The Halloween Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Halloween Weekly Update: Early Code Orange & Pumpkin Crop Trouble (July 6–12, 2026) Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

There are now just 110 days until Halloween!

Welcome to this week's Halloween Weekly Update as we cover the biggest Halloween news from July 6–12, 2026. This week, we discuss why Halloween merchandise is appearing in stores earlier than ever, how extreme heat is affecting pumpkin crops ahead of the fall season, and take our usual trip Around the Crypt for a collection of unique stories from across the Halloween world.

We'll also visit a Halloween-themed restaurant in Michigan, spotlight a neighborhood haunted house raising money for a children's hospital, look at a beloved Colorado home haunt taking the year off, share a DIY decorating tip from Better Homes & Gardens, discuss why Rotta the Hutt could become an unexpected Halloween costume trend, and talk about one Ohio community's decision to keep trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

Stories Discussed

Halloween Comes Earlier Than Ever in 2026
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2026/07/11/halloween-comes-early-2026-decor/90835958007/

Heatwaves Damage Pumpkin Crops Ahead of Halloween
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75ygp434l1o

Around the Crypt

Halloween-Themed Restaurant Opens in Michigan
https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2026/07/a-musician-and-cook-who-loves-halloween-opened-a-restaurant-in-saginaw-and-the-menu-is-deliciously-dark.html

Neighborhood Haunted House Raises Money for CHEO
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-orleans-cheo-haunted-house-fundraiser-9.7262325

Colorado Home Haunt Taking 2026 Off
https://www.dailysentinel.com/news/local/garrison-s-star-halloween-attraction-taking-year-off/article_be9e6908-9c68-5adc-8d8f-b362fdedce65.html

Better Homes & Gardens Says Buy Pool Noodles Now
https://www.bhg.com/pool-noodles-halloween-12012546

Could Rotta the Hutt Become Halloween's Surprise Costume?
https://kotaku.com/rotta-the-hutt-is-ready-to-be-the-hottest-halloween-costume-of-the-year-2000714805

Dover, Ohio Keeps Trick-or-Treating on Halloween Night
https://www.wjer.com/news/dover-halloween-trick-or-treat-will-be-on-october-31/

Follow The Halloween Podcast

Website
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https://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Email
Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com

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https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

Haunt Line
731-400-0472

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Vintage Halloween Games Quiz | Video Game, Board Game, or Made Up? Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, Lyle puts Meghan’s spooky game knowledge to the test with a brand-new game show. Meghan is given a series of eerie titles and clues, and she must decide whether each one is a vintage video game, a classic board game, or something completely made up.

Along the way, we explore the history behind real horror games from the 1980s and 1990s, including early Atari titles, VHS board games, haunted castles, mysterious mansions, and some of the games that helped shape the survival horror genre. Play along at home and see whether you can outscore Meghan or if Lyle’s fictional games fool you too.

Follow The Halloween Podcast:

Website:
https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Facebook:
https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

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https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Email:
Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Haunt Line:
731-400-0472

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https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

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The Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington, D.C. | Haunted Thursday Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

In this Haunted Thursday episode of The Halloween Podcast, we’re heading to Washington, D.C., to explore the history and haunting legend of the Hay-Adams Hotel. Guests and staff have reported strange activity inside the elegant hotel, including lights turning on and off, doors opening and closing, swaying chandeliers, the faint smell of almonds, and the feeling of a woman nearby.

Many believe that presence belongs to Marian Hooper Adams, better known as Clover Adams. But there is one major problem with that story: Clover died in 1885, decades before the Hay-Adams Hotel existed. So if Clover haunts the Hay-Adams, what exactly is she haunting?

In this episode, we look at the real history of Clover Adams, her connection to Henry Adams and old Washington society, the tragedy of her death, the memorial known as “Grief,” and the timeline that makes this ghost story more complicated than it first appears. We’ll also examine the haunting claims and ask whether a spirit has to be tied to a building, or whether grief, memory, and tragedy can remain attached to the land itself.

Follow The Halloween Podcast:

Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Haunt Line: 731-400-0472

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Banned Halloween: Places Where Halloween Is Illegal or Restricted | Ep. 106 Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, we look at the surprising places where Halloween has been banned, restricted, or tightly controlled. From countries that outlaw public Halloween celebrations to cities with trick-or-treat age limits, curfews, mask laws, costume bans, school restrictions, and even rules about porch lights, we explore how different communities have tried to manage the spooky season.

We also dig into the reasons behind these restrictions, including religion, cultural identity, public safety, crime concerns, youth curfews, and fear of Halloween mischief. Along the way, we ask the bigger question: why does a holiday built around costumes, candy, and pretend scares continue to make some people so nervous?

Follow The Halloween Podcast:

Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Haunt Line: 731-400-0472

Support the show on Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

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Halloween Weekly Update: Spirit Halloween, Hellraiser & LEGO Reveals (June 29–July 5, 2026) Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

There are now just 117 days until Halloween!

In this week's Halloween Weekly Update, we're covering the biggest Halloween news from June 29 through July 5, 2026. This week, LEGO unveils three brand-new Halloween sets for 2026, Universal announces that Hellraiser is coming to Halloween Horror Nights for the very first time, Spirit Halloween reveals its first wave of 2026 animatronics, and The Bradford Exchange launches a brand-new Universal Monsters Challenge Coin Collection.

We'll also take a trip Around the Crypt, where we look at Disney's latest Halloween apparel, Hasbro's new Halloween-themed Star Wars Black Series figures, and why July 4 is an important date if you're planning to grow your own pumpkins this Halloween.

Plus, we spotlight St. Louis Horror Con, where Lyle will be attending and promoting The Halloween Podcast, and let you know how you can stop by and say hello.

Stories Discussed

LEGO Reveals Three New Halloween Sets for 2026 https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-halloween-2026-sets-unveiled-for-august-2026-launch/

Hellraiser Comes to Halloween Horror Nights https://ktla.com/news/universal-studios-hollywood-hellraiser-haunted-house/

Spirit Halloween Reveals 2026 Animatronic Lineup https://gizmodo.com/spirit-halloweens-new-animatronics-are-pure-nightmare-fodder-2000780179

Universal Monsters Challenge Coin Collection https://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/924538_.html

Around the Crypt

Disney Halloween Apparel Arrives at Walt Disney World https://wdwnt.com/2026/06/hocus-pocus-parody-pumpkin-stormtrooper-pooh-and-friends-and-more-halloween-shirts-arrive-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

Hasbro Reveals Halloween Star Wars Black Series Figures https://www.dreadcentral.com/toys-collectibles/579328/hasbro-unveils-three-spooky-new-star-wars-black-series-halloween-figures-for-2026/

July 4 Pumpkin Planting Deadline https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a71748676/pumpkin-planting-deadline/

Upcoming Event Spotlight

St. Louis Horror Con (July 11–12, 2026) https://www.stlouishorror.com/

If you're attending, stop by and say hello to Lyle at The Halloween Podcast booth!

Follow The Halloween Podcast:

Website https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Facebook https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Instagram https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

YouTube https://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Join Inside the Pumpkin Room on Patreon https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

Haunt Line 731-400-0472

Thank you for listening, and we'll see you next Monday for another Halloween Weekly Update. Happy Halloween!

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4th of July Spooky Facts | Ep. 105 Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Happy Fourth of July!

In this special episode of The Halloween Podcast, we’re celebrating America’s birthday with a darker twist. From Founding Fathers dying on the same date to battlefield anniversaries, explosive traditions, strange presidential coincidences, and the eerie history hiding behind the fireworks, this episode looks at the spooky side of Independence Day.

We’ll talk about why July 4 became the date Americans remember, the presidents who died on the holiday, the supernatural roots of fireworks, and the moments in history that make the Fourth feel more haunted than most people realize.

Follow The Halloween Podcast:

Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Haunt Line: 731-400-0472

Support the show and join the Pumpkin Room: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

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Top Five Summerween Merch! | MiniSode Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

What if Summerween existed long before Gravity Falls ever gave it a name? This week on The Halloween Podcast, Lyle and Meghan explore the evolution of spooky summer fun by comparing vintage Halloween-inspired products with today's growing collection of Summerween merchandise.

Lyle takes a nostalgic journey through the history of forgotten favorites like Goosebumps beach towels, Goosebumps Fan Club merchandise, camp horror books, Little Tikes Scream Beams flashlights, and the classic Super Nintendo game Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts. Meanwhile, Meghan highlights some of her favorite modern Summerween creations from talented Etsy artists, showing how today's makers have transformed the idea of spooky summer into its own thriving celebration. Whether you're looking back at the '90s or decorating for Summerween today, this episode is filled with nostalgia, creativity, and plenty of Halloween spirit.

Links discussed in this episode:

Meghan's Summerween Picks

Happy Summerween Ghost Mug https://www.etsy.com/listing/4509373997/happy-summerween-ghost-mug-cute
Spooky Cute Springoween Lunch Bag https://www.etsy.com/listing/1685931379/spooky-cute-halloween-springoween-lunch
Summerween Creature Keychain https://www.etsy.com/listing/4513754642/summerween-keychain-cute-creature
Monster Ice Cream One-Piece Swimsuit https://www.etsy.com/listing/1051989035/monster-ice-cream-spooky-one-piece
Hallowtiki Ghost Ceramic Tiki Mug https://www.etsy.com/listing/4457260587/hallowtiki-ghost-ceramic-tiki-mug-2nd
Spooky Fruit Summerween Decorations https://www.etsy.com/listing/1890607426/spooky-fruit-summerween-decorations-3d

A special thank you to these talented Etsy creators for inspiring this week's episode. If you love their work, be sure to visit their shops and support small businesses that are helping keep the spirit of Summerween alive!

Follow The Halloween Podcast:

Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Haunt Line: 731-400-0472

Support the show and join the Pumpkin Room: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

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St. Anne's Retreat | Haunted Thursday Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

For this special Summerween edition of Haunted Thursday, we travel to one of Utah's most infamous haunted locations: St. Anne's Retreat in Logan Canyon. Originally established as Hatch Camp in the 1920s before becoming a Catholic retreat, the property is now known for stories of a ghostly nun, shadowy apparitions, eerie voices, and unexplained encounters around its abandoned swimming pool. In this episode, we uncover the documented history of the retreat, separate fact from folklore, explore the origins of the haunting legends, revisit the infamous 1993 incident that brought national attention to the property, and examine why St. Anne's Retreat continues to captivate visitors nearly a century after it was first built.

This episode also includes a brief clip from the KSL TV report, "St Ann's Retreat - Hatch Camp - Nunnery - Is Up for Sale 2025." You can watch the full report here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkB8KW1qypA

Have you visited St. Anne's Retreat or had a paranormal experience of your own? Call the Halloween Podcast Haunt Line at 731-400-0472 and leave us a message. Your story may be featured in a future Haunted Thursday episode.

For a full list of the historical sources used in this investigation, visit TheHalloweenPodcast.com.

Contact us:
Website: TheHalloweenPodcast.com
Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast
Instagram: Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast
YouTube: YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast
Patreon: Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

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Summerween History Special | Ep. 104 Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Summerween is here!

In this special episode of The Halloween Podcast, we’re looking at the history of Summerween, the growing love for Halloween in the summer, and how a fictional holiday from Gravity Falls became part of real pop culture. We talk about where the idea came from, why fans connected with it, and how the desire for Halloween outside of October has turned into real events, merchandise, social media trends, and summer celebrations across the country.

We’ll also look at the bigger picture of Halloween in the summer, from horror movies, campfire stories, haunted attractions, and spooky summer nostalgia to the way fans now use Summerween as an excuse to bring pumpkins, costumes, candy, and creepy fun into the hottest months of the year.

Follow The Halloween Podcast:

Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Haunt Line: 731-400-0472

Support the show and join the Pumpkin Room: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

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Summerween (Gravity Falls SE01 Ep12) Review | Ep. 103 Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, we're heading to Gravity Falls for Season 1, Episode 12, “Summerween,” the episode that introduced the idea of Halloween in the summer.

We talk about our memories of Gravity Falls, the impact the show has had on pop culture, and why Summerween has become such a fun part of Halloween fandom. Then we go through the episode play by play, breaking down the jack-o-melons, summer trick-or-treating, costumes, candy, monsters, and all the Summerween goodness that makes this episode feel like Halloween came early.

Follow The Halloween Podcast:

Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast

Haunt Line: 731-400-0472

Support the show and join the Pumpkin Room: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.