A few years ago, we had an idea.
Well, to be honest, it was not an original idea. We were inspired by my parents whose neighborhood did things a little differently for Halloween.
Rather than the typical door-to-door trick-or-treating that most of us are accustomed to, everyone in their neighborhood hangs out on their patios the evening of Halloween and hands out candy from there. Instead of the quick exchange of “trick-or-treat” for a handful of candy, neighbors linger at one another’s patios, getting to know one another, turning strangers into neighbors and neighbors into friends.
As we thought of our own Halloween tradition (which typically consists of turning off all our lights and hiding out in the basement for the evening), we realized that we could be missing out on a huge opportunity. We always talked about wanting to get to know our neighbors better—how we wanted to be salt and light in our neighborhood—but our actions said otherwise.
But what if Halloween could be an opportunity to change that?
We decided to find out.
The idea was simple. Instead of handing out candy on Halloween (or hiding out in the basement), what if we hosted a bonfire party of sorts for trick-or-treaters? We already had a cozy firepit nestled in the trees near the front of our property. No invitations needed. No fancy decorations or months of planning required. All we would need to do was light a fire, set out some snacks and see who showed up.
And we are so thankful we did.
Today, I’m sharing how we brought our Halloween bonfire to life, from setting up the space and choosing refreshments to welcoming trick-or-treaters and seeing how the evening unfolded. If you’ve been looking for a fun, low-key way to celebrate Halloween while getting to know your neighbors a little better, I hope our experience inspires you to give it a try and make the idea your own.
Setting up the Bonfire Party
Setting up the bonfire party was fairly straightforward and we were able to get almost everything ready the day of. We first strung some Christmas lights from tree to tree around the firepit to give the area some ambient lighting after nightfall. Then we brought over some Adirondack chairs and tree stumps, positioning them around the firepit for seating.
We also set up a table to the side of the bonfire for all the cozy refreshments. For the snacks, we set out supplies for gourmet s’mores, including:
- Graham crackers
- Celebration cookies
- Individually wrapped chocolates (Reese’s, Ghirardelli chocolates, and cookies and cream Hershey’s bars)
- And marshmallows
We also set out some cuties, for those who may want a healthier alternative.
For the beverages, we ran an extension chord to the table so we could plug in a crockpot, which we filled with store-bought apple cider. We also set out some disposable cups and roasting sticks, decorated the table with mini pumpkins, and turned on some ambient music using a Bluetooth speaker.
Hosting the Bonfire Party
Finally, it was time. We lit the fire in our firepit and set out a sign on the road in front of our home, which said “Come on by for Cider & S’mores” with an arrow directing trick-or-treaters down our driveway towards the bonfire.
And then we waited. Andy and I sipped apple cider and roasted a few s’mores (for quality control, of course), while we hung out by the fire and waited to see who would stop by.
At first, it seemed like it might just be us two. A car slowly drove by, checking things out, then quickly proceeding to the next house. We felt a bit awkward to say the least, sitting there with our fire and s’mores, unsure if this was a good idea after all. But eventually some families from our neighborhood did stop by to warm up by the fire, sip some apple cider, and roast some s’mores.
Overall, about 10-15 neighbors came by the bonfire throughout the evening, which we felt was a good turnout for our rural neighborhood. Many people commented on how thankful they were for the chance to get to know other neighbors in the area and how they appreciated the opportunity to sit by the fire and warm up a bit on a chilly fall night.
At the end of the night, as we doused the fire and cleaned everything up, our hearts were full. What started as a simple idea turned into an opportunity to welcome our neighbors, share some warmth on a chilly Halloween night, and take a small step toward the kind of community we had been hoping to cultivate.
It reminded us that sometimes creating opportunities to connect with those around us doesn’t require much at all—just a simple idea and a willingness to open our doors (or, in this case, our front yard).
Have you ever tried something a little different for Halloween? I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to share in the comments below!
You Might Also Enjoy
- How We Hosted a Saturday Swap (& Why We’d Do It Again)
- A Fireside Feast: Our May Dinner Party Menu
- Through the Seasons: Simple Ways We Decorated Our Home For Fall
- Hosting Made Simple: Easy Fall-Inspired Dinner Menu Ideas for Every Occasion
- Savoring the Season: Cozy & Nourishing Soup Recipes for Fall