October Means Halloween

From the looks of house decorations and store displays, Halloween is gaining on Christmas! We have to admit that we like the whole eerie, other-worldly, trick-or-treatin’ fun that is All Hallows’ Eve. To get into the spirit (pun intended), we’ve put together some good old-fashioned ways to observe October 31.

1. Get your freak on at a haunted house. The Omaha area has a bounty of haunted houses to get your blood and heart pumping. Omaha has Scary Acres, Elkhorn boasts Bloodrush and Camp Fear NE, La Vista hosts Haunted Hollow NE, and the Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch have haunted hayrides. Given the current health climate, make sure you check your intended destination is still open. 

2. Pick a pumpkin from a patch and then get to carving. Pumpkin patches are a’plenty. To see a detailed listing of what the area has to offer, check out a blog we ran August 31 here. Once you have scored your perfect pumpkin (round and squat or tall and lean?), it’s time to transform the gourd into a jack-o'lantern to ward off evil spirits wandering the mortal world. Don’t forget to roast the seeds. Rinse them under cold water and pat dry on paper towels. Toss them with 2 teaspoons of melted butter and salt and pepper to taste. Then pop them in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. 

3. Take a haunted history tour. The Omaha area has its fair share of hauntings and unexplained phenomena. You’ve certainly heard of the Black Angel? The albino farm in Hummel Park? The freak on the creek? Midwest Paranormal History Tours offers several excursions, from “Historical Specters” to “Bigfoot & Brunch.” Nebraska Tour Company has an “Old Market Ghost Stories Walking Tour” and “Haunted Omaha Tour.” 

4. Bake up a batch of ghoulishly good treats.  Pumpkin and apple feature heavily in this season’s treats. Pumpkin bars are crowd pleasers, and nothing screams Halloween like caramel apples. But to really get into the spirit of the season, consider ghost potatoes or mummy hotdogs. And these banana ghosts and tangerine pumpkins are a festive anecdote to all the candy corn.

5. Have a family fright night at the movies. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to hear things go bump in the night. Host a movie fright night. The Walt Disney cartoon “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is an innocent take on Washington Irving’s short story, but if you prefer something with a little more edge, opt for Johnny Depp’s version. There’s light-hearted Halloween fare, such as Ghostbusters and Hocus Pocus, and then classics like Jamie Lee Curtis’ Halloween. And what scary movie night would be complete without an Alfred Hitchcock thriller? Pass the popcorn!

Time to make some memories with family and friends this Halloween. Bobbing for apples is probably a no-go this year, but there is plenty of fun to be had, and most of it outside. Bonus! Have a frighteningly good time, from Aksarben Mortgage!

 

* Specific loan program availability and requirements may vary. Please get in touch with your mortgage advisor for more information.