Our neighborhood takes Halloween seriously. While many people have ditched door-to-door trick-or-treating for organized trunk-or-treat events, our community keeps the traditional Halloween spirit alive and thriving.

A Halloween Neighborhood Like No Other

We live on a long, dead-end street that naturally serves as the perfect location for Halloween night adventures. With minimal traffic, it's safer for children, and the entire neighborhood transforms into a Halloween wonderland as soon as the first leaves change from green to orange and yellow.

Fall Decorating Traditions

Each house becomes adorned with pumpkins in every shape, size, and color imaginable. While orange pumpkins remain popular, this year I'm noticing more greens, whites, yellows, browns, and variegated varieties. Even my local Kroger has embraced these unique pumpkin colors! Lights illuminate every yard as everyone prepares for the Big Night.

Halloween Night: A Neighborhood Tailgate

The most magical part of our Halloween celebration is how the entire neighborhood moves outdoors. Fire pits, chairs, tables, and plenty of food and drinks appear on front lawns—it's like a giant tailgate party! Everyone sits outside, waiting for the little goblins and ghouls to begin their trek up and down the street.

The spread of food is incredible—pots of chili, finger foods, and elaborate cheese boards featuring our Bourbon Apple Butter paired with seasonal crackers. Many neighbors create charcuterie displays with our Bourbon Honey Mustard as the perfect dip for Halloween appetizers.

Perfect Halloween Night Recipes

Here are some special recipes that are perfect for Halloween entertaining:

Savory Halloween Treats

• Pumpkin Bread - Perfect with a spread of our Bourbon Apple Butter
• Pumpkin Crostini - Elegant appetizers with seasonal flair
• Pumpkin Soup - Warm comfort in a bowl
• Spiced Pecans - Perfect for snacking while waiting for trick-or-treaters

White Chili Recipe (With a Curious Ingredient!)

This delicious twist on traditional chili includes a curious ingredient—can you guess what it is? (Hint: it's the beer!)

Ingredients:
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
1 TBSP oil
2 4-oz cans green chilis, chopped
4 cloves (or more) garlic, minced
2 tsp cumin
1½ tsp oregano
½ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (more for extra heat)
2 48-oz cans Great Northern beans
5 cups chicken broth*
4 cups chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces*
1 can beer, your choice (the curious ingredient!)
1½ cups Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:
1. In a large Dutch oven, sauté onions until translucent and tender
2. Add the next six spices, sauté 3-5 minutes, stirring
3. Add beans, broth, and beer. Mix well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat
4. Simmer for an hour until desired consistency
5. Add chicken and cheese, stir until cheese melts
6. Serve with sour cream, extra cheese, or salsa

Makes 8-10 servings

*You could always pick up a rotisserie chicken and shred, or cook a whole chicken on the stovetop adding onions, carrots, salt, pepper and other spices to make its own broth.

Nostalgic Halloween Memories

Costumes Then and Now

I love seeing all the creative costumes today—Pinterest and online inspiration have transformed Halloween creativity! But costumes from my childhood were beautifully simple: store-bought outfits with plastic masks and elastic bands. Every little girl had the Cinderella costume with blonde hair and tiara, while boys chose Superman, Batman, or Snoopy.

The annual tradition of trekking downtown to Grant's Department Store to pick out costumes was as exciting as Halloween night itself. And of course, we always needed a new plastic pumpkin for collecting treats!

Simpler Times

Trick-or-treating was different back then. My friends and I would gather in the neighborhood and go house to house for hours—no parents, no supervision. We were on our own while parents stayed home passing out treats. Times were so much simpler.

Our neighborhood children still get special treatment from longtime residents. A few neighbors have different treats for children on our street—my daughters, Lily and Haly, knew exactly which houses gave out full-size candy bars to neighborhood kids while visitors received the fun-size varieties.

School Halloween Traditions

My elementary school's fall festivals remain some of my fondest memories: cake walks with homemade cakes, apple bobbing, costume contests, and countless games. Our homeroom Halloween parties featured cupcakes, cookies, treat bags, and my mom's famous popcorn balls—buttery, slightly sweet molded balls of deliciousness!

Mom's Popcorn Balls Recipe

These quick and easy treats bring back the sweetest memories and pair beautifully with a small dollop of our Bourbon Apple Butter for an adult twist:

Ingredients:
7 cups popped popcorn, unsalted
1 cup sugar
⅓ cup light corn syrup
1 tsp salt
½ stick salted butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Remove all unpopped kernels from popcorn, transfer to large bowl
2. Combine sugar, corn syrup, salt, and butter in medium saucepan over medium heat
3. Cook to 250°F on candy thermometer (hard ball stage)
4. Add vanilla and blend
5. Drizzle hot syrup over popcorn, mix until coated
6. Using buttered hands, shape into balls on parchment paper
7. Let sit 15 minutes, then bag individually with festive ties

Delicious!

Elevate Your Halloween Celebration

No In The Curious Kitchen article would be complete without cocktail inspiration! Try my Bourbon Spiced Apple Cider for the perfect Halloween night sipper. Garnish it with our Boozy Cherries® – Bourbon Cocktail Cherries for an extra special touch that adds Kentucky bourbon flavor to your Halloween entertaining.

For a more sophisticated Halloween cocktail spread, try our signature Old Fashioned or Manhattan cocktail recipes featuring our handcrafted Boozy Cherries. These bourbon-forward cocktails are perfect for adult Halloween gatherings while the kids are out trick-or-treating.

Don't forget to check out my Halloween Playlist to set the perfect spooky mood for your celebration!

Share Your Halloween Traditions

What are your favorite Halloween traditions? I'd love to hear about the memories and recipes that make your Halloween celebrations special.

Cheers to Halloween memories and new traditions!

MK