What Is Summerween? The Halloween Trend Taking Over July

Fall is right around the corner, and whether you’re scribbling down comforting recipes to make or decorating your home ahead of the season, it’s never too early to prepare. TikTok users are hopping on the “summerween” party trend, also known as celebrating Halloween in July. Instead of waiting until the temperature cools to carve pumpkins or collect endless bags of candy corn, you might consider adding summerween to your list of end-of-summer activities. The best part is, it’s a great excuse to celebrate the fun parts of Halloween without all the costuming antics (though if you love the costumes, feel free to partake).

What Is Summerween, Exactly?

The idea of summerween first originated from an episode of Disney Channel’s Gravity Falls where residents of a mysterious town prefer to celebrate Halloween twice a year. As a result, young people have used the summerween trend to organize Halloween parties in July—think coffin-shaped ice cream sandwiches, candy corn flavored drinks, watermelon jack-o’-lanterns, and festive arts and crafts.

Summerween gives you the freedom to cherry pick your favorite parts of Halloween while tossing the rest aside (or saving them for October). TikTok user @sheri_wilson_ shows us how it’s done with a full-blown summerween cookout, complete with pumpkin- and ghost-shaped cheese for the burgers and pizza, and a festive movie night under the stars.

How to Celebrate Summerween at Home

Besides being able to pick and choose your favorite Halloween traditions, there are a few reasons why summerween is a worthwhile celebration. For starters, the cold temperatures of October make it so there’s little time to spend outside before you’re ready to go home. If you choose to host a costume party or watch horror movies in the backyard, guests won’t have to bundle up and shiver outdoors for hours. They might be more inclined to show up, stay for long, and consider throwing a summerween party themselves. We’ve got a few ideas to get you started.

Spooky Orange Punch

If your party calls for a snack bar, don’t forget the beverages! You can cater to all your guests by making a punch bowl filled with orange soda, juice, or a boozy concoction of both.

Backyard Graveyard (With Tents)

Set up your backyard for the perfect night by filling the lawn with tombstones to really set the scene. By pinning down some tents, you and your guests can sit in the grass, light a bonfire, and soak up the summer spookiness.

Watermelon or Pineapple Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkins are harvested in the fall, so it’s unlikely you’ll find them for carving. Instead, use fresh and delicious watermelons or pineapples for carving and eat the rest for a quick party snack.

Jack-O’-Lantern Piñata

Just because you can’t carve pumpkins doesn’t mean you can’t decorate with them. For a fun outdoor party game, fill an orange piñata with an assortment of candy and add on some mischievous eyes and a smile.

Summerween Movie Night

End the night with a scary movie to watch indoors or with a projector in the backyard—graveyard movie night, anyone?

Festive Snacks and Drinks

TikTok user @j.xnah served “monster cookies,” melted ice cream ghosts, and coffin-shaped ice cream sandwiches for their summerween party. You could also make (literal) Halloween finger foods using hot dogs in the shape of Frankenstein fingers, cut fruit or veggies in the Halloween shapes with dip, use Halloween shaped macaroni noodles for a pasta salad, or make enchanted candy apples.