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Halloween Calendar

If you make your own Halloween countdown calendar, now is the time to work on it!

There are many different Halloween calendar formats:

  • Paper Chains
  • Daily Boxes 
  • Countdown Blocks
  • Standard Calendars
  • And more!

My favorite Halloween calendars are the paper chains (like on the above left-hand picture). Every night I remove a link and see the chain get shorter as we get closer to Halloween. For added fun, I like to add little facts or special day information to each link. Here are some fun days to celebrate from October 1st – 31st.

Days to Celebrate in October 2026

  • October 1st: In 1968, Night of the Living Dead, directed by George A. Romero, premiered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was released nation-wide on October 4th.
  • October 2nd: Celebrate the history of Halloween with an animated classic. On this day in 1993, Ray Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree aired on ABC. 
  • October 3rd: Do you like scary movies? Scream actress Neve Campbell sure does. Happy birthday to this iconic final girl!
  • October 4th: Bats, Black Cats, Wolves, and other creepy critters. Take time to appreciate all the spooky wildlife in your area – it’s World Animal Day!
  • October 5th: Halloween is about community, so take a moment to celebrate the phenomenal Public Broadcasting Service, founded in the U.S. on this day in 1970. It delivers amazing public programming to local communities around the U.S. – with some great horror & Halloween gems over the years.
  • October 6th: Two momentous moments in cinema history occurred on this date that paved the way for all the horror movies we love. On this day in 1889 Thomas Edison showed his first motion picture. In 1927, the first feature-length movie with synchronized dialogue, The Jazz Singer, premiered in New York City.
  • October 7th: Pick up a healthy snack. It’s National Pumpkin Seed Day!
  • October 8th: Time to re-read the classics. Happy Birthday to Goosebumps Author R.L. Stine!
  • October 9th: Happy Birthday to Academy Award-winning horror-fantasy director Guillermo del Toro!
  • October 10th: Take a strange stroll through The Twilight Zone. The iconic sci-fi television series premiered on this day in 1959.
  • October 11th: Dust off that old costume you don’t use anymore and give it to someone who’ll love it for National Costume Swap Day.
  • October 12th: There are few times when it is socially acceptable to let out a blood-curdling howl. Today is one of them, so have fun celebrating International Moment of Frustration Scream Day.
  • October 13th: It’s National M&M Day! Take a candy break with these chocolate favorites.
  • October 14th: Pumpkin Spice or Harvest Apple, autumn has the best sweets. Savor your favorites since it’s National Dessert Day!
  • October 15th: Hail to the King! On this day in 1981 The Evil Dead premiered at the Redford Theatre in Detroit, Michigan (though it premiered under the title “Book of the Dead”).
  • October 16th: If you enjoy spooky animated classics like “The Skeleton Dance” and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, today is a special day. In 1923 Walt & Roy Disney founded  the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, which later became The Walt Disney Company.
  • October 17th: Show your special spooky someone you care with a Halloween treat – it’s Sweetest Day!
  • October 18th: It’s National Chocolate Cupcake Day! Time to make my favorite chocolate-coffee cupcakes with buttercream frosting.
  • October 19th: As a movie-lover & Western New York native, this day is quite special. In 1896 the first commercial movie theater, the Edisonia Vitascope Hall, opened in Buffalo, New York.
  • October 20th: Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make. All in celebration of the birth of Bela Lugosi on this date in 1882.
  • October 21st: Drink a hot apple cider – it’s National Apple Day!
  • October 22nd: Let’s celebrate the beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows of the autumn season on this National Color Day.
  • October 23rd: Watch a scary movie. It’s National Horror Movie Day!
  • October 24th: Add a touch of magic to your day. On this date in 1926, the famous magician and escape artist Harry Houdini gave his final performance at the Garrick Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. 
  • October 25th: On this day in 1978, Halloween, directed by John Carpenter, was released.
  • October 26th: Pick your pumpkin! It’s National Pumpkin Day!
  • October 27th: Time to pet a black cat. It’s Black Cat Day!
  • October 28th: Dip into that Halloween candy a little early. It’s National Chocolate Day!
  • October 29th: All hail the Pumpkin King! On this day in 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas was released in theaters.
  • October 30th: Love it or hate it, time to celebrate it. It’s National Candy Corn Day!
  • October 31st: Happy Halloween! On this day in 1926, Harry Housini passed away. Hold a seance in his honor and try to contact the spirits beyond.

Of course, there are plenty more fun historical events, celebrity birthdays, movies releases, etc. What are your daily celebrations through October? Show me your calendars and favorite daily facts on Facebook & Instagram.

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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.

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