It’s time to break out the garlic strung necklaces and bat repellent because Halloween is quickly approaching. While many start to stray away from trick-or-treating, there are many fun alternatives to having a festive, enjoyable Halloween.

Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream is open from Thursdays to Fridays until October 31^st and is no place for the meek. At 7:30 p.m., the theme park transforms into a stretch of scare zones and seven spine-chilling haunted houses. With this year’s theme “Unearthed,” Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream includes a new haunted house which tells the story of a sinister force named “Scarlett,” who summons sinister creature of Howl-O-Scream’s past.

If feeling the need for a little extra scare, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is the right place to go. Being named the nation’s Premier Halloween Event, Halloween Horror Nights is sure to have you on the balls of your feet at every corner. The park even includes haunted houses based on popular T.V. shows and movies. For example, The Walking Dead and The Purge haunted houses are must-sees despite the fact that you might have to check your sanity after. If you need a break from the terror, Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley and many of the regular Universal rides are open as well.

“I love going to Horror Nights each year,” said junior Emily Dabrowski, “it’s always fun to go with friends and is always worth the drive to Orlando.”

Halloween can also be celebrated in the comfort of your own home. With the recent fall weather, bon fires are a Halloween possibility. Carve your own jack-o-lanterns and set them around the campfire for a dimly lit campfire experience. Tell ghost stories while eating your favorite Halloween inspired snacks. If the weather isn’t suitable for a bon fire, stay at home with some friends and have a scary movie marathon.

“I usually like to just stay inside during Halloween,” said sophomore Lauren Doebele, “I always invite a couple friends over and we make caramel apples, order pizza and watch horror films all night.”

Some classes are even celebrating the spooky holiday in educational ways. Freedom’s AP Chemistry class has a day dedicated to “Chemoween” where students get to observe spooky experiments and get in the Halloween mood.

“Chemoween was so awesome last year,” said senior Elizabeth Cheung, “I can’t reveal the experiments we did but it was a really fun way to incorporate the fun of Halloween into chemistry!”

Taylor Swift also happens to be coming to Tampa for her 1989 tour on Halloween and it is sure to be a great night due to Swift’s festive tendencies. Many fans will be seen dressed up in Halloween costumes instead of normal concert attire.

So whether you celebrate Halloween at Busch Gardens, Universal, home, school,or watching Taylor Swift, make sure it’s a memorable one and don’t forget to keep an eye out for ghosts and goblins.