POP’S POV: The Boo-Crew, Halloween Done Our Way

As a child, Halloween—at least for my Black family—was taboo for a while. My family didn’t really support what it “promoted,” but eventually, my parents leaned into it as a fun holiday to explore imagination and let the kids rack up on sweets with relatives and friends. Eventually, we began to trick-or-treat, but that phased out, and we started hosting “Spooky Night In.” One of my family members would host—typically my family—and we’d eat so much food and sweets and watch all the scary movies! Thirteen Ghosts, Child’s Play, Milo, Freddy Krueger, Mimic, It, Doctor Giggles—I mean, I could name movies all day!

I thoroughly enjoy a good scary movie that will have you looking over your shoulder and scared to be home alone for a little while after watching. We would scare ourselves so much, we had a partner system for using the bathroom—and all the lights were kept on for several days afterward.

I’ve carried this tradition into adulthood—of course with some changes—but we still have an amazing time celebrating with family and friends. We typically do some sort of outing, whether it be pumpkin picking or a scary hayride. We always make it a point to hollow out a pumpkin, stuff the kids inside, and snap some cute pictures before we carve it up.

However, the real fun is in the competition! We buy carving kits and decorate pumpkins, then post them to Instagram for votes. The winner gets a gift card, a monetary prize, and bragging rights until next year! We place the pumpkins in front of our house for people to see until it’s time to trash them.

Getting the kids ready for Halloween is always so much fun! Depending on the activities we have planned around the holiday, the kids typically have multiple costumes each year. My wife frequents Marshalls and TJ Maxx, and we almost always make out well for the kids’ Halloween costumes. If all else fails, Amazon almost always has what you need—or a good alternative! Jackson was a ladybug, a vampire, and an astronaut one year.

The fun auntie—“Tia Tia,” as she is affectionately called—is the Trick-or-Treating team lead! She takes the kids throughout the neighborhood so I can sit at home and hear all about the adventure once they get back from scouring the community of anything that lacks nutritional value. She pumps the kids full of sugar, stages fun games and activities, and sends them home with egregious amounts of energy.

The power of my village and the love within my ecosystem is so important to me. Halloween, honestly, is just another opportunity to spend time with the people I love most and bond by breaking bread, sipping libations, and enjoying friendly competition with a side of trash talk!

How do you and your folks celebrate Halloween?

Here are a few “must-haves” and “must-dos” for Halloween this year:

1. Scarium Family Night at The Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach, CA)

October 17, 2025, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM PT

Calling all SoCal residents! Children under 3 are free! Dive into a spook-tacular undersea adventure where the ocean gets a Halloween twist. Families can enjoy trick-or-treat stations, a scavenger hunt, a costume contest, a vampire magician, a DJ, and a photo booth so you can two-step and “do it for the ’gram!”

2. Steven Harrington x Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch (Irvine, CA)

Now open until November 2, 2025

Step into fall magic at Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch, where pumpkins of every shape and size stretch as far as the eye can see. Enjoy a scenic wagon ride, sunflower maze, pumpkin cannon, games, and fresh seasonal eats. Plus, don’t miss the arts & crafts, pumpkin house, and a perfect pumpkin to take home.

3. Halloween Mason Jar Lantern Craft Kit (6-Pack)

Light up your creativity with DIY Lantern Mason Jar Kits. Each one includes everything you need to design your own glowing masterpiece—just add imagination. Great for family nights, holiday décor, or gifting a handmade treasure.

4. Halloween Pumpkin Carving Kit (12 Stencils + 7 Tools)

Turn pumpkins into masterpieces with this all-in-one carving kit. Equipped with durable tools and stencils, it makes jack-o’-lanterns a breeze to design and carve.

5. PLAY-DOH 30 Pack – Spooky Colors

A sugar-free Halloween win! Each individually wrapped 1-ounce stick is perfect for trick-or-treaters. With festive shades like pumpkin orange and ghostly white, kids can mold their own spooky creations.