Celebrating Halloween

Well, we thought Halloween might be back to normal this year, but no, we are still in a pandemic. At least we will all be wearing masks!

The CDC has general recommendations for Holiday Celebrations, opens a new window to keep in mind for all holidays.

Keeping those recommendations in mind, there are some fun activities planned here in Palo Alto that you’ll want to look into:

• Patch.com has a list of events, opens a new window in Palo Alto and the San Francisco Bay Area that is updated regularly.
• The City of Palo Alto blog includes a variety of fall activities and events, opens a new window happening around the community.
• The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch, opens a new window is back! October 2–3, 2021 at the Palo Alto Art Center.
• The Library is having a Family Craft: Pumpkin Lantern, opens a new window program on October 13.
• Gamble Garden is hosting a Great Pumpkin Hunt, opens a new window on October 23.
• The Library’s storytimes, opens a new window during the week before Halloween will be Halloween themed.

Books

Reading about Halloween is always fun as you prepare for the big day. The following searches might help you find what you are looking for. These are all set up to show you books that are available now, but you might want to put a hold on them to make sure you get the ones you want.

• Picture books about Halloween, opens a new window
• Early Reader books about Halloween, opens a new window
• Nonfiction books about Halloween, opens a new window
• Chapter books about Halloween, opens a new window

If all of these are loaned out or don't appeal, you can always use our catalog search to find books about pumpkins, ghosts, witches, zombies, werewolves, vampires, and other Halloween related creatures! Don’t forget to look for eBooks too.

Spooky Media

Spooky movies and music are a big part of enjoying Halloween and the Library has lots to choose from:

• DVDs to borrow, opens a new window
• Downloadable movies on Hoopla, Kanopy, or Bookflix, opens a new window
• CD's to borrow, opens a new window
• Downloadable music on Hoopla, opens a new window or Freegal, opens a new window

Costumes

You need more than a mask for Halloween! Check out these resources for costume ideas.

• Books, opens a new window on costumes for Halloween as well as costumes in general
• If you want to dig a little deeper, you can check our databases, opens a new window for ideas.

Decorations & Food

Decorating your home is part of the fun as is food – both healthy and not so healthy. The following include eBooks and media:

• Pumpkins: Choosing, Carving, Eating, opens a new window
• Halloween Treats, opens a new window
• Crafts and Decorations, opens a new window

-Kathy Swartz, Youth Services Librarian, Children's Library | Follow @teal_librarian, opens a new window on Bibliocommons