Instagram Facebook Youtube

Author: Headless Bob

Categories
Attractions Entertainment Movies

Halloween & Haunt Documentaries

Halloween & Haunt Documentaries

From in-depth discussions of our favorite spooky traditions to behind-the-scenes footage of our favorite attractions, Halloween & haunt documentaries are wonderful ways to get into the mood for the spooky season. Here are 13 films that are both educational and fun – all while embodying the spirit of the Halloween season. 

1. Haunters: The Art of the Scare (2017)

Directed by my former ScareLA colleague Jon Schnitzer, Haunters: The Art of the Scare is a heart-warming and heart-stopping documentary about people who sacrifice everything to create the most popular and polarizing haunted houses for Halloween – from boo-scare mazes to a controversial new subculture of extreme terror experiences. The film features interviews with ScareLA alum Lora Ivanova & Shar Mayer, as well as John Murdy (Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights), Jon Braver (Delusion, Thirteenth Floor Entertainment), Josh Randall (Blackout), Eric Lowther (Haunted Overload), Bruce Stanton (Reign of Terror), and more. I am also told that you can catch a brief cameo of me in the background of the DVD’s special features. 

2. The American Scream (2012)

Directed by Michael Paul Stephenson, The American Scream dives into the world of home haunters. It follows three families in a small town in Massachusetts as they plan, build, run, and clean up after their annual home haunts. The film does a good job of highlighting the love and passion these home haunters have for their spooky hobby, while also showing how it can strengthen and/or strain their family relationships. 

3. Sliders of Ghost Town: Origins (2016)

Sliders of Ghost Town: Origins, directed by Braedon Freeland, covers the history and legacy of the infamous Knott’s Scary Farm sliders.

In 1973 the Halloween industry would be changed forever when Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, CA) hosted their very first Halloween Haunt event. Many years later, employees of the park known as “Street Monsters” developed a new scare tactic that involved sliding great distances across concrete asphalt in order to surprise and scare the guests of the event. This documentary chronicles stories of the Street Monsters who invented or who refined this skill into what it is today and showcases what it takes to be a Street Monster at SoCal’s best theme park Halloween event.

4. The Real Story of Halloween (2010)

Learn about the history and evolution of Halloween in the History Channel TV special, The Real Story of Halloween. Directed by Luke Ellis, The Real Story of Halloween traces the holiday’s pagan origins, Christianization, changes upon arriving in America, and rise of the modern Halloween business. This serves as an easy-to-follow crash course overview of the spookiest time of year. 

5. Epic Home Haunts (2018)

Epic Home Haunts directed by Josh Quillin takes viewers on a tour of some of SoCal’s fan-favorite home haunts. From creating a full haunted attraction complete with giant animatronic dragons, castles, and portals to other dimensions, to fully integrated interactive props the guests carry with them as they experience the haunt, these Home Haunters are rivaling what’s created at the professional theme parks on their driveways.

Haunts featured in this film include: Restless Souls Manor (Palmdale, CA), Boot Hill (Irvine, CA), Beware the Dark Realm (Santa Clarita, CA), and Rotten Apple 907 (Burbank,CA).

6. We Call it Imagineering: Foolish Mortals (2025)

Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion, Phantom Manor, and Mystic Manor. Inspired by Walt Disney’s original behind-the-scenes specials that introduced Disneyland’s iconic rides and attractions, We Call It Imagineering is a series produced by Disney that offers a glimpse into the world of attraction designers for the happiest places on Earth.

In an October 2025 episode, the series took a deep dive into the Haunted Mansion with Imagineers who have brought the attraction to life over the years. A cornerstone of Disney storytelling and innovation, the Haunted Mansion has spread to the international parks with unique twists for Phantom Manor (Disneyland Paris) and Mystic Manor (Hong Kong Disneyland). The attraction continues to influence seasonal events and guest experiences worldwide.

This episode is a must-watch for every Disney-loving Halloween fan. 

7. Halloween Home Haunts (2013)

Jonathan Morken’s Halloween Home Haunts showcases a group of eight suburban home haunters who go all out each Halloween season. The film combines interviews and walkthroughs of each attraction. While not as polished as the previous entries, it is a wonderful source of inspiration for ways to add to your own home displays. 

8. Halloween... The Happy Haunting of America! (1997)

Halloween… The Happy Haunting of America! directed by Daniel Roebuck & Chuck Williams takes viewers through haunts across the U.S. Featured haunts include Universal Studio’s Chamber of Chills, Haunted Hotel, The Haunted Schoolhouse,  Witch’s Dungeon museum, and Spooky World. The film also features general Halloween history and behind-the-scenes looks at where props and masks are made. Horror fans will appreciate the interviews with actors behind some of film’s scariest monsters. Interviewees include Agus Scrimm (Phatasm‘s “The Tall Man”), Doug Bradley (Hellraiser‘s “Pinhead”), and Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street‘s “Freddy Krueger”). Plus, Alice Cooper shares his Halloween memories. 

This film brings back memories of the types of haunts I grew up with. 

9. Halloween... The Happy Haunting of America! 10th Anniversary Edition (2007)

Ten years after the first installment, Halloween… The Happy Haunting of America! returns to feature 10 new spooky attractions. Host Daniel Roebuck once again entertains viewers with interstitials from Los Angeles’ iconic Magic Castle. Featured haunts & attractions include The Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride (Glen Mills, PA), The Haunt (Walker, MI), Queen Mary’s Shipwreck (Long Beach, CA), The Niles Haunted House Scream Park (Niles, MI), Terrordome (Pittsburgh, PA), Erebus (Pontiac, MI), Reindeer Manor and The 13th Street Morgue (Red Oak, TX), Nightfall at Old Tucson Studios (Tucson, AZ), Hobb’s Grove (Sanger, CA), and Rocky Point Haunted House (South Salt Lake, UT). 

This edition lacks the celebrity interviews of the first film, but it makes up for it with more footage from the haunts themselves. Instead of straight walkthroughs, they are highlight reels of interesting sets, actors, and scares. It will certainly spark nostalgia if you have ever been to these haunts before.

10. Spooktacular! (2023)

In the 90’s one of the biggest and most notable haunts in the country was Spooky World. Even I made the 8-hour trek to Foxboro, Massachusetts with my Dad in 1999 to see the “horror theme park”.  It still lives in my memory as one of my favorite haunts. From the “Disco of Death” to “Circus Macabre”, it was unique and inspiring.

Spooktacular! directed by Quinn Monahan covers the history of this iconic attraction as well as the legacy of Spooky World’s founder, David Bertolino. Using archival footage and interviews with staff and celebrity guests, the documentary takes viewers from the park’s beginning as a haunted hayride to the multi-house scream park it became in its heyday. 

11. The Fright Stuff (2026)

From Yokai Films and Zombie Army Productions (the team behind the Days of the Living Dead Youtube series), The Fright Stuff, directed by Mike Meyer, follows the life and times of the haunted attraction industry in the United States. The documentary explores the roots of the industry, from live spook shows and ghost trains; speaks with some of the biggest names in haunting; then brings viewers up to the present, following haunters throughout their 365-day-a-year pursuit of giving audiences the fright of their lives throughout the Halloween season. It heavily centers on Hellsgate Haunted House (Lockport, IL) and owner John Laflamboy, following them through their planning, build, and operations. It also showcases TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show, the pinnacle of Halloween trade shows. 

12. Monsters Wanted (2013)

Monsters Wanted, directed by Brian Cunningham & Joe Laughrey, follows haunter Rich Teachout as he quits his job in order to build and operate Asylum Haunted Scream Park in Louisville, Kentucky. From sourcing products at TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show, construction, casting, and providing a terrifyingly fun experience for attendees – this documentary showcases every step of the process of opening a professional haunt. 

13. Season of Screams (2004)

Season of Screams: The Legacy of Knott’s Scary Farm’s Halloween Haunt, directed by David Love, gives viewers an in-depth tour of SoCal’s original Halloween theme park event. Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, CA) has hosted their Halloween Haunt (a.k.a. “Knott’s Scary Farm”) since 1973. This documentary uses archival footage along with interviews of scareactors and staff to tell the story of the event that has been known to make little children laugh, women cry, and grown men faint. 

More Halloween & Haunt Documentaries

Want even more films to check out? Here are other Halloween & haunt docs to browse:

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Entertainment Literature

Moonlight Poems

Moonlight Poems

The full moon is rising and with it comes a beautiful night under the stars. It is the perfect setting to read moonlight poetry. Here are 5 public domain poems about the moon and nights like tonight.

"Waiting—Afield at Dusk" by Robert Frost

What things for dream there are when spectre-like,
Moving among tall haycocks lightly piled,
I enter alone upon the stubble field,
From which the laborers’ voices late have died,
And in the antiphony of afterglow
And rising full moon, sit me down
Upon the full moon’s side of the first haycock
And lose myself amid so many alike.

I dream upon the opposing lights of the hour,
Preventing shadow until the moon prevail;
I dream upon the night-hawks peopling heaven,
Each circling each with vague unearthly cry,
Or plunging headlong with fierce twang afar;
And on the bat’s mute antics, who would seem
Dimly to have made out my secret place,
Only to lose it when he pirouettes,
And seek it endlessly with purblind haste;
On the last swallow’s sweep; and on the rasp
In the abyss of odor and rustle at my back,
That, silenced by my advent, finds once more,
After an interval, his instrument,

And tries once—twice—and thrice if I be there;
And on the worn book of old-golden song
I brought not here to read, it seems, but hold
And freshen in this air of withering sweetness;
But on the memory of one absent most,
For whom these lines when they shall greet her eyes.

"Yellow Autumn Moon" by Issa

Yellow autumn moon…

unimpressed the scarecrow stands

simply looking bored

"Moonlight, Summer Moonlight" by Emily Bronte

‘Tis moonlight, summer moonlight,
All soft and still and fair;
The solemn hour of midnight
Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere,

But most where trees are sending
Their breezy boughs on high,
Or stooping low are lending
A shelter from the sky.

And there in those wild bowers
A lovely form is laid;
Green grass and dew-steeped flowers
Wave gently round her head.

"Under the Harvest Moon" by Carl Sandburg

UNDER the harvest moon,
When the soft silver
Drips shimmering
Over the garden nights,
Death, the gray mocker,
Comes and whispers to you
As a beautiful friend
Who remembers.

Under the summer roses
When the flagrant crimson
Lurks in the dusk
Of the wild red leaves,
Love, with little hands,
Comes and touches you
With a thousand memories,
And asks you
Beautiful, unanswerable questions.

"Halloween." by Madison Julius Cawein

It was down in the woodland on last Hallowe’en,
Where silence and darkness had built them a lair,
That I felt the dim presence of her, the unseen,
And heard her still step on the ghost-haunted air.

It was last Hallowe’en in the glimmer and swoon
Of mist and of moonlight that thickened and thinned,
That I saw the gray gleam of her eyes in the moon,
And hair, like a raven, blown wild in the wind.

It was last Hallowe’en where starlight and dew
Made mystical marriage on flower and leaf,
That she led me with looks of a love that I knew,
And lured with the voice of a heart-buried grief.

It was last Hallowe’en in the forest of dreams,
Where trees are eidolons and shadows have eyes,
That I saw her pale face like the foam of far streams,
And heard, like the leaf-lisp, her tears and her sighs.

It was last Hallowe’en, the haunted, the dread,
In the wind-tattered wood by the storm-twisted pine,
That I, who am living, kept tryst with the dead,
And clasped her a moment and dreamed she was mine.

These beautiful moonlight poems are just a fraction of what you can find by searching for public domain poetry. I highly recommend the Open Poetry Project, which has a catalog of nearly 109,000 poems in the public domain. You can browse the collection or search for specific keywords (like “Moon” or “Halloween”). It is a great way to discover classic poetry, and palatable for poetry novices. 

Poetry showcases the beauty of language and you can discover new meanings the more you ruminate on a verse. I love spending an evening reading under a moonlit sky! 

 

Want to read some of my poetry?

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Apparel Crafts/DIY Lifestyle

Haunt Tee Makeover

Haunt Tee Makeover

You have your favorite haunt shirts, but is wearing a t-shirt every day getting a little repetitive? Try a haunt tee makeover to change up your silhouette. Here are some ways to alter shirts for a unique look.

Combine Two Shirts

If you like the logo or image on one of your t-shirts, but don’t like the fit, you can cutout the part you like and add it to a different shirt. That is what I did with one of my Knott’s Berry Farm shirts. I loved the image, but it was on the back of the shirt, so I never got to see it. I thrifted a plain shirt that worked well with the black and greys of the image. Then (with the help of my seamstress Mom) I cut out the image and sewed it onto the other shirt. For added style, I also cut off some of the shirt’s neck to give it an off-the-shoulder look and added some striped straps.
The Finished Piece

This is one of my favorite shirts! It is a unique way to display my love for Knott’s Scary Farm. It is also extremely comfortable.

Turn Your T-Shirt Into a Dress

Occasionally, a haunt will have a killer sale on leftover shirts from a previous year, but I rarely find one small enough for me. If you have a design you love that is way too big, try making it into a dress. Cut along the sides and try the straps together for a no-sew dress. See the video below for an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide. Haunt shirts often have a higher neckline than the one this Youtuber used, so I would recommend trying to but out a lower neck as well. 

Add Lace

This is a Pinterest pin from Mold Fashion Tips. I love the idea of cutting a shirt and then sewing on lace. This works well for images or haunt names that are either on the top-half of the shirt (for the first example) or the back (for the second example). There are plenty of spiderweb and skull laces that would work nicely with this idea.

Show Off Your Haunt Shirt Makeover!

I would love to see how you have customized your own shirts. Show me your creations on Facebook & Instagram. 

For more ideas and cool clothes, follow my Fashion Pinterest Board.

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Crafts/DIY

Michael’s 2026 Craft Supplies

Michael’s 2026 Craft Supplies

Their decor lines may get all the press, but Michael’s 2026 craft supplies are a Halloween dream. Here are a few of my top picks from the Halloween collection. Stock up now for a whole year’s worth of creative projects!

Spooky Carnival DIY Book Nook ($39.99)

Photo from Michaels.com Product Page

For the odd individuals who have space on their bookshelves, this Spooky Carnival DIY Book Nook by Make Market is a fun project to try. This illuminated vintage-style design depicts a spooky carnival complete with a creepy carousel and food stands run by skulls and Jack-o’-lanterns. My last foray into book nooks didn’t work out too well. This one, however, looks much more geared towards beginners for a less-frustrating experience.

The finished product is 4.9″ x 5.6″ x 10.4″ and it required AAA batteries for the included LEDs.

12" x 12" Paper Pads ($14.99)

Vintage Spirits Paper Pad
Photo from Michaels.com Product Page
Cozy Conjuring Nightfall Paper Pad
Photo from Michaels.com Product Page

Every year Michael’s offers new paper pads for Halloween paper crafters. This year I am in love with the Vintage Spirits Paper Pad and Cozy Conjuring Nightfall Paper Pad, both by Recollections. Each pad comes with 24 single-sided sheets.

The Vintage Spirits Paper Pad features playful black cats, grinning jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, and skulls. These sheets will add vintage Halloween cheer to your scrapbook pages or papercrafts. These designs are also available in an 8.5″ x 11″ 90-sheet pad.

The Cozy Conjuring Nightfall Paper Pad mixes skulls & pumpkins in florals, fluttering bats, and curious ghosts and spiders crawling across black and white gingham. The whimsical ghosts are my favorite.

Die Cuts ($4.99 - $5.99)

Vintage Spirits Vinyl Die Cut Stickers
Photo from Michaels.com Product Page
Vintage Spirits Die Cut Ephemera
Photo from Michaels.com Product Page

Die cut embellishments can add lots of spooky flair to your scrapbooks and paper projects. This year’s assortment at Michael’s has two stand out packs. 

The Vintage Spirits Vinyl Die Cut Stickers by Recollections ($4.99) offer a vintage style filled with mischievous black cats, skulls wearing top hats, witchy Jack-o’-lanterns, and wandering ghosts. I like that these are stickers so I don’t have to mess around with glue and tape. 

The Vintage Spirits Die Cut Ephemera by Recollections ($5.99) may lack adhesives, but it makes up for that with the designs. In addition to the witchy pumpkins, playful black cats, and dapper skulls, this set has more circus-themed fair as well as Halloween words. There is a mix of die cut paper, vellum, and plastic for different looks and textures.

Washi Crafting Tape ($5.99)

Photo from Michaels.com Product Page

The Vintage Spirits Ghost & Jack-o’-Lantern Washi Crafting Tape Set by Recollections is an adorable addition to your papercraft and journalling supplies. This 3-pack of tape features a vintage jack-o’-lantern roll, spooky ghosts roll, and vintage Halloween stamps roll. I have already used some of this for a craft project for my front hallway.

Halloween Mini Sticker Book ($5.99)

Halloween Mini Sticker Book by Recollections offers a variety of cute pumpkins, bats, ghosts, and cats. These are perfect for day planners and journalling. They can add a small little pop of Halloween fun. I like that some of the stickers offer foil accents for that extra sparkle.

Any true paper crafter knows that paper crafting is really two hobbies in one – making the crafts and shopping for supplies. It is always fun to see what new items hit shelves each Halloween season. With Joann out of business, Michael’s is the main franchise craft store out there. I am happy to see their selection is still strong. 

Have you started your Halloween craft projects yet? Show me your creative works on Facebook & Instagram. 

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Entertainment Music

13 Spooky Music Videos

13 Spooky Music Videos

I love music – which is why I often post playlists to this blog. In my playlists, I tend to stick with more on-theme horror music. When it comes to music videos, however, sometimes bands can take a not-so-scary song and turn it into something creepy. From eerie sets and costumes to full-on short films, here are 13 spooky music videos to enjoy!

1. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson

It is a rite of passage for all Halloween fans to watch Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video at some point. It is certainly the gold standard for horror storytelling in music video form. A werewolf transformation, dancing zombies, and chilling narration from the king of horror actors, Vincent Price – what more could you ask for? 

You really cannot have a spooky music video list without this one, so let’s get it out of the way early and onto some lesser-known videos.

2. "The Shower Scene" by Ice Nine Kills

Ice Nine Kills pay homage to fan favorite horror films with each of their songs. Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic, Psycho (1960) is the inspiration for this song & music video. The opening is in black and white, featuring lead singer Spencer Charnas as a Norman Bates character. The hunter becomes the hunted, however, and final girl Nadia Teichmann delivers her own brand of justice. 

As the music ends, the video cuts to a courtroom scene where Charnas stands accused of murder, with the DA asserting that his music videos point to his killer tendencies. But is Charnas actually the killer? Moments after the hearing adjourns, a cop investigating the case is murdered by a masked killer. Who is behind these grisly murders? 

 This is a wonderfully cinematic music video.

3. "Square Hammer" by Ghost

The Swedish rock band, Ghost, is known for their unique costumed stage personas. The lead singer’s persona is “Papa Emeritus”, an anti-pope figure with demonic imagery. They often create fun, horror music videos for their music. 

In the music video for “Square Hammer”, a movie screening goes awry as the demonic figures jump from the screen to terrorize the audience. The style and storyline offer nods to silent film classics like Metropolis (1927) and Nosferatu (1922). 

4. "Onions" by Cults

Fans of 70’s and 80’s horror will appreciate the aesthetic of “Onions” by Cults. Singer Madeline Follin plays an eerily cheerful housewife serving up gore and carnage for zombified bandmate Brian Oblivion. I love the campy details – from the Little Shop of Horrors-like puppetry to a fridge full of body parts. It’s no wonder that this video was nominated in the “Most Bizarre” category at the Berlin Music Video Awards in 2025.

Be forewarned – this video features ample gore and gross-out moments.

5. "The Ugly and the Beautiful" by The Real Tuesday Weld

I heard “The Ugly and the Beautiful” by The Real Tuesday Weld long before I ever saw the music video. I always thought it was a nice little love song – nothing creepy or horror-like in and of itself. Then I saw the music video.

A lone janitor gets more than he bargains for when he encounters a mysterious tiny stage and creepy singer. The empty ballroom, moody lighting, and performances all provide a creepy atmosphere. It feels a little like a Twilight Zone episode.

6. "Flowers" by Emilie Simon

Next up on our music video list is the animated “Flowers” by Emilie Simon. This Tim Burton-esque stop-motion animation is filled with spooky magic. Featuring a wolf-man, mad scientist, skeletal carousal, graveyard, and more, this is a wonderful find for horror fans.

7. "Comfort Me with Absinthe" by Mr. Moonshine

My absolute favorite artist is Michelle Prebich of Bat in Your Belfry. We met years ago at ScareLA and I have followed her work ever since. I even commissioned a portrait from her for my 15th anniversary with my Honey-Bunny, which hangs prominently above my desk – certainly my favorite piece of art. 

Released in 2014, the music video for “Comfort Me with Absinthe” was directed by Michelle Prebich and animated from her character designs by Justine Prebich (animator, background designer, colorist).  The video follows a curious black cat as it follows the green fairy from glass to deadly glass of absinthe. The animation is stop-motion with layered mediums. I particularly love the use of green sand to represent the fatal elixir, covering the revelers and then revealing their skeletons. 

Love this style too? Check out their other collaboration with Mr. Moonshine, “Wolves on Parade”. 

8. "London" by Badflower

“London” by Badflower is another example of a song I was obsessed with even before seeing the music video. 

A wounded man (lead singer, Josh Katz) walks to a house in the middle of the snowy woods. He shares a brief romantic moment with a beautiful woman on the other side of the house’s glass windows. Then a horde of zombies played by the Badflower bandmates drags him away. It isn’t the most overt horror video on this list, but it has the atmosphere of a moody horror film and a blood-soaked finale.

9. "How Deep Can I Go?" by Hairy Soul Man

“How Deep Can I Go?” by Australian comedian & musician Kaye Smythe (a.k.a. “Hairy Soul Man”) uses artful 2D props to create fanciful set-design. While the lyrical content is shocking, the artistic details are charming and warrant multiple viewings to take in all the small touches. In a time where most videos use computer generated images, the basic practical effects of his video don’t disappoint. My personal favorite moment is when he “tosses” an eyeball into a jar – these moments add comedy and charm to the piece.

10. "Black or White" by Cross Gene

Are you in the oddly specific crossover audience of horror and K-pop? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! The music video for the catchy “Black or White” is all about good versus evil. Each member of the group is stalked by an evil doppelganger who seeks to murder them in brutal and bloody ways. From a Jekyll & Hyde-like situation to vampires to an evil demon in a tv to a thug with a baseball bat – there are plenty of horror themes in this nearly six-minute video. 

11. "Lullaby" by The Cure

“Lullabye” by The Cure is a music video personification of sleep paralysis. From a cobweb-laden marching band to a creepy figure on the ceiling, every frame of this spooky music video has a nightmare-like quality. The flowing and understated song adds to the dreamy atmosphere. Released in 1989, this music video still ranks as one of the most unnerving rock videos. 

12. "She Wants Me Dead" by Cazzette ft. The High

Anyone who has ever owned a cat knows that some days they are the most fuzzy, adorable, and snuggle-able creatures on the planet, and other days they are murderous balls of unending chaos. The music video for “She Wants Me Dead” chronicles a tuxedo cat who is tired of her master’s annoying ways. She devises a series of fatal traps to finally take him down.

The song also ties into a video game with the same premise. It is available for the PS4, the Apple Store, and via Google Play. 

13. "Just Wanna xxxx With You" by Phantom Siita

For our final entry, let’s try some catchy J-pop. Fans of J-horror will appreciate some of the imagery in this spooky video from Phantom Siita. Empty school hallways, blood-colored pin butterflies, and creepy Japanese schoolgirls with a cat. I am also obsessed with the red-lined school uniforms they wear – so spooky-cute!

What Are Your Favorite Spooky Music Videos?

I am always looking for new and interesting videos. Share them with me via my contact form, Facebook, or Instagram. 

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Attractions Destinations Theme Parks

Dark Rides Around the World

Dark Rides Around the World

Since the 19th century, dark rides have thrilled and delighted audiences around the world. From simple black hallways with loud noises and flashing lights to state-of-the-art animatronics and design, these attractions can greatly vary. From silly to spooky, relaxing to thrilling, there are dark rides that cater to every taste. 

Although I appreciate the craft in every ride, my favorite form of dark rides are spooky and fantastic. The summerween season is never really complete for me without a trip on a county fair Ghost Train. Halloween is always best with a trip to the Haunted Mansion at a Disney park or Ghost Blasters on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, Canada. Really, every season is made better with rides of some sort! Of course, travel is not always possible, so the next best option is ride-through videos on Youtube. 

The Haunted Mansion - Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL)

Disney theme parks have some of the most popular and highest rated dark rides in the world. The king of all spooky dark rides is “The Haunted Mansion”. Similar iterations can be found in Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL), Disneyland (Anaheim, CA), and Tokyo Disneyland (Japan). Disneyland Paris has “Phantom Manor”, a version with a very different storyline – we will check that out later in this post. Hong Kong Disneyland opts for a less spooky, more fantastic “Mystic Manor”. 

The Haunted Mansion is home to 999 happy haunts who spook and entertain millions of guests each year. The fun begins with an interactive queue where guests can learn about a few of the mansion’s denizens. Next is a pre-show in the gallery, where stretching portraits and a seemingly exit-less chamber set up the chilling experience to follow. Visitors hop aboard a macabre “doom buggy” to tour the mansion’s creepy corridors and grounds. The ride ends with a warning to beware of “hitchhiking ghosts” – with three friendly fiends (Phinneas, Ezra, and Gus) waiting to follow you home. 

This ride utilizes classic Pepper’s Ghost illusions, audio-animatronics, projection mapping, and other lighting and sound effects to bring the mansion to life.

Video from @DocumentDisney.

Dance Macabre - Efteling (Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands)

One of the oldest theme parks still in existence, Efteling is known for its amazing dark rides. In 2024 the theme park unveiled a new spooky-themed area with catering, retail, entertainment, and the new “Danse Macabre” dark ride. The attraction replaced the former “Spooksalot Haunted House”. 

Two years in the making, Danse Macabre boasts a unique ride system by Intamin where guests sit on one of six choir stalls on top of turntables that spin, rise, tilt, and fall to the classic “Danse Macabre” by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The room around the seats comes alive – or rather, undead? – with ghosts and ghouls for the duration of the four-minute experience. It is a beautiful mix of classical music, modern technology, and timeless frights. 

Video from Efleling’s official Youtube channel. 

Jurassic World Adventure - Universal Studios Beijing (Beijing, China)

Universal Studios is at the forefront of blending screens with physical sets and animatronics to create thrilling and immersive dark rides. Some of their most impressive environments are in their Jurassic Park themed attractions at their parks around the world.

While the two North American parks host water rides devoted to the fearsome dinosaurs, Universal Studios Beijing uses a track dark ride system. Climb aboard an All-Terrain Luxury Autonomous System (A.T.L.A.S.) and journey into the heart of Jurassic World Isla Nublar for unforgettable encounters with all your favorite dinosaurs. 

There is much more screen-time than I usually prefer for my rides, but the dinosaur animatronics are amazing. Especially impressive is a sequence where the indominous rex chases your vehicle completely around a pillar. Riding in between the fighting t-rex and inominous rex is also a thrilling moment. 

Video from Attractions 360°.

Ghost Blasters - Great Canadian Midway (Niagara Falls, ON)

So far we have toured some of the most polished and technologically advanced dark rides in the world. Now it is time to take a ride on a more traditional dark ride – with black lights and a simpler set-up.

I grew up riding “Ghost Blasters” at the Great Canadian Midway in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It will always have a special place in my heart – and I always try to visit it when I spend a day on Clifton Hill. Designed by Sally Corporation, this ride arms guests with “boo blaster” laser guns to rid a spooky mansion of ghosts. The sets and ghosts glow in black light, and hitting targets causes scenes and scares to animate. 

Video from Attractions 360°.

Phantom Manor - Disneyland Paris (Marne-la-Vallée, France)

We started this post with Disney and now we will end with the same. Disneyland Paris has the most unique of the traditional Haunted Mansions – “Phantom Manor”. Unlike the U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Phantom Manor has a much more cohesive storyline. 

Situated in Frontierland, the attraction ties into Big Thunder Mountain and other aspects of the area. Once home to one of Thunder Mesa’s founders, Henry Ravenswood, locals now steer clear of the dilapidated house, claiming it to be haunted. According to legend, Henry Ravenswood cherished his only daughter, Melanie, and believed no man good enough to marry her. After his death, a mysterious phantom began to torment Melanie. The four men that courted her all came to mysterious and untimely ends. Melanie was driven mad and eventually joined the supernatural menagerie of the house. Her spirit can be seen wandering the many halls of the manor, still in her wedding dress, waiting for a husband who can escape the Phantom’s grasp.

While the original attraction and storyline featured solely French narration, a 2019 refurb utilized a previously unused narration by horror actor Vincent Price. This attraction is much darker and macabre than the other Disney mansions. Another notable difference is the finale. Instead of a graveyard, the doom buggies descent underground into a crypt and then emerge in a wild west ghost town. Spirits and ghouls enjoy a rowdy afterlife in saloons and other western locale.

From its beautiful soundtrack to the sad and macabre story of the ill-fated bride, this is my favorite dark ride. I look forward to visiting it again someday!

Video from DLP Welcome.

See More Dark Ride Content

The Horror of Being Emily Articles:

Some of my favorite Youtube Channels for ride videos:

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Board Games Games

13 Horror Board Games

13 Horror Board Games

Horror board games are a way to spread spooky fun throughout the year. I love to play horror-themed board, card, and dice games with friends. There are a plethora of interesting games with varied play styles – from competitive games to co-op. Here is a list of 13 fun games to try at your next games night. 

1. The Faceless

I want to start this list with one of my favorite games to introduce to friends. The Faceless is a horror board game from Italian publisher MS Edizioni. I bought this game through Kickstarter during the pandemic, It is one of the most expensive games in my collection, but worth every penny!

The Premise: Dive into a cooperative game set in the fearsome Duskworld, home of Billygoat, where kidnapped children were brought to be deprived of their memories.

Using the compass you descend into Duskworld to save Ethan before Billygoat turns him into another Faceless. Each figure in the game contains a magnet and reacts with the kid’s compass: change the magnetic field to predict the movement of the compass, move over the memories to retrieve them and win the game!

But be prepared to face the sudden threats of this corrupted world.

As mentioned in the description above, what makes this game so unique is that it uses magnets and a compass for character movement. Double-sided monster figures can be manipulated around the board by cards, changing the magnetic field and redirecting the compass needle. Your hero (represented by the compass) can only move in the direction of the compass needle. Players must avoid the evil Billygoat while also moving around the board to collect tokens. 

It is a challenging game, but very fun for the science nerd in me. There are also a few different play scenarios – so if you can ever master the base game, you can still have fun and exciting challenges.

I am also a sucker for any game that features a goth girl character named “Emily”. 

This game is hard to find in the U.S., but if you are able to get your hands on a copy, you will not be disappointed! It has a great horror premise and beautifully spooky artwork. Play with 2-4 players.

2. Last Night on Earth

Flying Frog Productions is a game company I will feature multiple times on this list. Their games full embody the genre they are set in, and spark create gameplay and player interactions. I also love that their artwork features real actors embodying each character. It adds to a cinematic feel.

Last Night on Earth and its various expansions pit humans against brain-eating zombies. Play either as heroes or zombies and work together to achieve your goal (either survival or brains, depending on your team). For 2-6 players.

The Premise: When night begins to fall on the sleepy town of Woodinvale, a living nightmare erupts as the once peaceful community is overrun with the restless dead…scratching and clawing their way to the surface with an insatiable hunger for human flesh. Now only a handful of unlikely Heroes are left, banding together to fight for their very lives on a night that never ends!

Last Night on Earth has challenging gameplay, with multiple scenarios to keep things fresh. It also has a wonderful sense of humor that draws from beloved horror tropes. I personally love the “This Could Be Our Last Night on Earth” card, which makes any male & female characters sharing a space lose their turn. 

One of the first advanced horror board games I have played, this one will always hold a special place in my heart. 

3. Invasion from Outer Space

We had humas vs. zombies, now it is time for a more sci-fi take of carnies vs. aliens in Flying Frog Production’s Invasion from Outer Space. Like Last Night on Earth, this game allows 2-6 players to control either the humas or monsters, each working together to achieve their goals. 

The Premise: In a small field, just outside of a sleepy town in 1940’s middle America, Martian Saucers hover in the night sky. Having chosen their first target, a large group of humans gathered around a traveling carnival on the outskirts of town, a legion of Martians march to war. But not all of the Humans are defenseless. As the crowds flee in terror and are vaporized by the saucer’s death rays, one brave group of circus performers step forward to defend their planet – Earth’s first line of defense! This will be their greatest performance and maybe their last.

Each carnival hero has their own unique talents to fend off the fiendish Martian Invaders. Martian Soldiers and Flying Saucers blast humans with ray guns and unleash their vile alien technologies upon the Earth.

The game features a modular board and multiple game scenarios for varied gameplay. Additionally, this game uses the same mechanics as Last Night on Earth, making the two games compatible. Martians can attack Woodinville, zombies can overrun the carnival, or you can play a massive game of zombies vs. humans vs. aliens. 

Finally, where else can the hero of the adventure be a dancing carnival bear named “Jojo”? Possibilities are endless in this love-letter to b-movie sci-fi.

4. A Touch of Evil

A Touch of Evil is the final Flying Frog Productions game on this list (though they have a wider catalog that is worth checking out). This one definitely gives more autumn vibes with the New England horror setting. From a Spectral Horseman to Vampires & Werewolves to a living Scarecrow, players encounter a ghastly bunch of fiends as they race to save a cursed town from its descent into darkness.

The Premise: Tis the dawn of the 19th century – an age of science, superstition, and witchcraft. Howling fills the night as a full moon rises over the small, secluded village of Shadowbrook. Gruesome murders have become a daily occurrence and terror haunts the streets at night. An evil creature has taken up residence here and the countryside is engulfed by a tide of darkness. But all is not lost…not yet. A small group of heroic individuals, with the courage and strength to fight, have arrived in town. Some just passing through while others have come with a purpose. It will take a cunning mind and strength of spirit to determine who is friend and who is foe…to solve the mysteries and hunt the beast to its lair.

This game for 1-8 players can be played cooperatively, competitively, or as a team competition. 

This game take a little bit longer to learn than the previous two, but is quite intriguing once you get going. Each monster has unique mechanics and win conditions, keeping playthroughs fresh for quite a few games.

From the ink-on-parchment style game board to the characters ripped from the pages of Washington Irving and his peers, this game will transport you to the world of New England traditional scary stories.

5. Betrayal at House on the Hill

Build your own haunted mansion tile by tile in Betrayal at House on the Hill by Avalon Hill. Encounter spirits, monsters, and frightening omens that decide your fate. Will you be able to find a way out? 

The Premise: The creak of footsteps on the stairs, the smell of something foul and dead, the feel of something crawling down your back — this and more can be found in this award-winning and highly acclaimed tabletop game of strategy and horror. The game includes 50 fiendish scenarios and dozens of danger-filled rooms. You will return to the house again and again — as often as you dare — and never face the same game twice. Gather friends together for a game night of monsters, miniatures, and modular board pieces in this immersive, story-driven hidden traitor game for 3-6 players.

With a new layout and monster scenario pretty much every time you play, this is a game my friends and I keep coming back to. The rule books are lengthy (though many sections are only for the specific monster scenarios), so it can be daunting for novice players. However, if you are patient and read though the rules, this can be a great addition to your board game collection. I love that even the explorer figures have variation – with a choice of two personalities for each.  There is also an expansion, Betrayal at House on The Hill: Widow’s Walk, that offers 50 new haunts, 20 new room tiles, 30 new cards, and 78 new tokens. This is one game that will never get stale!

6. Lucidity: Six-Sided Nightmares

Okay, I know that this is a board game list and this is a dice game, but hear me out! Lucidity: Six-Sided Nightmares by Renegade Game Studios is a fantastic horror game to add to your collection. Enter the world of dreamers and fend off terrifying nightmares. Roll the dice, collect powers, but be careful not to become too corrupted or you may become a nightmare yourself!

The Premise: You have the ability to enter the dream world: a world of vivid hallucinations and horrific monsters. Draw power from the Nightmares that live there, but do not let them corrupt you. For there are other Dreamers seeking power this night, and there is only room for one to escape from the realm of Nightmares. Should you become corrupted and turn into a Nightmare yourself, you must hunt down the other Dreamers and consume their power. When the night is over, only one Dreamer or Nightmare will be left standing.

This is a great game for novice games night members. 1-4 players take turns rolling the dice and collecting symbols on their player card. What I find interesting about this game is that there are two ways to win. You can either collect 15 power symbols and escape the dream world. Or, if you become a nightmare, you can win by consuming the dreams of the remaining players or sending minions after them to prevent them from becoming more powerful than you. If nobody has collected 15 power symbols to escape by the end of the game, the most powerful Nightmare wins.

With a play time of 20-30 minutes (my games typically run shorter than that), it is a nice quick game to play.

7. Hit Z Road

Time to gear up for a post-apocalyptic road trip with Hit Z Road from publisher Asmodee. I love the theming with this game. Each card and token perfectly fits with the premise that it is a cobbled-together game after the zombie apocalypse.

The Premise: You and your fellow players embark on a road trip going south from Chicago along America’s famous Route 66 — now infested by zombies. As you travel though a deck of adventure cards rife with dangers, you battle zombie hordes, drive abandoned school buses, scavenge for gas and bullets, and explore a darkened, tainted American countryside full of shambling undead, haunted carnivals, and plumes of toxic gas. Your goal is to stay alive until you reach the safe, sandy beaches of the California coast. Zombies of all types await, with cannibals, anti-personnel mines and radioactive wastes also being among the hazards awaiting the players. Who will survive the zombie onslaught?

This game includes bidding for card encounters and turn order, resource management, and trying to get ahead of your friends. I love it for the kitschy nature of the design and fun world-building. Gameplay, however, can be a little frustrating – the person who gets ahead at the start is likely to be the one winning the game. As a game for 1-4 players, I have most enjoyed the solo play for this one. 

8. Disney The Haunted Mansion - Call of the Spirits Game

Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion comes to life (death?) with Funko’s Disney The Haunted Mansion – Call of the Spirits Game. It offers a fun dose of nostalgia for the classic dark ride while accommodating 2-6 players. This 30 minute game is easy for beginners.

The Premise: Explore all the classic rooms of the ghost-infested manor, from the festivities-filled Ballroom to the Attic and out to the Graveyard and beyond in search of spirits. Beware, though, of the Hitchhiking Ghosts, who are notorious for “following you home” as that may spell your doom in the end!

This is a family-friendly board game, and a nice introduction to horror gaming for young ones. Don’t expend complex gameplay or the type of game where you discover something new each time. As a Disney fan, I am happy to own this in my collection.

9. Horrified: Universal Monsters

Face off against the most notorious monsters of all time with Horrified: Universal Monsters from Ravensberger. 

The Premise: Imagine living in a place so wretched that it’s not plagued seven of the most horrifying fiends! In this game, you’ll come face to face with them all as you work together to rid the town of the maniacal or misunderstood creatures – before it’s too late. Encounter Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Just as each monster is unique, they require different strategies and tactics to be defeated.

In this co-op game for 1-5 players, everyone must work together to defeat up to four monsters at once. Each villain must be defeated in a different way. Also, characters will encounter a cast of villagers at iconic Universal movie locales to help.

Ravensburger has released 5 other versions of Horrified (at the time of this blog post):

  • Horrified: American Monsters
  • Horrified: Greek Monsters
  • Horrified: World of Monsters
  • Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons
  • Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons Ravenloft

Each version has its own twists for beating the villains. Main gameplay, however, is similar enough that once you learn one, it will not take long to learn how to play the others. The Universal Monsters edition is still my favorite as it truly brings your into the world of these classic horror films

10. Monster Crunch! The Breakfast Battle Game

If you want more of a trip down memory lane than a strategic challenge, try Monster Crunch! The Breakfast Battle Game from Big G Creative. 

The Premise: It’s ok to play with your food! Pick your favorite Monster Cereal character and battle to see who can “eat” the most cereal. In this fast-paced game of luck and strategy, players collect as many Cereal Cards in their Bowls as they can. Each Monster has special powers to give you an advantage and help you gobble up the most cereal. Use Milk Tokens to combine Cereal Cards and take bigger bites. The Monster Cereal character that munches the most wins the game!

In this 2-5 player game, play as Count Chocula, Franken Berry, Boo Berry, or the lesser-known Fruit Brute or Fruity Yummy Mummy. With a 20-minute playing time, this is a fun card game that brings back memories of Hallowen-season mornings.

11. Fluxx

Fluxx by Looney Labs is a fast-paced and unpredictable card game where the win conditions and rules are constantly changing. There are two versions I highly recommend for horror game fans: Monster Fluxx & Zombie Fluxx.

The Premise: This game doesn’t have a story, but instead it is full of the horror iconography fans love. As with all versions of Fluxx, the rules start as “Draw 1, Play 1”, but players can play New Rule cards to change the rules of the game. Goal cards change the winning conditions, which are met by a player having certain Keeper cards in front of him. Players also play Action cards for one-time effects.

For a truly epic monster mash, you can combine both decks. Looney Labs suggests adding a “Meta Rule” for that scenario:

“If the deck contains cards from multiple versions of Fluxx, a Goal from each version can be in play simultaneously. Goals only replace Goals from the same version. You win if you meet any Goal currently in play. Double Agenda creates one additional “slot” that can be filled with any type of Goal.”

The box says that the game is for 2-6 players, but you can expand to any number of people. Games take between 5-20 minutes, so you can play multiple times in one games night. Another option is to use this as a quick dose of fun in between longer games.

12. Risk: Plants vs. Zombies

Get ready for garden warfare with Risk: Plants vs. Zombies from The Op Games. Based on the hit video game franchise, this 2-person version of Risk has one person playing as the zombies and one as the heroic plants. The game features a double-sided game board and three play modes: mission objectives, tower defense, and total domination.

The Premise: A mob of fun-dead zombies are invading the quaint town of Brainsborough, while the pea-packing plants branch out for a battle of suburban domination!

This game is an easier version of the classic Risk. The board’s flipside has a skirmish game that feels like the video game. Pants try to defend their home from a zombie attack. As a fan of the video games and children’s comic books, this is another fun way to interact with these adorable fiends & flora. 

13. Campy Creatures

We are at the end of this list, and I have once again included a card game rather than a board game. In my defense, however, the title “13 Horror Board, Card, and Dice Games” was just a little too long for relevant SEO. Campy Creatures from Keymaster takes players into the world of B-horror and sci-fi. 

The Premise: Campy Creatures is the ghastly game of bluffing, deduction, and set collection. Players are mad scientists, deploying their fiendish hordes of ghouls and monsters to capture townsfolk for their weird experiments. But these mortals won’t go down without a fight.

The game is played over three “locations” (rounds). Play stock b-movie monsters including “The Blob”, “The Invader”, “The Invisible Man”, and more as you try to capture various mortals for points. This is a great game to play in the middle of a horror movie night with classic horror/sci-fi films.

What are Your Favorite Horror Board Games?

The above are just a handful of the games I love in my horror board game collection. Other games to check out include:

Let me know what you and your friends are playing by reaching out to me on Facebook & Instagram.

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Food Lifestyle News

Pumpkin Season at Panera Bread

Pumpkin Season at Panera Bread

It’s technically still summer, but the wait is over for our favorite autumn flavors. Pumpkin season at Panera Bread is here with a brand-new lineup of fall favorites, and the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, to bakery-cafes nationwide. As someone who waits for these treats every year, I cannot wait to satisfy my autumnal sweet tooth! Let’s take a look at their new coffee drinks and baked goods.

The Drinks

The fall drink menu offers two new sips with two returning favorites:

  • NEW Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee
    • A dark roast coffee with pumpkin sauce over ice, topped with sweet cream cold foam and pumpkin spice crumbles.
  • NEW Pumpkin Spice Frozen Java
    • A frozen blended coffee drink with dairy blend and pumpkin sauce, topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice crumbles.
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte
    • Freshly brewed espresso combined with foamed milk and pumpkin spice sauce, topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice crumbles.
  • Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
    • All the flavors and ingredients of the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, served over ice.

The Treats

Pair those pumpkin drinks with some sweet autumn treats! Panera’s seasonal menu will feature two new bakery items and one returning classic. All are crafted by Panera’s chefs to deliver the taste of fall in every bite.

  • NEW Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll
    • A deliciously crafted roll made with sweet dough, stuffed with cinnamon and pumpkin filling, topped with decadent pumpkin spice icing.
  • NEW Caramel Pumpkin Slice
    • A flavorful slice of cake with pumpkin pie spices, brown sugar, vanilla, and salted caramel swirls, topped with pumpkin spice icing.
  • Pumpkin Cookie
    • Deliciously crafted, pumpkin-shaped shortbread cookie decorated with icing.

A Pumpkin Dream

“Our guests look forward to these fall flavors each year, and we are bringing them to our menu in more ways than ever,” said Scott Uehlein, VP of Culinary, Panera Bread in a recent press release. “What sets our fall lineup apart are the details – from the decadent pumpkin spice icing and filling on our Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll to the spiced crumbles and creamy cold foam topping our coffee beverages. Whether it’s a refreshing iced drink or a sweetly spiced bite, Panera is the ultimate fall destination.”

These great fall drinks and treats are the perfect addition to the tasty soups and sandwiches Panera Bread is known for. I love to warm up with a black bean or creamy tomato soup. Then, I treat myself to some pumpkin spice. It’s my go-to on a cool autumn afternoon.

Panera’s seasonal menu innovations are available for dine-in, delivery, Rapid Pick-Up, or drive-thru. Learn more at panerabread.com.

Have you tried any of these items yet? Share your favorite fall flavors with me on Facebook & Instagram.

Want more fall foods? Check out:

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Lifestyle

Halloween Charities

Halloween Charities

The spooky season is all about community, so give back this year by supporting some Halloween charities. From monetary gifts to volunteering to donating old costumes, pumpkins, or candy, there are a variety of ways to help others in your community and beyond. Here are just a handful of Halloween & haunt nonprofits and causes to consider.

Halloween & Haunt Nonprofits

Don’t Be A Monster is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with haunted attractions across the country to serve causes that matter most to our Halloween & haunt community. In previous years, DBAM has raised funds to provide free bullying prevention assemblies to schools throughout the United States. According to their website, they have given over 1,600 presentations, reaching over 478,000 students. For 2026, the organization is launching its first-ever costume drive, providing brand new costumes to children in need this Fall. 

Haunters Against Hate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to eradicate all forms of prejudice, discrimination, hate speech or action against the LGBTQ+ culture in America and to educate people on the LGBTQ+ community. Since its formation in 2016, HAH has provided over $75,000 in grants to LGBTQ+ organizations. 

Since 2021, HAH has also hosted a convention that combines the horror, haunt, and LGBTQ+ communities for an event that offers a welcoming space for all. It features, workshops, vendors, competitions, drag shows, the HAH Awards, and more. 

Scares That Care is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has raised and donated over $400,000 to organizations and families with a child affected by illness, severe burns, or people fighting breast cancer.  The charity raises money by hosting auctions, attending conventions, and holding annual events. They are a 100% volunteer-run organization.

Every year, Scares That Care gives a gift of $10,000 to three individuals: a breast cancer patient, a severe burn victim, and a sick child. 

‘Ween Dream is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that gives free Halloween costumes to children in need across America. The organization began as a one-woman costume collection effort in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and it has grown to a nationally-recognized Halloween costume donation organization. 

Since 2014 ‘Ween Dream has distributed over 20,000 new and gently used costumes to children across the U.S. 

UNICEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rallies the American public to support the most vulnerable children around the world. Their mission is to ensure every child is healthy, educated, protected, and respected. While not a Halloween/haunt charity in and of itself, its annual Halloween season fundraiser is ubiquitous in local neighborhoods.

Since 1950 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has raised millions of dollars for children in need worldwide. Generations of kids have taken the iconic UNICEF little orange box with them on their Halloween adventures and said “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” to collect donations. The money then goes towards flexible funding and to programs that provide essentials including education, safe water, vaccinations, and more. 

Donate Your Pumpkins

Each Halloween season over two billion pounds of pumpkins will end up in landfills. This food waste produces methane and can be quite detrimental to the environment. Give your pumpkins a purpose after the Halloween fun by donating them to various causes. Here are just a few Halloween charities to consider:

Pumpkins for the People offers organics recycling solutions in the Washington D.C. area. They partner with many local agencies, such as DC Public Works, Martha’s Table, Maryland Environmental Service, Civic Works Real Food Farm, and more

Pumpkins for Pigs prevents food waste in communities by collecting pumpkin (and other viable foodstuffs) to farms, animal sanctuaries, and rescues for feed. They have donation sites across the U.S. (and one in Canada so far). This is a wonderful option for animal lovers who want to provide substance, nutrition, and enrichment to our animal friends.

The Pumpkin Smash is an annual effort by communities to divert pumpkins from landfills by providing locations for residents to drop-off jack-o-lanterns to be composted. It is typically held each year the Saturday after Halloween.  Don’t Trash it, Smash it!

In partnership with SCARCE – a group that provides environmental programs, resource, rescue, and reuse of supplies – 100+ pumpkin smashes are scheduled around the U.S. each year. Their website has a tool to help you find the closest event near you.

Even More Ways to Give Back

The above Halloween charities are just a handful of options to give back to your community this spooky season. There are countless ways to get involved. Let’s make sure that everyone can enjoy our favorite season together! Here are just a few other ideas:

  • Search in your area for haunts that donate all or a portion of their proceeds to charities.
  • Donate your leftover candy to the Boys & Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House, or a variety of other charities in your city.
  • Search for a local costume drive to donate new or gently-used costumes.
  • Find home haunts & displays that raise money for charity.
  • Start your own charity drive for a cause that speaks to you.

No matter how you choose to spread the Halloween joy, it certainly will make a difference in your community. 

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »
Categories
Apparel Lifestyle

Halloween Purses

Halloween Purses

When it comes to dressing in your Halloween best, accessories can truly make an outfit. The right bag pulls a whole look together and can be an eye-catching statement piece. Halloween purses are not just decorative, they also holds all the odds & ends you need for any spooky endeavor. I have a small assortment of bags I cycle between, but below are two that I highly recommend to add to your closet.

La Femme En Noir Pumpkin Bag

In 2020 La Femme En Noir debuted their officially licensed Sleepy Hollow collections. Inspired by the 1999 Tim Burton classic, Sleepy Hollow, the collection featured dresses skirts, and a show-stopping pumpkin bag. The Headless Horseman’s pumpkin head was recreated as a molded soft PVC vinyl purse with a full three-dimensional shape. The inside is lined with a signature Sleepy Hollow Toile print.

With a length of 10 inches, height of 9.75 inches, the girth at the center measures a whopping 32 inches. I honestly wasn’t quite prepared for just how large this purse actually is!

Luckily, La Femme En Noir created a petite “Baby Pumpkin Bag” later on, reducing the size to a width of 7.5 inches, height of 7.5 inches, and girth of only 24 inches. That one is a lot more reasonable for general use.

Both these purses are stylish and the outer plastic is quite durable. They offer plenty of room for your wallet and all the various things a witchy woman needs. 

Post Mortem Shapeshifter Purse

The ghouls at Post Mortem Horror Bootique know exactly what Halloween purse fans want. Their unique Shapeshifter bags have interchangeable faceplates, allowing you to change up your look faster than saying, “Trick-or-Treat”. The bag can also be adjusted to wear over-the-shoulder, cross-body, or as a backpack. Styles range from general Halloween & horror to officially licensed partnerships with Trick ‘r Treat, Halloween, and Ghost.

I am a big fan of this one because I can have a completely new style without having to transfer my wallet, keys, Chapstick, voodoo dolls, etc. The purse is quite roomy and it includes an inner pocket for quick access to small items. The bag is about 10″ in diameter and 4″ deep, which works well for someone as small as me.

Want some more fashion tips? Check out my Summerween Fashion post. 

Have Halloween purses or bags you love? Let me know on Facebook & Instagram

Halloween Cards

September 8, 2026 No Comments

Since the late nineteenth century, Halloween cards have been exchanged to share spooky greetings each autumn. From funny sayings to eerie poems, there are endless creative ways to send Halloween

Read More »

Autumn Dreams Playlist

September 7, 2026 No Comments

Deram of changing leaves, crisp mornings, and the distant smell of fireplaces with this Autumn Dreams playlist. The Song List This Autumn Dreams playlist combines jazzy classics with relaxing modern

Read More »

My Familiars

September 6, 2026 No Comments

Day #46 of my #Emilys100DaysOfHalloween challenge is: Appreciate My Familiars. I have been lucky enough to serve some of the most loving and supportive cats that have ever walked the

Read More »

About My Blog

Welcome to my home of all things horror & Halloween! The Horror of Being Emily showcases resources, creative projects, small businesses, and more related to my weird and wonderful Halloween & horror obsession.

Follow Me on social

Instagram Facebook Youtube

Search

Stay Up-To-Date
Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy

Ⓒ 2022 - The Horror of being Emily, All Rights Are Reserved.

Buffalo Website Design by: StandOut Marketing