Sep 24 2026
As evening falls, lanterns begin to glow. Families gather around tables laden with fruit and tea. Boxes of elaborately stamped mooncakes are opened and shared, and attention eventually turns upward to the moon. This is the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most beloved celebrations in Chinese culture. Also known as the Moon Festival, the holiday …
Sep 23 2026
Halloween arrives surprisingly early at Walt Disney World. By late summer, pumpkins begin appearing along Main Street, U.S.A., seasonal treats arrive across the resort, and Magic Kingdom starts preparing for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. By October, the combination of glowing jack-o’-lanterns, Disney villains, costumed characters, Haunted Mansion ghosts, candy trails, fireworks, and the occasional Headless …
Sep 22 2026
There is something unusual about Halloween in America. It is a major celebration without a traditional family dinner, a day off work or a single prescribed way to observe it. You can spend October 31 handing out candy on the porch, taking children trick-or-treating, watching old horror movies, visiting a haunted attraction, carving pumpkins, attending …
Sep 22 2026
Long before inflatable yard monsters, plastic candy buckets and elaborate home haunts, Halloween already had plenty of atmosphere. Old photographs and illustrations show candlelit jack-o’-lanterns, homemade costumes, decorated party tables and groups gathered for games that seem surprisingly familiar. Look a little closer, however, and vintage Halloween can also seem wonderfully strange. Party guests predicted …
Sep 22 2026
Every October, millions of people voluntarily do things they would normally try very hard to avoid. We walk through dark buildings where strangers leap out at us. We watch movies about ghosts, monsters and masked killers. We wander through corn mazes after sunset, tell frightening stories around fires and decorate our homes with skeletons, spiders …
Sep 22 2026
This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Halloween Squishmallows somehow manage to make bats, pumpkins, zombies, skeletons, and other spooky creatures look irresistibly cuddly. Every fall brings another assortment of seasonal characters, costume variations, licensed favorites, and limited releases, and the 2026 Halloween selection has plenty for collectors …
Sep 18 2026
New York City does not approach Halloween quietly. By October, pumpkins appear on brownstone stoops, giant skeletons climb the fronts of buildings, haunted attractions open their doors, dogs parade through the East Village in costumes, and Greenwich Village prepares for one of the most spectacular Halloween celebrations in the country. There is something here for …
Jul 03 2026
Fireworks may be beautiful to watch, but the sudden booms, whistles, flashes, and vibrations can be frightening for animals. A dog who normally naps through the evening may suddenly begin pacing and panting. A cat may disappear beneath the bed. Rabbits and other small pets can become distressed even when they are safely inside their …
Jul 03 2026
Fresh strawberries, creamy white chocolate, bright red and blue drizzles, and a scattering of festive sprinkles make these red, white, and blue dipped strawberries one of the easiest desserts you can put on a summer celebration table. They look wonderfully elaborate lined up on a platter, but there is no baking involved and very little …
Jun 30 2026
Few side dishes capture summer quite like a bowl filled with juicy watermelon, plump blueberries, creamy feta, and fresh mint. This Watermelon Blueberry Feta Salad with Mint is colorful, refreshing, and incredibly easy to put together, making it perfect for Fourth of July celebrations, backyard barbecues, picnics, potlucks, or any warm-weather meal. The combination might …
