Halloween staff picks and The Teal Pumpkin Project

Lore podcast combines history and eery tales.
Photo courtesy of Lore Podcast

Lore is the perfect spooky Halloween podcast. Aaron Mahnke, creator and narrator of Lore, covers a variety of topics, from ghost stories, folk legends, and true events, all of which have spooky themes. Covering serial killers, vampires, ghosts, monsters, and more, Lore is a great podcast to get a combination of history and fright. Turn out the lights (if you’re brave enough), get some candy, and let Mahnke give you innumerable reasons to lie awake at night. Lore is a must-listen for horror and history fans alike.

This French television show uses humor and horror go give audiences a scare.
Photo courtesy of Netflix

Marianne is a French horror television show released on Netflix on Friday the 13th in September of 2019. The show centers on a famous horror novelist who makes the journey back to her hometown where she must dredge up the nightmare that has haunted her since childhood. This eight-part series is spoken entirely in French, but the story is universally terrifying. Horrific themes and haunting imagery are interlaced with darkly humorous moments that blend together to create one heart-stopping tale that is sure to put anyone in the mood for the Halloween season.

This classic masterpiece delivers an intense experience that differs from the book.
Photo courtesy of IMP Awards

Horror movies come and go through the years, but The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick, has remained a cult favorite since its’ release in 1980. The movie follows Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson) as he slowly descends into madness during his stay at the Overlook Hotel. The film also follows his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who is plagued by a sixth sense and psychic premonitions. While the basis of the story is based on the novel by Stephen King, it’s almost impossible to compare the two. They are both equally incredible pieces of art in their own way, despite the movie taking an entirely different direction and changing several things in the book. Overall, The Shining is a unique and intense film and is a classic to watch during Halloween or anytime!

The Teal Pumpkin Project signifies houses that will hand out non-food items to children with allergies.
Photo courtesy of Teal Pumpkin Project

For most kids in modern day America, Halloween is one of the best days of the year—free candy, getting to dress up as whatever you want, staying up late and trick-or-treating with your family and friends. It’s something every kid should experience at least once. Unfortunately, for kids with food allergies or intolerances, Halloween isn’t as fun. Oftentimes, the candy handed out contains peanuts, gluten, eggs, milk, or other allergens. This makes it stressful for the parents and less fun for the child. Enter the Teal Pumpkin Project: a movement started by the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) to make Halloween more allergy aware and inclusive. According to FARE’s website, “putting a teal pumpkin on your doorstep means you have non-food treats available, such as glowsticks or small toys. This simple act promotes inclusion for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions.”