Fun Halloween Ideas & Yummy Treats

Fun Halloween Ideas for All Ages

Most people enjoy Halloween, young and older alike. Dressing up in costume or watching kids trick or treat brings back some great memories of Halloween’s past. It’s always fun to do the traditional and take the kids around the neighborhood to trick or treat, but we thought this year we would share some Halloween ideas that you might not have tried before that could be a lot of fun for the whole family or as adults.

We are sharing some haunts with you today that you might not have known about unless you’ve been a long-term resident of Sonoma County. Whether you go along, as a couple, with some friends, or gather your family together to participate, these Spooktacular destinations can be fun for everyone!

The Most Spirited Street in Petaluma

No matter where you live in Sonoma county Petaluma isn’t far away. D Street in Petaluma is known as one of the most decorated and go-to destinations in Petaluma to celebrate Halloween. Be sure to get there early because parking goes quickly and it can be a walk from downtown to D Street so wear comfortable shoes no matter what your costume. The costumes are amazing, the decorations are over the top, many times there is entertainment and music, and definitely lots of fun! Be sure to check out the videos on YouTube to see what past year’s spooktacular happenings have occurred!

Get Lost in the Amazing Night Corn Maze

Pumpkin patches abound in Sonoma County, but there is only one Amazing Night Maze at the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze! Petaluma Pumpkin Patch’s Amazing Corn Maze has been listed in national publications and on television as one of the top 10 corn mazes in the United States.  Each year Jim Groverman plants and plans a different corn maze as he has done for 30 years. There are viewing towers in case you get lost and also makes for great photos of the cornfield and pumpkin patch! You can buy a map that helps you navigate the maze. For the fearless, you can opt to go at night and experience the Night Maze. Everyone from kids to fraternities has this as a yearly activity that they won’t miss!

Celebrating Halloween on McDonald Avenue

McDonald Avenue in Santa Rosa has been celebrating Halloween in style for so many years! They are probably best known in Sonoma County as an over-the-top Halloween experience. I wouldn’t go for the candy, but I would go for the outright entertainment value of the experience. This neighborhood in Santa Rosa is well known for its festivities, so plan accordingly. Go early, get your parking, and wear comfortable shoes. In the years I have experienced McDonald Avenue I would say that it is generally not the best for very young children, but great for older kids and adults, this is just my opinion. The decorations on McDonald Avenue border on the level of movie sets and are very realistic, maybe a little too much so for really young children. It is a great place to see amazing costumes and take photos while celebrating Halloween in style!

Music & Fun on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol

Florence Avenue in Sebastopol is best known for its incredible metal sculptures by Patrick Amoit that decorate the front yards of the homes on Florence Avenue. Come early, park as close as you can, and of course, wear comfortable shoes no matter what your costume. Florence Avenue and the Halloween celebrations that happen have started to be legendary in Sonoma County! Florence Avenue gets closed off to cars early about 5 pm and then is only open to foot traffic. Music, fantastic decorations and costumes, and a bunch of fun ensue on Florence Avenue on Halloween night. Go, enjoy, and take wonderful photos!

Día de Los Muertos Healdsburg & Rohnert Park

If you want to get started early celebrating Halloween head to Healdsburg and the Día de Los Muertos Celebration that happen on October 30 in the Plaza Park. Come celebrate the Day of the dead, with music, dance, face painting, a car show, food, and more! Walk around the plaza, sip some wine, and come in costume or not, but is lots of fun for all ages.

On October 29 in Rohnert Park you can have fun at the Halloween Carnival & Día de Los Muertos Celebration. Come and enjoy the Day of the Dead with a haunted maze, a hypnotist show, a live animal experience, carnival food, and more!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake Recipe

Two of our favorite ingredients are whipped together in one amazingly moist and decadent pumpkin cake. This cake can be made up as a sheet cake, bundt cake, or pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes. The following recipe makes an 8′ x 8″ square cake, with the recipe doubled it will make a two-layer cake or a 13″ x 9″ sheet cake.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter, melted and cooled
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or substitute 2 tablespoons brandy
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup small chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray or use shortening to grease the pan and dust with flour or line with parchment.
• Whisk together the butter, sugars, eggs, pumpkin puree, vanilla, or brandy in a large mixing bowl till all ingredients are well blended.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
• Stir in half the flour mixture into the blended wet ingredients, then milk and the remaining flour. Mix just enough to blend, and fold in the chocolate chips as the last step.
• Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top with a spatula, bake the cake until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, approximately 55-60 minutes depending on your oven and pans chosen
• Let the cake cool and invert it onto a cooling rack.
• Cut your cake into squares and wrap the leftovers in foil and insert them into a plastic bag and refrigerate if you won’t be eating the remainder of the cake for a few days. This cake is also a great cake to freeze, defrost and have as a treat later.

No matter where or how you celebrate Halloween, enjoy and have lots of fun this year. If you want to take house cleaning off your to-do list, please give us a call at Crystal Clear Home at 707-827-3316 or fill out our Free Estimate form and one of our cleaning professionals will be in touch promptly to give you a free estimate to clean your home.