And people are losing their minds a little.
For some reason this year, my social media feeds are filled with headlines like, "Summerween taken over by overconsumption problem and losing spirit of the holiday." As someone who is dismayed by the fact that there is a very fast cycle of monetizing to the teeth everything that becomes vaguely popular and by the fact that most "Halloween All Year" online spaces are dominated by shopping hauls, code oranges, and sponsorship videos, I do feel the overconsumption problem should be discussed. It's the "spirit of the holiday" statement I keep seeing that's bothering me. Summerween is a made up holiday for fun, like Christmas in July. Some people need to take several breaths and touch some grass.
Also, if buying a skeleton flamingo pool floatie or a wolfman in a Hawaiian shirt tchotchke makes you happy, I'm not going to stop you (or judge).
So what is Summerween exactly?
It's two things. It's a fandom holiday from the Gravity Falls fandom, like Supernatural Day or October 3rd (Fullmetal Alchemist). I have yet to watch Gravity Falls, (I know, it's on my short list), so I can't offer further guidance there. It is also a fun excuse to do Halloween things in summer, like Christmas in July is for Christmas.
When exactly is it celebrated? (Answer is northern hemisphere oriented)
This kind of varies from person to person. For some, it's July 5th only. (I suspect due to Gravity Falls.) Some see July 5th as just the kick off day with it continuing either until the beginning of fall or Halloween itself. Other people start at the beginning of June or the summer solstice. I'm not sure there is a wrong way of doing this. If you want to celebrate Summerween in December in the northern hemisphere, I won't stop you.
All that being said, I've made a list of Summerween activities that don't necessarily revolve around shopping, if you don't want it to, for those you want inspiration:
Carve a jack-o-lantern out of a watermelon (or any melon. I've seen people use pineapples)
Have a party, BBQ, or picnic with a Summerween theme and/or Halloween themed food. Examples: spiderweb nachos, jack-o-lantern cheeseburgers, etc.
Make spooky versions of summer cocktails & mocktails
Read scary/horror/Halloween spirited books. If you are needing inspiration or mire structure, I know of at least one online Summerween reading challenge (which I am hoping to make a separate post about). Many people put out Summer themed horror reading lists. (Ash.reads.horror does sub category lists like carnivals, summer camp, beaches, etc.) There also used to be a Summerween book club online that I can't currently find the link to, but I'm sure there are others.
Join in the fun with Dracula Daily. It started May 3rd, but you can join anytime and there are archives to read the sections you missed in at least two official places.
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vampiremedia is also doing a weekly recap & discussion.
Sit around a campfire and tell scary stories. Though, if you are in the US, given the heightened fire risk this year nearly everywhere, maybe a fake or battery powered campfire alternative.
Have a costume fashion show or even just get a jump on making your Halloween costume. Have a complicated makeup look you never have time to practice? Summerween makes a convenient excuse.
Have an old school sleepover. The whole bit with games and mischief and snacks. (Yes, you are allowed to have silly fun as an adult.)
Have a craft party. Interpretation of craft up to you.
If you are both a Halloween Ghoul and a Christmas in July Ghoul, try Creepmas in July. Plug:
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vexed_wench and I are co-hosting our annual Winterfest in July at
allbingo again this year and we've added a creepmas in July prompt list.
Have movie nights alone or with friends, possibly with themed snacks. For extra fun, you could slowly amp up the scary content, starting with TV specials and cute Halloween movies in July, building up to gory slashers in October.
Make or find playlists. I know for a fact there are Halloween surfer rock playlists on Spotify.
For my fandom creation peeps, find some summer prompts and Halloween them up or vice-versa for your fics, art, edits, etc. There used to be a summer horror exchange on DW, but it's long dead. There maybe other challenges out there I don't know about though.
Make prompt lists or find them. In years past, there has been Summerween drawing challenges on Instagram, one was you were given Summerween prompts and you drew ghosts doing the activities and there was another which was the same thing, but with pumpkins. I am sure there are others.
100 days until Halloween starts in July (the 22nd, I think) and there are lots of challenges out there like Halloween Happy's annual prompt list and Alt Knots' big countdown crochet project.
Have Halloween decorations you always want to make, but don't have time? Want to be the house that gives fun candy alternatives like crocheted spiders? Want to start building a Halloween village, but never seem to be able to pull it together in October? Summerween is your new excuse to start all these things.
Make memes or journal/blog games & activities. Make "make an OC" games. Basically anything that was thought up for 3 Weeks for Dreamwidth, but Summerween flavored.
Look for local tourist things around you; ghost tours, short road trips to haunted places, oddity fairs, carnivals (which are inherently spooky), bat watching hikes, etc.
Make up a local crypid
Summerween nail art
There is definitely more, but my brain says that is enough brainstorming today.
I hope that gave everyone some fun ideas. Summerween safely everyone!
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