumpkin Hunt 🎃

Think Easter egg hunt...but make it Halloween. We called it Pumpkin Hide and Seek for the little ones!

The Setup: About 2 minutes

What You Need

• Mini pumpkins

• Construction trucks or trick-or-treat buckets

Hide mini pumpkins around the house or yard.

But instead of handing the kids an Easter basket...

Give them a Dump Truck.

😂

Every time they find a pumpkin, it goes into the back of the truck.

If you're outside, use your sidewalk chalk to draw a big PUMPKIN PATCH on the driveway.

Now the kids have two jobs:

Find all the pumpkins.

Use the trucks to deliver them to the Pumpkin Patch.

For a larger group, hide lots of pumpkins and have the kids work together to fill the patch.

Halloween Radiator Springs play set makeover with Lightning McQueen

7. Halloween-ify a Favorite Playset

You don’t need a brand-new Halloween toy to make playtime feel seasonal! We gave our Radiator Springs playset a quick Halloween makeover with mini pumpkins, lights, spiderwebs, fall leaves and decorations we already had around the house. It took about 10 minutes to set up, cost less than $10 in new supplies, and made an old favorite feel completely new again.

The same idea would work with almost any playset your child already loves — a dollhouse, train set, toy farm, construction site or little town.

🏎️ See Our Halloween Radiator Springs Playset Makeover

Chocolate Halloween Cookie Haunted house is a fun activity to do with kids

8. Make a Chocolate Halloween Cookie House 🍪🎃

Okay, this activity takes a little more effort than the others.

But it's also delicious.

I LOVE making sugar cookie houses, but for Halloween I wanted something darker than my usual sugar cookie dough. That's how my Chocolate Halloween Cookie House was born.

Instead of making it genuinely scary, I decorated it with bright orange, purple and green frosting and lots of colorful Halloween details.

The Setup: About 1 hour

What You Need

See my full Chocolate Halloween Cookie House recipe for the ingredients, decorating supplies and step-by-step instructions.

You can make the chocolate cookie-house pieces ahead of time, so you don't have to bake and decorate everything in one day. Make the cookies the day before, then make—or buy!—your frosting when you're ready to decorate.

Want the Easier Version?

Skip the house!

Use the same chocolate cookie dough to make regular Halloween cookies.

Put out orange, purple and green frosting, sprinkles, candy eyes and other Halloween decorations and let the kids decorate their own.

You still get the fun—and the chocolate—without having to construct an entire house.

The Trucks that Saved Halloween Children’s Book

9. Read a Not-So-Spooky Halloween Book 📚

After all that running, digging, pumpkin hauling and cookie decorating, this is the point where I'm ready for everyone to SIT DOWN. 😂

The Setup: 0 minutes

Grab a cozy spot and read a favorite Halloween picture book together.

If your kids love construction trucks, The Trucks That Saved Halloween combines trucks with all of my favorite not-so-spooky parts of Halloween.

Dump Truck, Excavator and Crane Truck are ready to truck-or-treat, but the streets are far too quiet. So the Truck Team gets to work transforming an old farm into a cheerful Halloween carnival.

There are pumpkins, carnival rides, costumes, a little Halloween magic and, of course, truck-or-treating!

It's a cheerful Halloween story about friendship and teamwork created especially for little truck lovers ages 2–6.

And if you're always looking for another Halloween book to add to your shelf, I'm also putting together a list of our favorite not-so-spooky Halloween books for toddlers and preschoolers.

Toddlers Painting Pumpkins for Halloween

10. Paint Pumpkins Instead of Carving Them 🎨🎃

Pumpkin carving is fun, but with toddlers and preschoolers, sometimes it's easier to skip the knives and hand them some paint instead.

This one can get a little messy, but it's something I've enjoyed doing both on my own and with my littles.

The Setup: About 5 minutes

What You Need

• Washable paint

• Real or craft pumpkins

• Paintbrushes

• Halloween stickers

• Water cups

• Paper towels—lots of paper towels!

Set out washable paint, paintbrushes and pumpkins.

Real pumpkins work, or use craft pumpkins if you'd like to keep your creations for another year.

Kids can paint anything they want, but truck-loving kids can turn their pumpkins into construction-truck pumpkins.

Try:

💛 Yellow Crane Truck pumpkin

💚 Green Excavator pumpkin

🧡 Orange Dump Truck pumpkin

Add Halloween stickers when the paint dries, or just let the kids cover their pumpkins in whatever colors they want.

They do not need to look remotely Pinterest-perfect. Mine definitely did not! 😂

Put down something to protect your table, have water cups nearby and keep plenty of paper towels within reach.

Trust me on that last one.

I painted this donut pumpkin a few years ago, and it's still one of my favorite Halloween decorations to pull out every fall!

My painted pink pumpkin donut WITH sprinkles, of course!

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More Halloween Fun / Resources

Looking for a few more ways to keep the Halloween fun going?

• Make a Chocolate Halloween Cookie House: If you’re in the mood for a hands-on Halloween baking project, try my Chocolate Halloween Cookie House. You can build the full house or use the same dough and decorating ideas for easy Halloween cookies.

• Read The Trucks That Saved Halloween: If your little one loves construction trucks, pumpkins and not-too-spooky Halloween fun, learn more about The Trucks That Saved Halloween.

• Shop the Activity Supplies: You can find the mini pumpkins, chalk, trucks, gems and other supplies we reused throughout these activities on my Amazon Halloween Activity List

Easy Halloween Fun Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

You don't need a brand-new craft kit or elaborate setup every day to make Halloween feel special.

A bag of mini pumpkins, some sidewalk chalk and a few toys your kids already love can turn into a pumpkin race one afternoon, a treasure hunt the next and an entire Halloween carnival after that.

Whether you went on a neighborhood scavenger hunt, raced Dump Trucks full of pumpkins or tackled an entire Chocolate Cookie Haunted House, I hope you found something here that helps you make some sweet—and maybe slightly messy—Halloween memories together.

Happy Halloween! 🎃

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Like these ideas? Share or save them for next year on your favorite Pinterest board!

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More Halloween Posts:

Disneyland Halloween Time: Decorations, Rides, Food & Tips

Main Entrance Mickey and Friends Pumpkins

Updated August 2026

Halloween might be one of my favorite times of year to visit Disneyland!

Disneyland completely transforms for fall with pumpkins lining Main Street, Halloween costumes, seasonal rides, spooky treats and some of the BEST decorations of the year. And then you walk over to Disney California Adventure and the Halloween decorations get even better — especially in Cars Land!

I originally wrote this guide after one of my Halloween visits to Disneyland years ago, but Disneyland Halloween Time has grown so much since then. I've visited Disneyland California hundreds of times over the years, and now that I'm visiting with my own kids, I wanted to turn this into a complete guide to Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort — including what comes back year after year, what you shouldn't miss and what to know before visiting.

Updated August 2026: Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort runs August 21 through October 31, 2026. Seasonal offerings can change from year to year, so I always recommend checking Disneyland's current schedule before your visit.

🏰 Planning your trip? If you're visiting with little ones, start with my Disneyland With Toddlers guide for our favorite rides, Rider Switch tips and things we've learned visiting Disneyland with our two boys.

Disneyland Halloween Time at a Glance

When: Usually late August through October 31
Where: Disneyland Park + Disney California Adventure
Best for: Families, Disney fans and anyone who loves Halloween without it being TOO scary
Don't miss: Main Street pumpkins, Haunted Mansion Holiday and Cars Land at night
Separate ticket required? Not for regular Halloween Time. Oogie Boogie Bash is a separately ticketed event.

Most of the Halloween decorations, seasonal attractions and entertainment you'll see during the day are included with your regular park admission.

PRO TIP: If you're visiting Disney California Adventure during Halloween season, check the Oogie Boogie Bash calendar before choosing your park days. California Adventure closes early to regular guests on party nights.

🎃 Related Post: Don't forget to check out the Halloween decor at Disneyland Paris.

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Where to Stay Near Disneyland for Halloween Time

If you're coming from out of town — or just don't want to drive home after a VERY long Disney day — staying within walking distance of Disneyland makes a huge difference.

We've stayed at Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center multiple times with our kids. I especially like having the extra space, kitchen setup and breakfast when we're doing Disneyland with little ones.

You can read my full Hyatt House Anaheim review to see the rooms, breakfast, walk to Disneyland and why we keep going back.

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through one of my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Is Disneyland Halloween Time Worth It?

YES!

I already love Disneyland, but there's something about seeing the entire resort decorated for fall that makes it feel completely different.

Disneyland Park has more of a classic fall feeling with pumpkins, orange and yellow decorations and The Nightmare Before Christmas taking over Haunted Mansion.

California Adventure gets a little spookier with purple lights, bats, Oogie Boogie and the Headless Horseman.

And then there's Cars Land.

If you're only going to see one area decorated for Halloween, Cars Land would be my pick.

It's fun during the day, but make sure you come back after dark because Radiator Springs — or should I say Radiator Screams — looks AMAZING lit up in green, orange and purple.

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Halloween at Disney California Adventure

Disney California Adventure really goes all out for Halloween.

Even before you enter the park, you'll usually see Oogie Boogie welcoming you from above the entrance.

Once you're inside, Buena Vista Street has a completely different feeling from Disneyland's Main Street. Instead of the classic orange harvest decorations, you'll find darker Halloween touches, bats and lots of purple.

After entering the gates, Buena Vista Street had lots of bats and purple banners and lights, which I liked because it differentiated from Main Street at Disneyland that is filled with pumpkins and orange harvest decor.

One of my favorite decorations has always been the Headless Horseman near Carthay Circle.

He's definitely creepier than the pumpkins across the esplanade at Disneyland, but that's part of what I love about California Adventure at Halloween. It feels just spooky enough without turning the entire park into a haunted house.

🎢 If you have extra time in California Adventure, you can also check out my Pixar Pier guide for a look at the rides, attractions and the huge transformation from Paradise Pier to Pixar Pier.

Headless Horseman near Carthay Circle

Halloween Characters at California Adventure

Mickey Mouse in his Halloween Costume

Keep an eye out for Disney characters dressed for Halloween, too!

The exact costumes change over the years — Mickey and friends even debuted new Halloween outfits in 2026 — which makes the character photos especially fun if you visit Disneyland regularly.

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Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark

Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark

If you want something a little scarier, head over to Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark.

The Halloween version takes place after the regular Mission: BREAKOUT! storyline. The Collector's creatures have escaped, Groot is still inside and Rocket needs your help getting him out.

One of the things I loved when we rode was that the Halloween theme wasn't limited to the ride itself. Cast Members were looking for the escaped creatures while we waited in line, which made the whole experience even more fun.

NOTE FOR FAMILIES: This is definitely one of the more intense Halloween experiences at Disneyland Resort. If you're visiting with toddlers or younger kids, there is plenty of Halloween fun elsewhere that isn't scary.

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Cars Land at Halloween: Welcome to Radiator Screams!

Cars Land Haul-o-ween sign at Halloween time

This is my FAVORITE.

Cars Land becomes Radiator Screams during Halloween Time, and Disney puts Halloween details practically everywhere you look.

Seriously, slow down when you're walking through here.

There are spooky traffic signs, giant spiders made from car parts, Halloween-themed tire displays and all kinds of car-themed Halloween puns.

I LOVE the posters throughout Cars Land. Hocus Spokus still makes me laugh because Hocus Pocus is one of the best Halloween movies out there.

Halloween Posters in Cars Land

Even the Cars characters get into the Halloween spirit with their own "car-stumes."

And some of the regular Cars Land attractions get Halloween makeovers too.

Fun Halloween Radiator Springs Makeover activity for kids

🎃 Bring Radiator Springs Halloween Home

Love Cars Land at Halloween? We were so inspired by Radiator Screams that we gave our own Radiator Springs play set a Halloween makeover! Using a few inexpensive pumpkins, lights, trees and spiderwebs, we turned it into a mini Halloween town for less than $10.

→ See our easy Halloween Radiator Springs activity for kids

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CARS LAND

Radiator Springs Stanley at Halloween Town Hall

Mater's Graveyard JamBOOree

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree becomes Mater's Graveyard JamBOOree, complete with Halloween music and spooky decorations.

This is a great Halloween ride for younger kids because it's festive without being particularly scary.

Halloween time Flo’s V8 Cafe

Luigi's Honkin' Haul-O-Ween

Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters also gets a Halloween transformation and becomes Luigi's Honkin' Haul-O-Ween with Halloween-themed songs and decorations.

Both of these seasonal overlays have returned year after year, although Disney can always change its Halloween offerings.

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Don't Miss Cars Land at Night

Even if you've already explored Cars Land during the day, GO BACK AT NIGHT.

I loved how everything was lit up in green and purple when we visited. Looking back at my pictures, I realized there were details on the buildings I hadn't even noticed while we were standing there.

This is probably my favorite place in either Disneyland park to walk around during Halloween Time.

Cars Land lit up at night for Halloween

Trunk or Treat… Get it?

We had to try the Slow Burnin’ Mac & Cheese Cone and got lemonades with pomegranate limeade on top! Review: Mac & Cheese = good, edible cone = bad. It definitely had a nice spice to it but I was expecting more both palate wise and by size. The crushed chile-cheese puffs were a nice touch. As for the lemonade, you had the option to add vodka to it!

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Cute Halloween Decorations

Mickey's Trick and Treat

If you're visiting with younger kids, this is much more their speed!

Mickey's Trick and Treat is a family-friendly interactive show at Disney California Adventure with Mickey, Minnie and friends, dancing, Halloween fun and treats.

Disney's seasonal entertainment changes, so check the entertainment schedule for your dates before planning your day around a particular show.

If you're bringing toddlers or preschoolers, I have a LOT more about planning a Disney day with little kids in my Disneyland With Toddlers guide.

Plaza de la Familia

Halloween season at California Adventure also overlaps with Plaza de la Familia, a celebration inspired by Día de los Muertos and the bonds of family.

You'll find colorful decorations, entertainment and touches inspired by Coco.

Plaza de la Familia typically extends a little beyond Halloween into early November. In 2026, it runs from August 21 through November 2.

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Halloween at Disneyland Park

Walk across to Disneyland Park and the entire feeling changes.

Disneyland's Halloween decorations are much more pumpkins + fall + classic Halloween, and I LOVE it.

Main Street, U.S.A. is covered in fall foliage, orange bunting and pumpkins.

And there are SO MANY PUMPKINS!

As we were walking around before the fireworks started, we walked right by the Walt and Mickey statue that had carved pumpkins that were carved from the front and back (they weren't real, but they looked like they were)! 

The Giant Mickey Pumpkin

The Giant Mickey Pumpkin

You can't really say you've done Halloween at Disneyland until you've taken a picture with the giant Mickey jack-o'-lantern at the entrance to Main Street.

It's one of the most recognizable Disneyland Halloween decorations and an easy family photo stop.

But don't just take the picture and rush toward the rides.

Look around Main Street!

One of my favorite parts of Disneyland Halloween is seeing all the different carved pumpkin faces decorating the buildings. Disney puts so much detail into the decorations that it's easy to miss half of it if you're racing to your first ride.

Haunted Mansion Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Holiday

Haunted Mansion Holiday

This is one of the biggest reasons to visit Disneyland during Halloween Time.

Every year, Haunted Mansion gets taken over by Jack Skellington, Sally, Oogie Boogie and the residents of Halloween Town for Haunted Mansion Holiday, inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I LOVED The Nightmare Before Christmas as a kid, so this is always one of my favorite seasonal Disneyland attractions.

The transformation isn't just a few pumpkins outside, either. The attraction gets an extensive holiday makeover inside and out.

And because Haunted Mansion Holiday continues into the Christmas season, it's one of those funny Disneyland attractions that manages to be perfect for Halloween AND Christmas.

Sing it with me: THIS IS HALLOWEEN, THIS IS HALLOWEEN.....

Don't Forget Galaxy's Edge

Halloween decorations aren't the reason to head into Galaxy's Edge, but if you haven't explored this part of Disneyland yet, definitely leave some time for it while you're in the park.

I have a complete Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge guide with our favorite things to see, do and eat in the land.

Halloween Screams

If it's showing during your visit, stay for Halloween Screams!

The nighttime spectacular features Jack Skellington, Zero, Disney villains, projections and Halloween music.

Fireworks are included on select nights, but the schedule can vary, so this is another one I would check in the Disneyland app on the day of your visit rather than relying on an old showtime you found online.

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FRONTIERLAND Halloween Time

Dias de los Muertros took over Frontierland!

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Last Year’s BAT WING RASPBERRY SUNDAE at Clarabelle’s Hand Scooped Ice Cream

Halloween Food at Disneyland

Okay, now we need to talk about one of my favorite parts of ANY Disneyland event:

THE FOOD.

Disney goes crazy with seasonal Halloween treats.

Over the years I've tried everything from Halloween churros and spooky ice cream creations to a spicy mac and cheese cone in Cars Land.

Disneyland Halloween Food - Minnie Witch Shake at Schmoozies (Minnie Witch Shake - Mint Chocolate Chip Shake with Whipped Cream and Chocolate Cream-filled Cookie ears)

One year I found a Minnie Witch Shake at Schmoozies made with mint chocolate chip ice cream, whipped cream and cookie ears, and obviously I had to get it.

We've also tried the Haul-O-Ween Churro in Cars Land, which was covered in cookie crumbs, green icing, gummy worms and candy.

And then there was the Slow Burnin' Mac & Cheese Cone.

My review at the time?

Mac & cheese = good. Edible cone = not so good.

Disneyland's Halloween menus change every year, which is actually part of the fun. Instead of planning around a treat you saw from several years ago, check the current seasonal food guide or Disneyland app before your trip.

And if you're like me and Disneyland snacks are a major part of your itinerary, I have an entire guide to Disneyland food and sweet treats you can't miss.

My strategy is usually to pick a few things that sound REALLY good rather than trying to eat everything Halloween-themed in one day.

Although I am always willing to make room for Halloween ice cream.

Haul-O-Ween Churro - rolled in Crumbled Chocolate Creme-filled Cookies, Green Icing, Gummy Worms and Candies

Schmoozies Caramel Apple Smoothie - Apples, Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce and a Caramel Apple Lollipop

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What Is Oogie Boogie Bash?

This is an important distinction if you're planning a Disneyland Halloween trip.

Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party is NOT the same thing as regular Halloween Time at Disneyland.

Halloween Time happens throughout both parks during regular operating hours and most of those seasonal decorations and attractions are included with regular admission.

Oogie Boogie Bash is a separately ticketed after-hours Halloween party held on select nights at Disney California Adventure.

The party includes trick-or-treat trails, special characters, entertainment, costumes and other exclusive experiences.

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE Halloween Time Oogie Boogie MAIN ENTRANCE DAYTIME

Oogie Boogie Bash 2026

For 2026, Oogie Boogie Bash is being held on select nights from August 18 through October 31.

The event officially runs from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and party tickets allow guests to enter Disney California Adventure beginning at 3:00 PM.

Ticket prices and dates change every year, and popular nights can sell out, so I wouldn't build your plans around pricing or dates from a previous year. Check Disney's current Oogie Boogie Bash information when you're planning your trip.

IMPORTANT: Even if you're NOT going to Oogie Boogie Bash, you need to know when it's happening. California Adventure has adjusted operating hours on party nights.

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE Halloween Time MAIN ENTRANCE NIGHTTIME

Do You Need Oogie Boogie Bash Tickets to Enjoy Disneyland at Halloween?

Absolutely not.

This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about Disneyland Halloween.

You can see the Main Street pumpkins, explore Cars Land's Haul-O-Ween decorations, ride seasonal attractions and enjoy lots of Halloween entertainment without attending Oogie Boogie Bash.

If you're taking a Disneyland vacation anyway, Halloween Time is still worth experiencing without buying another event ticket.

Oogie Boogie Bash is more of an extra Halloween experience.

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Electrical Parade Alice in Wonderland - 2019

Disneyland Halloween With Toddlers and Young Kids

For the most part, Disneyland Halloween is very family-friendly.

This isn't the kind of Halloween event where actors are jumping out and trying to scare you.

There are definitely darker decorations and villains — especially around California Adventure — but there's also a TON for little kids.

If you're visiting Disneyland Halloween with toddlers, I'd prioritize:

• Main Street's pumpkins

• Cars Land during the day

• Mater's Graveyard JamBOOree

• Luigi's Honkin' Haul-O-Ween

• Halloween character photos

• Mickey's Trick and Treat

• Seasonal snacks

Then you can decide how your child feels about things like Haunted Mansion Holiday and the nighttime decorations.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark is in an entirely different category and is intended to be thrilling!

For everything else — toddler rides, Rider Switch, naps, stroller tips and what we've learned taking two little boys — head over to my complete Disneyland With Toddlers: 10 Tips We Learned Visiting With Two Little Boys.

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Make a Disneyland Halloween Weekend Out of It

If you're traveling to Anaheim rather than just coming for the day, you can easily turn Halloween Time into a Southern California weekend.

I'd give Disneyland at least one full day — and preferably more if you want to explore both parks without rushing — and then add another family-friendly Southern California activity before or after your Disney days.

Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you book an experience through one of these links, at no additional cost to you.

My Tips for Visiting Disneyland During Halloween Time

Go to Cars Land twice. See it during the day and come back after dark.

Check Oogie Boogie Bash dates BEFORE buying your park tickets. This is especially important if you're planning a California Adventure day.

Don't assume an old Halloween food guide is current. Disney changes the specialty food every year.

Check entertainment times in the Disneyland app. Seasonal shows and fireworks aren't necessarily offered every night.

Look up! Some of the best Halloween decorations are on buildings, light fixtures and signs rather than at eye level.

Take your Halloween photos early. You'll inevitably say, "We'll get that picture later!" and then discover that everyone is exhausted and it's dark.

Give yourself time to wander. Halloween at Disneyland is one of those times when getting from attraction A to attraction B as quickly as possible means missing half the fun.

Is Disneyland Better at Halloween or Christmas?

Don't make me choose!

Disneyland at Christmas has MORE decorations overall, but I think Halloween Time has some of the most creative transformations — especially Cars Land.

If you love pumpkins, fall colors, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Halloween without anything TOO scary, I'd choose Halloween.

And Southern California doesn't exactly give us a lot of changing leaves and crisp fall weather, so I'll take my fall wherever I can get it!

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Disneyland Halloween Time FAQ

When does Halloween Time start at Disneyland?

Disneyland Halloween Time typically begins in late August or early September and continues through October 31.

For 2026, Halloween Time runs August 21 through October 31.

When does Disneyland decorate for Halloween?

Disney begins its Halloween transformation around the start of Halloween Time. Exact dates can change each year, so check the current year's Disneyland Halloween schedule before your trip.

Is Disneyland Halloween included with regular admission?

Most Halloween Time decorations, seasonal attractions and regular entertainment are available with standard theme park admission.

Oogie Boogie Bash is a separately ticketed event.

Is Cars Land decorated for Halloween?

YES! And it's one of my favorite parts of Disneyland Halloween.

Cars Land becomes "Radiator Screams," complete with Halloween decorations, costumed Cars characters and seasonal versions of Mater's and Luigi's attractions.

Is Haunted Mansion different during Halloween?

Yes. Haunted Mansion transforms into Haunted Mansion Holiday, inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Does Disneyland have Halloween fireworks?

Disneyland presents Halloween Screams on select nights during Halloween Time. Fireworks are included on select nights, so check the entertainment calendar for your visit.

Is Disneyland Halloween good for toddlers?

Yes! Most of Halloween Time is designed to be family-friendly rather than truly scary. Cars Land, Main Street pumpkins, characters and Mickey's Trick and Treat are especially fun with younger kids.

Do you need Oogie Boogie Bash tickets?

Only if you want to attend Oogie Boogie Bash itself. You do not need a party ticket to experience regular Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort.

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Final Thoughts: Is Disneyland Halloween Worth It?

If you already love Disneyland, Halloween Time gives you a completely different reason to visit.

For me, the best part isn't one particular ride or treat. It's walking through Main Street surrounded by pumpkins, discovering all the ridiculous Halloween details in Cars Land and then seeing everything light up after dark.

Disney changes the food, costumes and entertainment from year to year, but that's why I wanted to make this guide more evergreen. The details may change, but the things that make Disneyland Halloween so much fun come back year after year.

And if I had to give you just ONE piece of advice?

Don't leave Cars Land before seeing it at night.

Happy Halloween! I can't wait to go back! Hurry baaacccckkkk, hurrry baaaaaaaaaccccckkkk! 

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More Disneyland Tips & Guides

Planning more of your Disneyland trip? Here are some of my other Disneyland guides:

• Disneyland With Toddlers: 10 Tips We Learned Visiting With Two Little Boys

• Disneyland Food You Can't Miss: Where to Find the Best Food & Sweet Treats

• Hyatt House Anaheim Review: Staying Near Disneyland With Kids

• Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland

• Disneyland Pixar Pier Rides & Attractions

Chocolate Haunted Cookie House: How to Make a Cute Halloween Cookie House

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays around here—besides Christmas, of course!

If you’ve been here before, you probably know that I have a thing for cookie houses. It all started because I don’t really like gingerbread, but I LOVE decorating gingerbread houses. So I made my own version using a sugar cookie house and buttercream frosting instead.

Since then, I’ve turned that same basic idea into houses for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and more.

So naturally, we needed a Halloween house!

Because I have little guys, though, I didn’t want our haunted house to be too haunted. I wanted something cute, colorful and just spooky enough to feel like Halloween without actually being scary.

And for the first time, I decided to make the house itself chocolate.

Chocolate Halloween Cookie House

If you’d like to see all of the different houses I’ve made, start with my Sugar Cookie House Guide, where I’ve collected my favorite ideas, tips and designs.

Why I Made a Chocolate Haunted Cookie House

I LOVE chocolate, but somehow I had never thought about making a chocolate cookie house before.

Which is funny, because the entire reason I started making sugar cookie houses in the first place is that I don’t like gingerbread!

When I started planning the Halloween version, I knew exactly what colors I wanted:

💜 Purple
🧡 Orange
💚 Green

I pictured those bright Halloween colors against a dark house.

At first, I thought I’d make my regular sugar cookie house and use black frosting.

But black frosting and I aren’t always friends.

I’m not a professional baker, and even when I use black gel food coloring, I’ve found that sometimes I get black…and sometimes I get a really dark gray.

I also LOVE buttercream frosting and knew I wanted to use it for this house. I didn’t want to add so much black food coloring that I was fighting with the frosting when the whole point of these houses is to make something that’s fun to decorate and tastes good enough to eat.

Then it hit me:

Why not make the HOUSE dark instead?

A chocolate cookie house would give me that dark Halloween backdrop while letting the purple, orange and green buttercream really pop.

Plus…chocolate.

Decision made.

A Cute Haunted House for Little Kids

Since I’m making this with my kids in mind, I wasn’t going for a creepy abandoned haunted mansion.

We’re going for cute haunted house.

Think bright frosting, colorful pumpkins, candy and a friendly ghost rather than anything genuinely frightening.

That’s generally how we like to do Halloween around here—festive and silly with just enough spooky thrown in.

I actually wanted the ghost on the house to have the same happy, friendly feeling as the ghosts in my newest children’s book, The Trucks That Saved Halloween. I wanted the book to make Halloween feel magical and fun for little kids without being scary, and that seemed perfect for our cookie house too.

Frosting Friendly Ghost on Chocolate cookie house

Use My Cookie House Template

You don’t have to figure out how to engineer a cookie house from scratch!

I use the same basic house template for my different holiday cookie houses and change the dough, colors and decorations depending on what I’m making.

Chocolate Cookie House Ingredients - easy to make with kids!

You can also read my Printable Gingerbread House Kit Guide for more tips on working with the template and putting your house together.

For Halloween, we’re using that familiar house shape but giving it a completely different look with chocolate cookie walls, bright Halloween buttercream and spooky-cute decorations.

Making My First Chocolate Cookie House

I’ve experimented with this little house quite a bit now—from my Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookie House to my Leprechaun Trap Sugar Cookie House and Easter Sugar Cookie House—but this was my first time turning the actual cookie dough chocolate.

So yes, there was some trial and error involved!

That’s part of the fun of these houses for me.

I’m not trying to create a professional bakery showpiece. I want something I can make in my own kitchen, decorate with my kids and—most importantly—actually eat afterward.

The basic process is:

Make → Chill → Roll → Cut → Bake → Decorate → Chill → Build → Eat!

And I have one little trick that makes cutting out the house pieces much easier.

Chocolate cookie house pieces

Cut Your Cookie House With a Pizza Slicer

Once my chocolate cookie dough is rolled out, I place my house templates directly on top of the dough and cut around them.

My favorite tool for this is actually a pizza slicer!

It’s such a simple thing, but I find it much easier to get those long, straight edges with a pizza slicer than trying to work around the template with a knife.

I try to keep the dough an even thickness so all of the pieces bake consistently.

Once the pieces are baked, check your edges. If any have spread or become uneven, carefully trim them so they’ll fit together more easily when it’s time to assemble the house.

Then let everything cool completely before decorating.

Decorate frosting on house pieces before assembly

Decorate the House BEFORE You Build It

This is probably my biggest cookie-house tip:

I decorate the pieces while they’re still flat.

I find it SO much easier.

Instead of assembling a blank house and then trying to pipe a straight line sideways onto a vertical wall, I can lay everything out on the counter and decorate comfortably.

This is when I pipe the windows, doors, roof and most of my Halloween details.

For my haunted house, I used my purple, orange and green buttercream against the chocolate cookie.

This was exactly what I had pictured when I decided to try chocolate dough. The colors really stand out against the darker cookie without me needing to make black frosting.

Buttercream frosting ingredients for Halloween Chocolate Cookie House

Why I Use Buttercream Frosting

There are other frostings you can use for cookie-house construction, but I’m sticking with my favorite:

Buttercream!

My intention is to eat this house.

I don’t want it to sit on my counter until December as a Halloween decoration. I want everyone to break pieces off and enjoy it.

So taste matters to me.

Buttercream is what I love to eat, which is why I continue using it for my cookie houses.

Chill the Decorated Pieces Before Building

Once I’ve decorated all of my pieces, I put them in the refrigerator so the buttercream can set a little before I start handling everything.

This also gives me the perfect built-in break.

I usually use this time to clean my kitchen.

By this point, there are mixing bowls, piping bags, frosting and cookie crumbs everywhere, so I clean everything up while the frosting firms.

Then it’s construction time!

How I Assemble My Cookie House

Once the decorated pieces have chilled and the frosting has firmed up a bit, I take everything out and start assembling.

I put the walls together first. You can use cans from your pantry to help support the walls while you’re working if you need an extra set of hands.

Once the walls are stable, I add the roof.

Since I’ve already done most of my decorating while the pieces were flat, I don’t have nearly as much detailed piping to do at this point.

Instead, I use additional buttercream to help cover seams and add the finishing touches that make the whole house come together.

Then comes the really fun part.

How to make 3-D Frosting Pumpkins

How Do You Make 3-D Frosting Pumpkins?

This was one of the decorating problems I really wanted to solve for the Halloween house.

I didn’t just want pumpkins piped onto the walls.

I wanted actual little 3-D pumpkins standing around the house.

I wanted them to make the cookie house feel like its own little Halloween scene, almost like a miniature pumpkin patch.

Once I figured these out, they became one of my favorite details on the entire house.

How to Make 3-D Buttercream Pumpkins

I wanted little pumpkins that could sit around the cookie house instead of simply piping flat pumpkins onto the walls. I found this cute buttercream pumpkin technique from Kaotic Krunch and adapted it for my haunted cookie house.

You'll need:

• Orange buttercream frosting

• A piping bag

• An 8B open star piping tip or similar

• A small amount of green buttercream frosting

• A second piping bag with a small opening or small round piping tip

Step 1 — Fill Your Piping Bag

Fit a piping bag with an 8B open star tip and fill it with orange buttercream.

The open-star tip is what creates all of those little ridges around the pumpkin, so you don't have to pipe each pumpkin line individually.

Step 2 — Hold the Piping Bag Straight Up

Position the piping tip directly over the spot where you want your pumpkin.

Hold the bag straight up and down at about a 90-degree angle, rather than holding it sideways.

Keep the tip close to the surface without pressing it against it.

Step 3 — Pipe the Pumpkin

Squeeze the piping bag with steady pressure and keep the tip in the same place.

Don't swirl it around like you're frosting a cupcake.

Let the buttercream build upward and outward into a little round pumpkin shape.

Once the pumpkin is the size you want, stop squeezing first, then gently lift the piping tip straight up.

You should now have a little 3-D orange pumpkin with ridges already built into it!

Step 4 — Add the Green Stem

Using your green buttercream, pipe a tiny stem directly onto the center of the pumpkin.

Start with just a little bit—you can always add more.

If you want to get fancy, add a tiny green curl or leaf beside the stem. But I'm keeping mine simple!

Step 5 — Make a Little Pumpkin Patch

Repeat with pumpkins in slightly different sizes.

I actually like them better if they aren't all identical. A few tiny pumpkins mixed with slightly larger ones will make the area around the haunted house look more like a little pumpkin patch.

Tip: Practice your first pumpkin or two on a piece of parchment paper before piping them around your finished house. If they look terrible, you can scrape the frosting back into the bowl and try again. No one ever has to know!

Don’t Forget the Friendly Ghost!

Every haunted house needs a ghost.

Ours just isn’t particularly good at being scary.

I wanted a cute, happy little ghost instead, which is also a fun nod to The Trucks That Saved Halloween.

The ghosts in the book are meant to be friendly and whimsical rather than frightening, and I wanted this little guy to have the same personality.

[PHOTO: Friendly ghost on haunted cookie house]

Add Your Finishing Touches

Once the house is standing, anything goes!

This is when I add the little decorations around the base of the house, cover any seams that need some extra frosting and make the whole scene feel finished.

You could decorate your Halloween cookie house with:

• Candy corn

• Halloween sprinkles

• Candy pumpkins

• Chocolate candies

• Gummy worms

• Mini marshmallow ghosts

• Pretzel fences

• Bats

• Black cats

• Colorful windows and doors

• Fall leaves

• A candy path

• More pumpkins!

There really aren’t rules here.

Make it spooky. Make it silly. Let the kids take over.

Or—in our case—make it cute and colorful.

Can You Actually Eat a Cookie House?

YES!

In fact, that’s the point of mine.

This isn’t one of those cookie houses that’s going to sit untouched as a decoration for three months.

My intention is absolutely to eat it.

That’s one of the reasons I care about making a cookie I actually like and using buttercream frosting that tastes good.

We’ll leave the finished house out for a little while so everyone can enjoy looking at it—and inevitably start sneaking pieces—but then I move it to the refrigerator.

Partly because I’m trying to keep it fresh.

And partly because I do not need to invite every ant in the neighborhood into my kitchen.

I try to have us eat the house within about one week.

If there are still pieces left after that, I break them up and put them in the freezer.

Then we can pull out a piece of chocolate Halloween house whenever we want a treat!

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Chocolate Cookie House Recipe - Haunted Halloween House

Chocolate Cookie House Recipe

This recipe is based on the sturdy sugar cookie dough I use for my other cookie houses, adapted into a chocolate version for Halloween.

Chocolate Cookie House Ingredients

• 2 cups butter, softened

• 1 1/4 cups sugar

• 2 tablespoons milk

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• ½ cup cocoa

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

Plus:

• Buttercream frosting

• Purple, orange and green food coloring

• Halloween candy and sprinkles for decorating

Step 1 — Make the Chocolate Cookie Dough

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for about 30 seconds.

Add the sugar and beat until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Add the milk and vanilla.

Gradually beat in the cocoa and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour by hand until everything is combined.

Step 2 — Chill the Dough

Divide the dough in half and cover tightly.

Chill for about 1 hour, or until the dough is firm enough to handle and roll easily.

Can I Make the Cookie House Dough Ahead of Time?

Yes!

I actually love this option if you’re making the house with kids because you don’t have to make, chill, bake AND decorate everything in one day.

You can make the cookie dough a day ahead and keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator.

The dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. If it’s too firm to roll when you take it out, just let it sit at room temperature briefly until it’s workable.

Step 3 — Preheat and Prep

Once your dough is chilled and you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325°F.

There’s no reason to have your oven preheating for the entire hour while your dough chills!

Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Get your cookie house templates and pizza slicer ready too.

Step 4 — Roll and Cut the House Pieces

Working with one portion of dough at a time, roll it on parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to approximately 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick.

For a cookie house, I like to keep the pieces toward the thicker side so they’re sturdy enough to build with.

Lightly flour the top of the dough as necessary to keep it from sticking to your rolling pin.

Place your cookie house templates directly onto the rolled dough.

Use a pizza slicer to cut around the template and create your walls and roof pieces.

Step 5 — Bake

Bake the cookie house pieces at 325°F for approximately 12–15 minutes.

Larger or thicker pieces may need a little more time, so watch the cookies rather than relying entirely on the timer.

The cookies should be set and the edges firm.

Once they’re out of the oven, check the edges of your house pieces. If needed, carefully trim any uneven areas so the pieces fit together cleanly.

Allow all of the pieces to cool completely before decorating.

Step 6 — Decorate the Pieces Flat

Lay your cooled walls and roof pieces flat on your work surface.

Decorate them with buttercream frosting, adding your doors, windows, roof details and other Halloween decorations.

It’s much easier to do the detailed decorating now than after the house is standing!

Step 7 — Refrigerate

Carefully place the decorated pieces in the refrigerator to allow the buttercream to firm.

This is when I clean the kitchen!

Once the frosting has set enough that you can comfortably handle the pieces without destroying your decorations, you’re ready to build.

Step 8 — Assemble the House

Use buttercream to attach your walls.

If necessary, place soup cans or other sturdy cans next to the walls to help hold everything upright while you work.

Once the walls are stable, carefully attach the roof pieces.

Step 9 — Add the Finishing Touches

Now cover any visible seams with additional frosting and add your pumpkins, friendly ghost, candy, sprinkles and other Halloween decorations.

Then stand back and admire your chocolate haunted house…

…before everyone starts asking when they can eat it.

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More Sugar Cookie House Ideas

Apparently I can’t stop turning this little cookie house into something new for every holiday!

If you had fun making the Halloween version, try another one throughout the year:

🎄 The Original Sugar Cookie Gingerbread House
The house that started it all! My gingerbread-house alternative made with sugar cookies and buttercream frosting.

💘 Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookie House
A sweet Valentine’s version—no gingerbread required.

☘️ Leprechaun Trap Sugar Cookie House
Turn your cookie house into a colorful leprechaun trap with a rainbow path and gold coins.

🐰 Easter Sugar Cookie House
My spring bunny cottage with buttercream grass, jelly bean eggs and Easter details.

Or visit my Sugar Cookie House Guide to see all of my cookie-house tips, designs and ideas in one place.

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The Trucks that Saved Halloween

More Not-So-Spooky Halloween Fun

And apparently cookie houses aren’t the only thing getting the cute Halloween treatment around here!

My newest children’s book, The Trucks That Saved Halloween, was also inspired by my love of colorful, kid-friendly Halloween fun.

Dump Truck, Excavator and Crane Truck discover that Halloween is a little too quiet, so the Truck Team gets to work transforming an old farm into a cheerful Halloween carnival filled with pumpkins, rides, games, costumes, treats and a little silly Halloween magic.

It’s a not-too-spooky Halloween adventure made especially for little truck lovers.

And yes, there are friendly ghosts there too!

READ THE STORY BEHIND THE TRUCKS THAT SAVED HALLOWEEN

Between our chocolate haunted house and the Truck Team’s Halloween carnival, I think we’re officially ready for Halloween around here.

Happy haunting! 🎃👻🍫

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See the Cookie House Guide or similar blog posts: