Local artists for lasting decorations. I am a Halloween curmudgeon (if there were a holiday I could strike off the calendar, Halloween is it), but even I remember back in the in dark ages of the 1980s that people had plywood cutout decorations that were used from year to year. You could also buy metal decorations. And no, I have no suggestions for local artists, but if you really want something not disposable, go for something like this. Also more pumpkins. I’d say grow your own (there are so many weird varieties available!) but they take a lot of space a lot of water.

Anonymous wrote:I am rather amused that despite living in a staunchly blue, progressive voting, environment-minded neighborhood, everyone is going out big time to decorate their houses with cheap tacky Halloween crap from China. All the plastic.... amazing.

When I was growing up people didn't decorate for Halloween beyond the pumpkin and scarecrow. Just do what people would have done in the 1980s (or even the 1950s). Make your own costume from old clothes around the house, just have a naturally decomposing pumpkin with a carved face on it and a candle inside, and you're there.

This. Has OP really forgotten how things were done when we were growing up? We’d decorate with fallen leaves, pine cones, and pumpkins. Pumpkins would be used for Thanksgiving pie. Mom would see costumes, or you’d just wear an old sheet. Collect candy in a pillowcase. This really isn’t that hard.

Anonymous wrote:I do think a lot of kid costumes are handed down or donated, especially for little kids - lots of requests and organized sales.

This.

When my kids were little, we got a lot of gently used costumes or I sewed them myself. Then, these usually were worn for dress up for a while or otherwise repurposed. Even when they got older, we never bought something that got trashed the next day. Costumes sometimes ended up at the thrift store and were presumably sold the next year. We didn’t do too many super trendy costumes.

I am rather amused that despite living in a staunchly blue, progressive voting, environment-minded neighborhood, everyone is going out big time to decorate their houses with cheap tacky Halloween crap from China. All the plastic.... amazing.

When I was growing up people didn't decorate for Halloween beyond the pumpkin and scarecrow. Just do what people would have done in the 1980s (or even the 1950s). Make your own costume from old clothes around the house, just have a naturally decomposing pumpkin with a carved face on it and a candle inside, and you're there.

Anonymous wrote:I decorate outside naturally. No Halloween specific decorations- just mums and uncarved pumpkins and gourds. I hung a handmade paper wreath. Mums go into antique buckets and tins that I have. I will replant my mums in my back garden. A few real mini pumpkins scattered on tables or on the mantle. Simple and easy.

This is what I’ll keep up until Christmas. Fresh wreath (I usually make my own), some antiques like my grandfather’s snowshoes, a big bow and done.

And as a 70s kid, I can’t stand store bought costumes. Thrift store only. I’ve sent out a chef, a Secret Service agent, a fancy witch, Harry Potter, a wizard…all from embellished thrift store finds or using things from our own closets.

I decorate outside naturally. No Halloween specific decorations- just mums and uncarved pumpkins and gourds. I hung a handmade paper wreath. Mums go into antique buckets and tins that I have. I will replant my mums in my back garden. A few real mini pumpkins scattered on tables or on the mantle. Simple and easy.

This is what I’ll keep up until Christmas. Fresh wreath (I usually make my own), some antiques like my grandfather’s snowshoes, a big bow and done.

You can donate pumpkins that aren't carved or painted to farms after Halloween. Montgomery County agricultural preserve takes them for the pigs. Fun for little kids too, in getting them to give them up.

I do think a lot of kid costumes are handed down or donated, especially for little kids - lots of requests and organized sales.

Anonymous wrote:Make costumes from stuff you already have around the house
Don’t do decorations or if you do make from stuff you have around the house

We are growing our own pumpkins in our garden and carving those.

Make costumes from stuff you already have around the house
Don’t do decorations or if you do make from stuff you have around the house

If you're in your local Buy Nothing group, you can find tons of costumes to reuse.

This is easy. You do a homemade costume out of stuff you already have lying around or you thrift it, and send your kid out trick or treating with a bag you already have. You know, like we did when we were kids. No inflatables or lights needed. Play some spooky music if you want atmospherics when kids come to the door. And eat the candy.

Make your own costumes—go to the thrift store to find components.

Carve pumpkins and put them in your compost after Halloween.

One year we grew a few corn stalks (like two rows of six) and used them in our display. I bought a hay bale and some pumpkins to add to it. Everything went into the compost after Thanksgiving.

Use a pillow case for collecting treats when your children trick or treat.

Or really, any celebration. Walking round my neighborhood, I see huge plastic inflatables and lights (extra electricity consumption). There will be one-time-use (or nearly) costumes made out of polyester (microplastics) shipped from China (transport), as well as large amounts of candy, much of which won't be eaten (landfill methane is a major greenhouse gas emitter).

So... how can my family have fun without polluting so much?