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Blog, Event Planning

9 Places for a Good Halloween Scare

It’s not difficult to find a good ghost story in South Florida. The Sunshine State is home to some of the best places to get a good Halloween scare ranging from ghostly apparitions to orbs of floating light. Many of the sites have been featured on TV shows and been investigated by professional paranormal researchers.

Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables

The hotel has hosted presidents to notorious gangsters. Guests report lights turning on and off, messages written on mirrors, and elevators that stop at the wrong floor.

Cuban Club, Tampa

People report seeing a ghostly actor, a board member, lady in a misty dress, and a young boy playing ball.

Huguenot Cemetery, St. Augustine

Visitors to the cemetery say they’ve seen orbs of light floating among headstones, wispy ghosts in trees, the transparent ghost of a girl who died of yellow fever, and a former judge.

Lake Worth Playhouse, Lake Worth

Built by Lucian and Clarence Oakley, visitors claim they’ve seen Lucian’s reflection in mirrors heard his footsteps, and experienced objects being moved around.

Lighthouse, St. Augustine

The structure is said to be haunted by a number of lighthouse keepers who met tragic ends over the centuries. Of particular interest is the 2 daughters of a lighthouse keeper and their friend who drowned. People have reported the sound of footsteps and laughter as the 3 girls are reunited in the tower for a ghostly play session.

Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Said to be haunted by the ghosts of a sea captain, a young girl, and a murdered theatre manager, they’re said to roam the theatre playing jokes on unsuspecting guest.

Riddle House, West Palm Beach

A former funeral parlor, it’s reported to be home to a previous overseer who paces the porch and a former employee who hung himself.

River Inn, Miami

Guests of the hotel have reported the sound of footsteps and ghostly banging in the middle of the night.

Tampa Theatre, Tampa

Individuals say the theatre is haunted by a man that worked the projector and still returns to cause mischief.

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Eerie Halloween Music Can Affect Your Pet in a Negative Way

If you’re planning a Halloween bash or just giving out candy to trick-or-treaters, you can set a spooky yet fun mood with your own playlist. Some songs are amusing, while others are so creepy, they give you the shivers years after hearing them for the first time. They span multiple genres, from country and pop to films. Two guaranteed crowd pleases are Thriller by Michael Jackson and Ghostbusters.

Play with Caution

The scary music that makes the most profound impression on the human psyche also affects animals in a similar way. It triggers a fight or flight response. If you have a dog, it’s a good idea to restrict Halloween music to tracks that are fun and non-threatening in nature.

Pure Fun

Halloween-related tunes that are fun listening include Monster Mash by Bobby “Boris” Picket & the Crypt Kickers and Time Warp from the film Rocky Horror Picture Show, along with Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo, Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas film,

and Love Potion No. 9. They’re non-threatening. Also consider I Put a Spell on You by “Screamin” Jay Hawkins and The Devil Went Down to Georgia by the Charlie Daniel’s Band.

Ghosts, Witches and Reapers.

There’s no shortage of tunes with the word ghost, witch or other scary references. You can choose from Witchy Woman by the Eagles, Black Magic Woman by Santana, or Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult. Play Ghost Riders in the Sky by Johnny Cash, Superstition by Stevie Wonder, or Enter Sandman by Metallica. You can also add Tainted Love by Soft Cell, Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell, and Bring Me to Life by Evanescence.

Eerie Instrumentals

Some of the creepiest music doesn’t require lyrics to give a shiver. For eeriness, there’s the theme from the X-files TV show, Tubular Bells from the film The Exorcist, and the main theme by John Carpenter from the film Halloween. Reserve these for adult-only events and home parties where pets and children are not present.

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Halloween Inflatables That are People Pleasers

Inflatable decorations continue to be a favorite in 2023. It doesn’t matter if you’re holding a party or decorating the yard for Halloween, there are dozens of inflatables that you can select. Choose from inflatables for a whimsical theme, child-friendly, or a truly scary fright night.

Bounce House

If you’re planning a party for children age 6 to 12, there’s a bounce house to accommodate your Halloween desires.

Creepy Carriage

A few different versions of this inflatable are available. Some include a horse with the carriage, some don’t. Individuals can select from horses that are standing, rearing or skeletal. Choose an inflatable with a traditional type of carriage or one styled like a pumpkin. All have LED lighting.

Dragon

Multiple light up dragon inflatables can be found Select a friendly 5 ft. long dragon in a hammock or those that look ready to breath fire.

Ecto-1

The Ghostbusters franchise continues to be popular with people of all ages. Now, you can bring an inflatable Ecto-1 Ghostbuster inflatable vehicle to your front door. The Ecto-1 is approximately 9 ft. long, 4.5 ft. tall and lights up.

Pumpkin Family

Greet trick-or-treaters with an inflatable pumpkin patch family. The smiling group of friendly jack-o-lanterns

measure 7.5 ft. long and has built-in LED lighting.

Snake

Surprise the neighbors and trick-or-treaters with a 20 ft. long inflatable light up snake.

Unicorn

There’s a range of inflatable unicorns from which to choose. If decorating for a child-friendly Halloween, there are traditional styles with bright colors. For those that want to inject a scarier note to their decorating efforts, select one of the many inflatable skeletal unicorn versions.

UFO

Plug in this light up inflatable UFO for a 2-in-1 treat. The 9 ft. tall inflatable makes a unique yard decoration and provides a memorable photo opportunity. Children or adults can climb inside and it will appear as if they’re being the victim of an alien abduction. There are also versions that don’t provide a photo op.

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Top Halloween Costumes for Kids 2023

Homemade costumes can be extremely cute and offer creative parents a way to show off their skills. However, few parents are crafty or handy enough to make a Halloween costume that will pass muster with their child. Youngsters want a costume that as closely resembles their internal vision of what they want to look like as possible and store-bought costumes do that well.

Imitation is a Key Factor

Children typically want to emulate their favorite characters from cartoons and anime, TV, films, and video games. There are dozens from which to choose and some are perennial favorites, but bear in mind that many other youngsters are trying to obtain the same costume, so begin the search for that special costume early.

Safety is No. 1

For safety, a costume should never hamper a child’s movement or pose a tripping hazard. Masks and headgear should never interfere with their vision and the costume should always fit well. Use non-allergenic makeup. Be prepared for younger children to be scared. All children don’t respond well to scary costumes.

Trick or treat is an exciting time for children and they dart about. It’s a good idea to have some type of reflective stickers or other decorations on a costume. Give them a refresher on traffic safety.

Top Costume Choices

There are dozens of movies that have resonated with youngsters this year and characters they want to imitate. Others want to be their favorite video game character or someone from pop culture. The following are some of the top costumes that youngsters are requesting in 2023.

Anything that lights up or glows in the dark

Alien

Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Ash Ketchum (Pokémon)

Barbie

Harry Potter and Hermione

Mario and Luigi (Super Mario Bros.)

Minions

Naruto

Optimus Prime

Pink Lady (Rise of the Pink Ladies)

Skeleton

Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse

Superheroes from Marvel or DC

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Unicorn

Vampires

Wednesday Addams

Witch

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Must-Have Halloween Home Décor

For parties or just to set a mood, it’s fun to add Halloween décor to the home. From lights to serving dishes, individuals will find a wealth of options The following are some of the most popular for 2023.

Skeletons

The bony decorations are everywhere. Some are lighted, some aren’t. There will be frog skeletons peaking from behind potted plants and baby dragon skeletons. Choose skeletons of eels and snakes, flamingos, pigs and unicorns, along with crows both skeletal and feathered. Of special interest are a pair of skeletal wolves that stand 2.5 ft. tall. They have LED eyes and howl. They can be used indoors or outside.

Doorbell Eyeball

Greet visitors with a faux doorbell that’s a blinking eyeball. Get 2 and put them side-by-side so they blink independently of each other.

Medusa Bust

The statue contains a motion sensor that makes the eyes and mouth light up when activated. It also speaks phrases.

Magic Mirror

The motion activated mirror clears to reveal a creepy apparition inside. For indoor use only.

Binx the Cat

From the popular film, Hocus Pocus, the statue stands 11.75 x 9.84 inches tall.

Lighted Raven

The bird stands 14.5 in. tall and has light up eyes. The head swivels from side to side, it makes short sounds, and can be used indoors or outside.

Pumpkin Lamp

Add a touch of class to Halloween with a stained-glass pumpkin lamp.

Faux Pumpkins

If you don’t want the mess of hollowing out pumpkins, get artificial ones. Multiple colors are available in solid or jack-o-lantern styles equipped with a single LED bulb.

Thing Figurine

Straight from the Addams Family films, leave the disembodied hand in a conspicuous location.

Smoking Caldron

These caldrons emit smoke in blue and green colors.

Floating Candles

The set of candles can be attached virtually anywhere and gives the impression that they’re floating in the air. It will put everyone in mind of the Great Hall of Harry Potter fame and the lights have a remote.

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Non-Candy Treat Ideas for Trick-or-Treating

Children typically get more than enough sugary treats from trick-or-treating. Some parents prefer that their child receive a non-candy offering. While those goodies may make parents happy, youngsters aren’t usually very exited about toothbrushes and similar items. Take heart, there are a number of alternatives to sugary sweets that can be given out at Halloween – and trick-or-treaters will like them. The following are some non-candy treats that can be purchased with a Halloween theme that youngsters will actually play with after the candy is gone. Be aware that some items are inappropriate for very small children. Use caution and common sense when choosing non-candy alternatives.

  • Halloween crayons
  • Mini puzzles
  • Squishy toys
  • Zipper pulls
  • Bead necklaces
  • Magic Fortune Telling Fish
  • Pokémon Halloween trading
  • card packs
  • Glowing fake bugs
  • Mini book of find the hidden objects
  • Bookmarks
  • Halloween scented pencils
  • Silly straws
  • Whoopee cushions
  • Light up rings
  • Glow sticks and jewelry
  • Slime
  • Magnets
  • Foam mask
  • Vampire teeth
  • Witch fingers
  • Stampers
  • Mini Slinky toys
  • Stickers
  • Novelty eyeglasses
  • Bubbles
  • Play-Doh
  • Mini stuffed toy
  • Temporary tattoos
  • Bouncy balls with Halloween themes
  • Slap bracelets, from the 80s and 90s
  • Rubber duck toy
  • Scary keychain lights

Prepackaged Options

Halloween can be a busy time for parents, taking their youngsters trick-or-treating and attending children’s parties. If you discover that you’ve run out of time or don’t have time to order non-candy treats, there are still options.

Consider prepackaged items such as individually packaged Goldfish crackers, popcorn, pretzels, granola bars, trail mix bars, sugar-free candy, fortune cookies, and similar goodies. Another good choice is hot chocolate or apple cider drink packets.

A number of companies offer goodies for Halloween trick-or-treaters in mini sizes or individual bags. Try giving out some mini boxes of raisins or fruit roll ups. Another good option that’s also healthy are mini oranges, apples or bananas.

Bounce House Rental

Bouncing for Dollars – 3 Reasons Why Bounce Houses are Great for Charity Events

If you have a charitable organization, you’re missing out on an extraordinary fund-raising opportunity if you haven’t considered renting an inflatable bounce house. It’s a novel way to raise funds for any charity and will have people lining up to participate. There are several different ways in which bouncing for dollars can raise money for charities. No matter which fund-raising model an organization decides upon, a bounce house rental is a great way to raise funds.

Splitting the Cost

In this type of arrangement, organizations pay no up-front cost to the bounce house provider. The inflatable is delivered to the organization’s venue and set up. The company splits the profits with the charitable entity. It’s an effective option for organizations operating on a limited budget or to increase awareness of a particular cause.

Pay-Per-Session and Wristbands

Another fund-raising model requires participants to pay a flat fee for a turn in the bounce house for a specific amount of time. Organizations can use a color-coded wristband to monitor the time a child spends inside the bounce house according to the length of time for which they’ve paid.

Sponsored Jumping

Another way to raise funds is to have a child that plans to use the bounce house have friends, family or businesses sponsor them with a financial donation for the time they spend playing in the bounce house. Conversely, organizations can receive donations from businesses for the rental fee.

Incorporating Other Options

Some charitable organizations pay the rental fee for the inflatable and operate it as part of a larger festival or event. This option has the benefit of providing organizers with an additional draw to an event.

Drawings and Giveaways

Organizations can create excitement among adults with an associated drawing or giveaway. Businesses donate items for the fund-raiser. When parents bring their child to the bounce house, their name is entered into a drawing for one of the donated prizes.

Blog, Event Planning

Why You Should Not Let Children of Varying Sizes Bounce Together

Almost every child enjoys a bounce house experience, but there are some basic bounce house rules that everyone should follow to mitigate the potential for injuries and ensure safe operation.

For Every Action…

When a large child jumps on one side of the bounce house, it’s going to create a reaction of equal force on the other side of the amusement. That ripple effect can throw younger, lighter children off their feet and increases the potential for a bloody nose, sprain or fracture. A responsible adult should monitor the inflatable at all times to ensure youngsters in the entertainment are of the same age and size.

A bounce house is for jumping and bouncing. Youngsters should not be performing somersaults or flips and roughhousing should be prevented. Children should never wear shoes in a bounce house – only socks.

Where to Set it Up

A bounce house should be set on open and level ground. A grassy location is best. Be sure the ground under the inflatable is free of sticks and stones. It should be established away from fences, outbuildings, sprinkler heads, and overhead tree branches. Be sure it’s properly anchored to the ground.

What Doesn’t Belong in a Bounce House

There are some things that should absolutely not be allowed in a bounce house. That includes food, drinks and gum. An adult should check each child before they enter the amusement to ensure they remove jewelry, eyeglasses and other sharp objects. Hard toys should never enter the bounce house.

Other Considerations

Choose a bounce house of the appropriate size for the youngsters that will be using it and limit the number of children using it to 4 or 5 at a time. Be aware of the weather – never use a bounce house in the rain. If the wind is strong enough to blow sand and small gravel around, it’s too strong for bounce house use.

Blog, Event Planning

5 Reasons Kids Love a Bounce House Party

You don’t have to have a reason to rent an inflatable bounce house and throw an impromptu children’s party. Few youngsters can resist the temptation to jump and bounce in a brightly colored inflatable. Bounce houses are available in dry and wet versions, along with those that incorporate an obstacle course, providing parents with options.

Don’t forget to have snacks and beverages on hand. Children burn a lot of energy and calories playing in a bounce house. It’s essential that they remain hydrated, even when using a wet bounce house.

Kid-Friendly Fun

It’s not a true party unless you invite some friends over. Youngsters get to play with their friends and you have the peace of mind knowing they’re in a safe environment.

Larger Than Life Entertainment

Most children are accustomed to seeing a bounce house in venues such as carnivals and fairs. The true size of a bounce house is revealed when set up in your back yard. Rental inflatables can accommodate multiple youngsters.

Multiple Themes

Inflatable bounce houses are available with multiple themes, allowing kids to pretend for hours. Bounce houses have themes appropriate for kids of all ages ranging from cartoon characters and fairy tales to superheroes and those with a holiday theme. They’re no longer simply square boxes. They can take the form of a snow globe, castle or gingerbread house.

There’s More Than Just Bouncing

Depending on the inflatable, bounce houses enable children to play traditional games inside, such as tag. With wet bounce houses, children can also slide and splash.

Healthy Exercise

Inflatable bounce houses are an ideal way for children to burn off excess energy and it’s a healthy way to do so. Bounce houses aid children in developing balance, motor skills, strength and lung capacity, while providing a heart-healthy cardio workout. A bounce house party is also a great way to support socialization skills.

Blog, Event Planning

Three Stress Saving Ideas for Planning Your Child’s Party

Celebrities are spending $200,000 for a child’s birthday party, while social media influencers are touting “bigger is better” ideas for gatherings. It tempts parents to spend more than they need to on their child’s party and focus on things rather than the child. The following tips can help you stop the madness, plan a stress-free party that will keep youngsters entertained, and won’t break your budget.

Invest in an Experience Instead of a Party

There are dozens of options for this, depending on the age of the attendees. Consider going bowling, taking everyone to that must-see movie, or going to an arcade. There’s almost no planning involved at all, other than creating a guest list and convincing a couple of other parents to help keep an eye on everyone. Parents simply drop their children off at the appointed location and pick them up at a pre-determined time.

Keep Food and Beverages Simple

If you’re planning a trip to the zoo or similar locale, seriously consider packing a picnic for everyone. Some locations have on-site grills if you want to cook hotdogs on the spot Consider ordering pizza or subs for a truly stress-free meal.

Forget About a Theme

Themes can be fun, but you’ll spend far more time trying to obtain matching napkins, paper plates and cups, along with games, decorations and party favors, than the entire party will last.

Focus on What’s Important

Know your budget and stay within it. Your child’s life isn’t going to be ruined if you can’t swing a traveling petting zoo or a local celebrity visit.

Limit the guest list to the number of people you can comfortably accommodate, whether the event takes place at home or somewhere else. Just because your child wants to invited the entire class doesn’t mean you’re obligated to do so. It doesn’t affect the quality of the party.