(Spoiler: Oh yes. And it’s fang-tastic)
Wait… Summerween?
Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like: Halloween… but in the summer. Think spooky vibes with a sunny twist. Pumpkin patches under blue skies. Ghost stories told around BBQs. Trick-or-treating in flip-flops.
If that sounds made up — well, kind of. But also? It’s real. Growing. Gloriously weird. And people love it.
So let’s dig into where this little seasonal oddity came from, how it’s celebrated, and how you can throw your very own Summerween bash. (Spoiler: start by raiding your Halloween box and your ice cream drawer.)
What Is Summerween?
Summerween is exactly what you’d imagine if Halloween and summer had a baby. It’s an unofficial holiday that brings the costumes, candy, and creepy fun of October 31st to the sun-soaked days of June, July, or August (depending on where you are in the world). Some in the Fandom celebrate is on June 22nd or July 31st, but for the majority, there’s no fixed date — because Summerween isn’t a single event. It’s a vibe. A spirit. A chance to throw on a cape, hang a jack-o’-lantern, and blast “Monster Mash” even though the calendar says “beach day.”
In short? It’s Halloween, remixed.
Where Did Summerween Come From?
It didn’t start with Instagram, but that’s where it took off.
The term “Summerween” first showed up in pop culture, not Pinterest. It appeared on the animated Disney show Gravity Falls in 2012 — where townsfolk carved watermelons instead of pumpkins and scared each other silly mid-July. That one episode lit a spark, and soon fans were throwing their own Summerween parties.
Add in a growing love for Halloween (seriously, it’s one of the fastest-growing holidays for consumer spend) and some Pinterest-perfect party planning, and Summerween started showing up in real-life back gardens, school holidays, and seasonal aisles.
It’s particularly big in:
- The U.S. — especially in hotter states where Halloween weather is unpredictable
- Australia — where Halloween technically falls in spring, so Summerween scratches the spooky itch mid-year
- Online — where influencers, Pinterest boards, and TikTok trends do what they do best: spread ideas fast
How Many People Actually Celebrate Summerween?
There’s no official stat from the Census Bureau or UN, but based on hashtags, Google Trends, and party store sales? We’d guess:
🧛♀️ Tens of thousands, if not more, are getting in on the Summerween action each year.
Here’s a back-of-the-envelope estimate:
- #Summerween on Instagram has over 50k+ posts, and growing fast
- Pinterest searches for “Summerween party ideas” spike every June–August
- Halloween forums and Facebook groups (including many in the UK!) now mention Summerween as a mid-year must
In short? It’s still niche — but it’s not small. And like any good Halloween ghost story… it’s spreading.
Why Celebrate Halloween in Summer?
So glad you asked.
🌡️ The weather
Let’s face it: Halloween weather can be a fright. Rain-soaked wigs. Frozen fingers. Costumes hidden under puffer jackets. Summerween gives you sunshine with your skeletons.
👻 Kids love it
Two costumes a year? Yes please. It’s a perfect excuse for dress-up, party games, and sugar-fuelled fun during the school holidays.
💀 It’s a spooky serotonin boost
Summerween is pure joy — no expectations, no pressure. Just creepy cupcakes, silly scares, and a good reason to gather with friends.
🧁 It’s a Pinterest dream
Spooky slushies. Eyeball ice cubes. Skeletons on pool floats. If Halloween and summer are both high-aesthetic holidays, then Summerween is their shared Pinterest board.
How to Celebrate Summerween: Ideas & Inspiration
The best part? There are no rules. But here’s how people are doing it — from small backyard gatherings to full-blown block parties.
🎉 1. Throw a Summerween Party
Costumes + outdoor games + creepy snacks = done.
Theme ideas:
- Graveyard BBQ
- Monsters on the Beach
- Vampires vs Lifeguards
- Pool Ghoul Bash
Must-haves:
- Fake cobwebs + fairy lights
- A watermelon jack-o’-lantern (bonus points for glow sticks inside)
- Halloween playlist: “Thriller,” “Ghostbusters,” “Time Warp,” etc.
- Costume prizes — but swap pumpkin spice for popsicles
🏖 2. Decorate Your Garden (or Beach Spot!)
Get creative with outdoor Halloween decor:
- Hang skeletons from trees in sunglasses
- Use Halloween flags as picnic blankets
- Swap pumpkins for pineapples with carved faces
- Paint seashells like eyeballs for table centrepieces
Summerween is about mash-ups. It’s okay to be weird.
🍭 3. Trick-or-Treat in the Sun
This works brilliantly on campsites, cul-de-sacs, or with a group of friends:
- Give each child a mini trick-or-treat bag
- Have adults hide behind beach towels, tents, or garden chairs
- Each “station” gives out summery treats — think jelly sweets, ice pops, or glow bracelets
(And yes, Trick or Treat may need to add a Summerween mode one day... 👀)
🎥 4. Host an Outdoor Horror Movie Night
A sheet + a projector = an instant Summerween cinema.
Kid-friendly ideas:
- Casper
- Hotel Transylvania
- The Addams Family (2020)
Teens and adults:
- Hocus Pocus
- Coraline
- The Lost Boys
- Scream (iconic, if not summer specific)
Add bean bags, blankets, and bowls of spooky snacks. Cue the full moon.
🎂 5. Bake (and Freeze) Spooky Treats
Go full kitchen witch. But make it summer-friendly:
- Gummy worms in frozen punch
- Skull-shaped ice cubes in lemonade
- Ghost meringues with whipped cream
- Witch-hat cone cakes
- Orange jelly “pumpkins” with green candy stalks
Let the kids decorate, and say yes to the mess.
🎨 6. Craft Your Own Summerween Decorations
Keep the kids (or you) busy with afternoon DIY fun:
- Paint rocks with spooky faces and hide them around the neighbourhood
- Make paper bat garlands in neon colours
- DIY trick-or-treat bags using canvas totes and glow-in-the-dark paint
- Craft pineapple lanterns with battery tea lights
It’s crafty chaos — and that’s kind of the point.
🧠 7. Make It Educational (but fun)
For teachers or parents: tie it into summer learning!
- Write Halloween stories with a beach twist
- Do “spooky science” experiments with dry ice
- Learn about the history of Halloween (and how it’s celebrated worldwide)
- Create Summerween maths games using themed treats as counters
Trick or teach, anyone?
But... Is Summerween Really a Thing?
Yes. Because it doesn’t need to be official to be magical.
The best traditions often start small — a family gathering, a neighbourhood idea, a party your kid asks to do again next year. That’s how Halloween itself became what it is today: a mix of old folklore, seasonal fun, and a whole lot of community creativity. Summerween has that same spark. It's playful, homemade, and wide open to interpretation.
Whether you throw a full-scale bash or just serve ghost-shaped watermelon slices, you're keeping the spirit of Halloween alive — and that’s worth celebrating any time of year.
Final Thought: Trick or Treat... in July?
At Trick or Treat, we’re all about community, creativity, and a little bit of chaos. And Summerween? It’s got all three.
So if you’re itching for spooky fun long before the leaves fall — make it happen. Build your own Summerween. Decorate. Dress up. Dance with inflatable skeletons under the sun.
And when October rolls around? We’ll be right here, lighting up the map and ready to go again.
🎃👻☀️