In my house the halloween season starts really early.  August arrives and my husband along with his crew start gearing up for our home haunt. The sets are brought out of storage and new ideas for the run are always the topic of conversation. My two children start coming up with costume ideas. They will change their minds at least 10,000 times between now and October 31st. And with at least two conventions geared to all things Halloween happening this past summer, we don’t feel so weird about getting spooky before the rest of the general population.

The major theme parks have all made their announcements for the season. Each one bringing something unique to terrify their guests. Billboards are popping up all over with scary clowns, axe wielding maniacs and blood spattered zombies. The marketing game has sure stepped up over the past few years and these ads are now starting in early September. By October 1st every where you look billboards, bus stops, public transportation, radio and tv ads will all be inundated with theme parks enticing you to pay good money for a good scare.

Families like ours have begun the task of filling their calendars with haunts, mazes and other attractions. It’s starting to fill up quickly and most of our weekends are already booked starting mid-September thru the first weekend of November. The die hards will hit several haunts in one night, often driving all over Southern California. I had an example of that at our own haunt one night. A couple from Ventura hit several small home haunts on their way to and from to San Diego. We were their last stop on the way home for the night. I don’t recommend doing that with really small children but I’m pretty sure older children would be ok with sitting in a car for that long. That’s what iPhones and tablets are for, right?

The back to school aisles at stores are being replaced with spooky home decor, candy and of course…costumes! No trip to Target is complete without browsing through the Halloween aisles to see what has gone on sale and what we just can’t live without. Party supply chains are stocking their shelves to the brim for all of your party needs and some things you don’t need (No one needs that sexy pizza costume. Please don’t do it)

But there is one thing that solidifies the hands down, undeniable, absolute, unofficial start of Halloween season.
Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

That’s right, Starbucks has now started their marketing blitz of everything “pumpkin spice.” But it’s not just at our corner coffee giant, oh no, pumpkin Spice is now everywhere you look. There is no escaping it. Anything and everything is now flavored with that earthy, spiced goodness or vile swill, depending on your palate: donuts, cereal, M&Ms, Oreos, chips, bagels, cream cheese, coffee creamer, vodka, candy corn, yogurt, tea, beer, protein bars and even foie gras.

So bust out your ugg boots, get the Halloween boxes down from the rafters, grab yourself a venti non-fat PSL with 2 extra pumps heavy on the whip and enjoy because Halloween season is here!