Who says that Christmas should get all the gift-giving glory? Halloween has its own fanatic following, and there are ample opportunities around Boulder for people to flex their gift-giving muscles ahead of the “traditional” holiday season with unique, local Halloween gifts.
Here are a few ideas for how to surprise the Halloween lover in your life with fun Boulder gifts this October.
For the Kitchen Witches & Wizards
The opportunities are endless for culinary creations around Halloween, from cute and spooky treats to dishes that incorporate scary good local ingredients.
Head to Savory Spice Shop and let your creative gift-giving juices run wild. Have a friend who likes a boozy autumn breakfast? Pick up some Bloody Mary Mix from Denver company The Real Dill (and check out Savory Spice Shop’s recipes for Bloody Mary Popcorn and a Black Bloody Mary). Got a friend who’s looking to keep the vampires away? Pick up a variety of their garlic products, including salts and powders. Have a friend who likes their meals hot hot hot? Gift them some scary spicy chiles, like ghost pepper chiles or Trinidad Scorpion chiles.
The always trusty Peppercorn is also a mecca of holiday food and kitchen products, and Halloween is no exception. From spooky baking molds to cookie cutters and more, Peppercorn is a store that makes you say things like, “Yes, she definitely needs a Zombie Brain Gelatin Mold!”
For the Candy & Craft Beer Kooks
Not to offend any of the candy corn proponents out there (trust me, I am one of you!) but there really are other seasonal candies out there that scream Halloween just as loudly. Move beyond the candy corn and get creative with your candy bowl and gifts this year at Rocket Fizz, which features a huge selection of unique treats, sweets, and sodas at their Pearl Street Mall shop. Once again, Peppercorn also boasts an impressive collection of unique Halloween-themed candies and sweets.
For someone who enjoys a little “adult” Halloween treat, turn to our trusty Boulder County craft breweries for inspiration. From pumpkin ales to festive-named brews like the Twisted Pine Brewing Company Ghost Face Killah, local taprooms and liquor stores are local holiday gift-giving go-tos.
For the Master Decorators
You guessed it that Peppercorn would pop up again as one of the best places around town to pick up unique decorations to deck out your home for Halloween. From figurines to storybooks to sticker books to festive candles and much more, it truly is a treasure trove of holiday goodies for the Halloween lover in your life.
For an artistic acquaintance who’d enjoy creating their own holiday decorations, check out the calendar at Downtown Boulder’s wine and paint studio PoshSplat. There are multiple Halloween-themed paint nights happening this month, including “Nightmare Before Christmas” on October 15th, “Lady Sugarskull” on October 21st, “BOO!” on October 22nd, and multiple other festive adult and Family Day offerings.
For the Teller of Scary Stories
Nothing says Halloween quite like getting the goosebumps after hearing a spooky ghost story. Head to the Boulder Book Store to find the perfect gift for the horror story whiz in your life. Check out their Colorado section for books full of local myths, legends, lore, and ghost stories. You can also browse other local bookshops, like Red Letter Books, for classic literary haunted works from the likes of Edgar Allen Poe.
Give a scary storyteller an immersive experience by treating them to one of Banjo Billy’s Bus Tours. Offering specific Ghost Tours both for Boulder and Denver, it’s a great night out that’ll give them the creeps in the best possible way.
Photo credit: Lisa Van Horne for YourBoulder.com
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