What’s your favorite holiday?
I have a fondness for all holidays (any break from the norm should be celebrated, in my book), but those that fall in the fall—Halloween and Thanksgiving—have long been my favorites. I love the creativity that bursts forth at Halloween, from clever costumes to imaginative yard décor and beyond. And I enjoy coming up with inventive takes on Thanksgiving classics, from my cranberry-and-sour-cherry relish to my ginger-pumpkin cheesecake.
One of my earliest memories is of a park district Halloween party in my hometown. I got in trouble for refusing to bob for apples. I was probably just 3 or 4 years old, but I threw a tantrum over the idea of sticking my face into a bucket of water and trying to bite an apple after 20 other kids. My costume that year, sewn by my very talented mother, was Little Miss Muffet. My kid sister went as Little Bo Peep.
These days when Halloween comes, I daydream of moving to a neighborhood where the kids actually show up for trick-or-treating. Alas, with no sidewalks and few youngsters, I don’t get enough Halloween traffic to justify buying even a single bag of candy.
In our 2025 State of the Industry Report, “holiday events and other special events” was the most common programming category, offered by nearly two-thirds (63.1%) of all respondents—and 81% of respondents from parks and recreation organizations.
My town’s park district hosts a plethora of holiday events, including an annual Fall Fest, complete with inflatables, face painting, crafts and games, a petting zoo, live music, free taffy apples, and more. And we love to visit a farm down the road to pick up our pumpkins, drink some cider and wend our way through the corn maze. There’s certainly no shortage of options for a little seasonal fun!
So… are you ready for Spooky Season?
Boo!
Emily Tipping
Editorial Director,
Recreation Management
[email protected]
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