What better time to fall in love than during fall? Relationships are more than a trend, but you can turn what is behind your screen into reality.
Love is in the air this autumn, and it is a great opportunity to get out there and start or continue something great. My social media has been blowing up with various ideas on “boo baskets,” couple’s costumes and date ideas, and it has been great to get such accessible ideas to do with my boo! To preface, doing, or the lack of doing, these things does not define a relationship. Always do what makes you happy and communicate what you do and do not want to do this Halloween! So without further ado, here are some great gift ideas and activities to do in the Indy area to spend this spooky season with your special someone or even friends.
First and foremost, we are college students, so it is not always easy to go on dates that require a lot of spending. Fortunately, there are many cost-effective ways to still have fun and go out while not breaking the bank. For a fun event to do using what is all around us, arts and crafts activities with leaves can be a silly way to get out, take photos and create keepsakes for those involved. It does not matter if you visit Garfield Park, Military Park or stay here on campus, leaves are not a difficult find in Indy. Whether it is a leaf imprint collage, leaf bookmarks or a decorative garland, these crafts are easy on the wallet and still a hands-on activity to make the night!
Back to photos — a photo shoot at Brown County State Park is a fun drive with beautiful sights all throughout the park and super close to downtown Nashville, Indiana, which has a bunch of fun shops and stores to look through. Additionally, stopping by a local pumpkin patch could not only supply you with small business treats and drinks, but you are able to do the viral pumpkin head portraits afterwards should you grab pumpkins big enough to fit your head in! Finally, Indy has some events going on this fall with SPARK: on the Circle, adjusting Nov. 3 to compliment the holiday season, still being available to those interested.
For when you have a little extra cash in the bank, go to the thrift store to build outfits for each other to go to an orchard like Apple Works or a nice stroll downtown as the leaves change. For a step above, visiting stores in the Greenwood Park Mall or around the Circle can offer a lot of cute opportunities for you and your partner. As a gift, you can create a fun basket or bag for your boo for as much money as you are able to spend. At Target and Five Below, a lot of fun knick knacks can be found within the dollar bins, and thrift stores are always an option. If you are looking for ideas on items you can include in the “boo basket,” it could be a blanket, plush, water bottle, candle, perfume, clothing, letters, photos and so much more. Additionally, antiquing or shopping second hand can also be really fun ways to get niche gifts for an affordable price. For a homemade sweet treat or dinner, a great hands-on event for two is to pick a fall recipe and make/bake it together! There is something for everyone this season between the delicious cream of potato soup, baked butternut squash and pasta or a classic pumpkin roll for a sweet option. For the kitchen-averse, decorating cookies is still a simple and fun way to make something sweet together with little to no room for error.
Finally, for those interested in going all-out this season, Spirit Halloween has some great costume ideas and even more for two or a group of people. While there are budget-friendly options, those who may be going out this Halloween and having fun can easily find what you are looking for at a huge place like Spirit Halloween or Party City. However, for those who may prefer having a cozy night in on Oct. 31, there are opportunities to pour your own candle at Penn and Beech with new fall scents to enjoy or watch a variety of spooktacular movies or shows (I always opt for Coraline). Additionally, there are haunted houses all around Indy from Hanna Haunted Acres to Indy Scream Park with a variety of different options to enjoy and choose from on-site.
Fall is my favorite season, and there is so much to do in Indianapolis. I hope you have so much fun with your boo and stay safe this spooky season.
My partner gave me a bag filled with a blanket, plush, candle, card and LEGO set for us to build, but it is all up to you and entirely customizable which I think is the best part!
