In the dog days of summer, Halloween may seem like something in the deep, distant future. Yet, Halloween decorations are already filling the shelves, perfect to help consumers celebrate a new holiday: Summerween! The internet’s attempt to bring the spooky season to July, Summerween combines Halloween fun with classic, warm-weather activities. Typically celebrated in June or July, Summerween includes spooky decorations, Halloween-themed snacks, costume contests, scary movies, and family-friendly activities.
Whether you’re hosting a Summerween activity or simply looking for a festive way to celebrate in the coming months, these ideas will help you bring spooky season to summer. Read on to find out what Summerween is, how to celebrate it, and more!
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What is Summerween?
Summerween has taken on many different forms over the years. The term initially came from an episode of the 2012 animated series Gravity Falls during which the characters decided to celebrate Halloween twice a year because they loved the holiday so much. Now, Summerween has become a months-long experience dedicated to celebrating the magic of spooky season during the summer months.
Above all else, Summerween is a state of mind. Imagine tanning by the pool on a warm summer day surrounded by hand-carved Jack-o’-Lanterns and skeleton pool floaties. Or throwing a backyard grill-out that features spooky treats and a costume contest. For Halloween enthusiasts, it’s an excuse to celebrate their favorite holiday months in advance, hunting for their new costumes and putting up their favorite decorations long before October 31.
When is Summerween celebrated?
Basically, you can celebrate Summerween whenever you want! But, if you want to stay true to this trending holiday’s origin, celebrate it on June 22, the date of the Gravity Falls episode where Summerween came to be. You can also celebrate it on July 31—AKA three months before Halloween on October 31—or any other day that works to throw the perfect Summerween party with your friends and family.
Summerween Party Ideas
Here’s where the spooky fun really begins. From watermelon Jack-o’-Lanterns to haunted movie marathons, there are countless ways to get into the Summerween spirit.
Summerween Decorations
I’m sure that, like me, your halloween decorations are currently stuffed in your basement somewhere. But, if you’re trying to celebrate Summerween in July, now is the ideal time to dig those out of their hiding places. From skeletons in the pool to pumpkins on your doorstep, there are so many ways to use Halloween decorations in the summer—just make sure to get creative!
Summerween Food and Drink Ideas
Are you hosting a party this summer? Or simply looking for some fun treats to make with your kids? These spooky Halloween-themed snacks and appetizers are easy, delicious, and sure to get your whole family into the Summerween spirit!
Spider Web Taco Dip
Bursting with flavor, this spider-topped guacamole and cheddar dip is a captivating way to lure your kids, friends, or family into a web of deliciousness. Plus, it’s a recipe you can revamp and use any time of year, not just for Summerween! Everyone loves taco dip.
Pumpkin Patch Dirt Cups
Festive and delicious, these are sure to be a hit for those with a sweet tooth, especially for any Oreo lovers. Crush your Oreo cookies into fine crumbs to resemble soil, add your choice of chocolate pudding, and then top with a candy pumpkin. For your little ones who love all things chocolate, this is the perfect pool party snack.
Charcoal Lemonade
The activated charcoal gives this homemade lemonade its eerie black color, and while the recipe doesn’t call for any added spirits, you can certainly add any of your faves! This would be perfect to serve at a backyard Summerween barbecue.
Watermelon Jack-o’-Lantern
This one’s simple: assemble your favorite fruit salad and have it all spill out from the mouth of a hand-carved Jack-o’-Lantern watermelon. It’s fun, festive, and healthy! The perfect spin on a classic Halloween decoration.
Mummy Hot Dogs
Summer is the perfect time for a cookout! These mummy hot dogs are a quick and easy substitute for the traditional pigs in a blanket.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Ghosts
In this recipe, chocolate-covered strawberries go from romantic to spooky as you turn these juicy berries into petite, refreshing-tasting ghosts. Plus, strawberries are always best in the summertime.
Summerween Costume Ideas
While it may be a few months early to already have your Halloween costumes planned and purchased for October, a Summerween costume contest can look a little different. Dig out your halloween costume from last year and have a fashion show and competition with your family. Or, invite your friends and neighbors over and make it even more interesting by encouraging everyone to DIY Summerween costumes.
Here are some Summerween costume ideas for you and your kids to try:
- Zombie lifeguard
- Pirate on vacation
- Beach Barbie
- Tropical fairy
- Mermaid
- Sailor
- Any fish or sea creature: dolphin, turtle, jellyfish (these ideas work well for babies!)
Summerween Activities for Kids
When you need to keep kiddos busy in the summertime, arts and crafts are an ideal way to get their hands dirty! These Halloween-themed activities are perfect for anyone looking to get into the spooky season spirit early this year. They’re also great party activities if you’re hosting family and friends for a Summerween celebration.
Glowstick Jack-o’-Lantern Jars
A creative way to DIY some decor for your front windows or stoop, these glowing Jack-o’-Lantern jars can be created using just a few supplies: a mason jar, glowsticks, and a glass paint pen. They can also be the a festive and ambient light source for a nighttime bonfire or evening swim (with supervision, of course)!
Pumpkin Slime
This four-ingredient slime is an easy, at-home DIY that’s sure to provide kids with hours of fun. Packaging the slime in these mini mason jars also makes an adorable favor for a birthday party or Summerween party! Mom hack: when you inevitably need to get slime out of clothes, click here!
Halloween Coloring Pages
Summer days can be long, and sometimes you just need a simple at-home activity for kids. These free, printable coloring pages provide just that! The collection includes a smiley Jack-o’-Lantern, a friendly witch, spooky ghosts, flying bats, and a funny monster.
Summerween Party Piñata
Tempted to have a Summerween party this year? Include your kids in the fun and have them make their very own piñata. For this DIY, you’ll need some old newspaper, a balloon, masking tape, paint, a pencil, and string—and don’t forget the candy treats to fill it with!
Witch Halloween Countdown
Count down the days until October 31 with this fun witch countdown that can be easily crafted using colorful construction paper. Use the included templates to cut out all the pieces needed and have your child help you assemble the witch. Then remove a chain link each day of the month until Halloween arrives!
More Summerween games and crafts:
- Host a poolside or beachside haunted luau!
- Get your kiddos involved in a “Ghost and Glowsticks” hide-and-go-seek game. They can even wear costumes!
- Set up an outdoor scavenger hunt where your kids search for Halloween items—parts of a skeleton, hidden pumpkins, and more.
- Set up a monster-themed water balloon toss! Your kids can even decorate the water balloons to look like the monsters of their choosing.
- Have a sprinkler party, but make it Halloween-themed! You can do this by decorating the yard, doing it once the sun goes down (for a more spooky experience), or dressing the kiddos up in costumes.
- Need more inspiration? Here are some of the best summer crafts and activities to do with kids!
Summerween Movie Night Ideas
Summer means long, warm nights. Set up a projector in your backyard, pull out all your best Halloween decor, and immerse your kiddos in some spooky season fun. Luckily, there are plenty of kid-friendly Halloween movies that are suitable for younger children. You can also include some of the fun snacks we linked above for a full-blown watch party.
Best Summerween Movies for Toddlers (Ages 2-4)
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown — G
- Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest — Not Rated (but super family-friendly!)
- Super Monsters Save Halloween — TV-Y
Best Summerween Movies for Little Kids (Ages 5-7)
- Coco — PG
- Double Double Toil and Trouble — G
- Hotel Transylvania — PG
Best Summerween Movies for Big Kids (Ages 8-10)
- Halloweentown — PG
- Hocus Pocus — PG
- The Haunted Mansion — PG
Best Summerween Movies for Tweens and Teens (Ages 11+)
- Jaws — PG (but includes gore and violence); bonus points because it’s set in summer!
- Beetlejuice — PG
- Practical Magic — PG-13
In need of more watch-party ideas? We have a roundup of all the best summer movies for you and your family to watch together.
FAQs
What day is Summerween?
If you want to stay true to Summerween’s origins, celebrate the summer holiday on June 22, the date of the Gravity Falls episode from which it originated. Many also celebrate Summerween on July 31, the dog days of summer and exactly three months before Halloween! However, my true answer is this—Summerween can be celebrated any time and any day! Whether it’s a spontaneous pool party or Halloween-themed backyard barbecue, there’s never a bad time to enjoy some fall festivities in the summer.
Where did Summerween come from?
Summerween initially came from an episode of the 2012 animated series Gravity Falls during which the characters decided to celebrate Halloween twice a year because they loved the holiday so much. Since then, social media has helped the term take on a new meaning. Now, most celebrate Summerween not because of its connection with Gravity Falls, but because of their love for Halloween and everything that goes along with it.
How do you throw a Summerween party?
Any way you want! All you’ll need are some Halloween-themed decorations, snacks, movies, or activities! You can go all in with a spider-web taco dip and costume contest, or throw up some old Halloween decorations you already have in your house and call it a day. It’s totally up to you!
What are the best Summerween foods?
This totally depends on personal taste, but some of our favorites include pumpkin patch dirt cups (a no-brainer for chocolate lovers), charcoal lemonade to cool off with by the pool, or a watermelon jack-o-lantern—doubles as a healthy snack and a cool decoration! You can also get creative and come up with your own Halloween-themed recipes. The sky is the limit!
Summerween is easy to celebrate and offers excellent family-fun in the summertime. Whether you’re a die-hard Halloween lover or just a mom looking for some engaging activities for your little ones, consider adding some spooky season spirit to your 2026 summer calendar!
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Assistant
As an Editorial Assistant, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented.
