Halloween provides community associations a great opportunity for neighborly fall fun. Below are 17 festive ideas for boards, committees, homeowners, and shareholders to consider when celebrating in their community association.
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About This Guide
Please note that some events in community associations such as a co-op, condo, or HOA may require board permission and oversight, or committee planning and oversight. Always review your governing documents for policies regarding decorations, visitors, children (55+ communities), common area use and reservations, etc. Additionally, any outside vendors will require active insurance (and a certificate of insurance).
How Management Can Help
Management can help to share events in email communications or texts. This is the best method to conserve paper and costs for your community.
Reminders
Follow your community’s common area policies. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Common area reservations
- Equipment use and/or rental
- Clean-up and decorations
- Guest policies (notify security and/or guard booths if applicable)
- Guest capacity
- Food and beverage allowance
- Event duration or timing
- Noise policies
17 Ways to Celebrate Halloween in Your Community Association
- Host a trick-or-treating night within the community. Some communities such as 55+ communities may not permit trick or treaters. However, if permitted, create a sign-up sheet to know which homes or units will be participating or create a door marking symbol that can be placed on each door. Then, notify all residents. Trunk or treating is also a great alternative to consolidate participants to a specific area. Just be sure to send out proper notification and communicate with management, especially if it requires alerting residents with assigned parking spaces.
- Decorate a common area. A committee and board oversight may be required. Additionally, volunteers may be needed to assist with the decorating.
- Have a costume contest for pets or people. Collect photos from residents. Then, announce the winner(s) in a newsletter or on bulletin boards.
- Distribute a spooky movie list or calendar. Be sure to provide streaming sources. Additionally, consider family-friendly options and provide film ratings for viewers to consider at their own discretion.
- Halloween costume Pickleball: If your community has regular pick-up games or tournaments, this is a great way to serve up a “spin.”
- Choose a spooky book for this month’s book club read. If your community has a book club, consider a spooky read! Your local library might be able to recommend spirited selections.
- Designate Halloween themed crochet or knitting club project(s). There are so many festive options to create all year, but spooky season is so much fun! Share or submit a Halloween pattern in your newsletter, community website, or upcoming email.
- Participate in a community version of Inktober. Every year in October, artists participate in Inktober on social media. Prompts are provided daily throughout the month. Share some of the drawings in a newsletter, or create an event where individuals present their drawings.
- Share local ghost lore in an upcoming newsletter. Town historical societies may have spooky tales to share about your town or a local establishment or landmark. Additionally, your local library may have books available on Long Island’s ghosts and haunted locations.
- Run a themed recipe swap. Distribute festive recipes in a newsletter or through an email blast.
- Start a fundraiser or drive. Run costume a drive, blood drive, food drive (i.e.– Long Island Cares), etc… These are great ways to have the community come together for a shared cause.
- Run a decorating contest. This will depend on your community policies, but this is a great way to bring your building or community together, if permitted. Or, limit the decoration to just doors.
- Place a teal pumpkin outside your door (if trick or-treating is permitted). This would symbolize that the candy you are handing out is nut-free.
- Plan a Halloween party for the whole community. It is typically required that Board or committee involvement is typically required to do this. Try a themed party (i.e.–wizards and witches or pirate night! Argh!). Additionally, remember to clean up the reserved common area once you are done using it.
- Plan a Halloween Movie Night in a Common Area (Board or Committee Involvement Required). Make sure the film is family friendly since it will be shown in a common area. Also, reserve the required common area(s) ahead of time and have a sign-up sheet if space is limited.
- Host pumpkin painting. Communities may prohibit pumpkins on stoops or decks as they invite animals and other pests into the area. However, fake ones can be displayed inside or outside depending on community policies. Painting is a great option to Keep Halloween hazards at bay.
- Coordinate a Halloween game night. Make the game or event itself themed. For example, Halloween bingo can easily be achieved with a themed bingo board, decorated tables, or a Halloween playlist.
Have a Happy and Festive Halloween!
There are so many ways to celebrate Halloween in community associations! Hosting festive events in your co-op, condo, or HOA can help to create a happy, positive, and connected community for all. Just be sure to check your governing documents and run all ideas by the board of directors or committees in your community. Lastly, have a spooky Halloween!
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