BOO! It’s Fall – and that means it’s the season of pumpkins, treats, and other spooktacular Fall festivities. Fall marks the beginning of the string of activities, holidays, and events until the winter holidays. First up, Halloween – that frightfully fun time when we start digging up the seasonal decor and planning a slew of activities with family and friends.
Thanks to our neighborhood Smart & Final, a smaller and faster grocery warehouse store that offers both individual and club size products, we are well-equipped for what’s to come! All it took was ONE TRIP. Here are some of our delectable tips and tricks for the Halloween season:
1. Offer Allergy-Friendly Treats
Stock up on a selection of allergy-friendly treats for school, get-togethers, and Trick or Treaters alike. Get the allergy-friendly edible treats and put them in a separate, well-labeled bowl next to a teal-colored pumpkin. Here are some treats that are free of the most common allergens:
- Welchs Fruit Snacks Halloween
- PEZ Halloween Party Bag
- Skittles and Starburst Chewy Halloween Candy Bulk Variety Pack
- First Street Dinosaur Assorted Naturally Fruit Flavored Snacks
- Sour Patch Kids & Swedish Fish
- Sweettarts
- First Street Lollipops
- WarHeads Pucker Party Pack
2. Keep Those Lil’ Ghouls Safe
A lot of Halloween activities happen after sundown, so it is always a good idea to dress in bright attire and use those light-up gadgets. A neat gadget we’ve found is light-up wristbands – you can get multiple ones and light up those arms roaming the streets! Keep the surrounding areas near your house free of trip hazards and brightly lit with pathway lights and decorative lights. Make sure to check the lights and replace burnt-out light bulbs too!
3. Get the Decor Party Started
You can go all out, or not. It’s really up to you. What’s important is that the decorating process is enjoyable. Hang a banner, spin some cobwebs, blow up some balloons, spook up your cutlery, or put out a table spread. You don’t have to be extravagant to create ambience. On the other hand, you can still go big and reuse the decor annually.
Didn’t get a chance to go to the pumpkin patch? Grab as many pumpkins as you like from your Smart & Final trip and get carving! Add some dry ice inside the jack o’ lanterns to give it an extra boost of special effect.
4. Mix Baking with Crafting
Get those baking supplies and get ready to be crafty! Check our Fall Guide for many crafty recipes and walkthroughs that will be sure to keep everyone busy and creative.
No time to bake? Try this Cookie Haunted House Kit or get ready-made goods like Rice Krispies Treats and start decorating with no delay.
No time to bake and craft? No problem – grab these two-bite Halloween cupcakes and dress them up even more with oozing eyeballs.
5. Accessorize Your Costumes
Whether you have the handmade, one-of-a-kind costumes that would turn all your friends and foe green with envy, or the super-cool, super-store-bought 5-piece costumes, or an old bandana and striped shirt – you are doing spooktacular! Remember, the kids will have fun no matter what. If you wouldn’t mind jazzing it up a little bit, Smart & Final offers products from Claire’s! I know, right? Maybe you can add on a black cat face tattoo paired with a leopard cat headband, put on some spidery faux nails, or even put on a pair of Halloween drop earrings if you’re feeling like Fancy Nancy.
Head here to find the Smart and Final nearest you. Speaking of celebrations this summer, Smart & Final is celebrating 150 years in business this year! Fun fact – in 1895, Smart & Final introduced what is likely the very first private label brand – Iris. Smart & Final still carries Iris products today, along with private labels Sun Harvest and First Street. Established in 2002, the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation works to give back, improve the quality of life, and nourish local communities throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada. Charitable giving initiatives fall within five pillars of focus: Health & Wellness, Education, Hunger Relief, Team Sports & Youth Development, and Disaster Relief. In 2020, the Charitable Foundation raised almost $2 million to support nearly 1,500 causes.
