Oh, Halloween. Why do I hate you? I have spent years trying to figure out where the dislike comes from. I don’t scare easily, so it’s not fear. The decorations are pretty fun- I don’t mind those, either. Who doesn’t love piles of candy? The costumes… OK, it’s the dressing up part. I just can’t get into it! I’ve never liked being the center of attention. I don’t want people looking at me, so dressing up just makes me uncomfortable. It’s been that way ever since I was a kid. Silly, I know. But some things just stay with you even though you know you are an adult and should just get over it.
I promised myself that when I had kids I would not let my dislike for the holiday rub off on them. I didn’t want them to grow up hating the holiday just because I did. Where’s the fun in that? I have always been very careful to let them pick out their costumes every year so I know it is something they like and are comfortable with. We have scoured the internet some years looking for the right costume. I help with hair, I do makeup, I show up and take pictures at the school. I’ve even been room mom (Gasp!) and have planned fun Halloween parties for a roomful of kids. I buy the “good” candy to pass out at my door. And I can trick-or-treat with the best of them. And still, I don’t love it.
I know I have unintentionally rubbed off on some of my kids. It was an accident, I promise! But I’ve got a few who don’t think it’s the best holiday, either. The “Cori” part of me thinks, “Thank goodness. Maybe we can be done with the madness sooner rather than later.” The “Mom” part of me says, “No! You are kids and I don’t want you growing up to dislike this holiday like me!” So, I’ve managed to find something I love about Halloween. It’s become a tradition at our house. And it makes me so happy that my kids look forward to it every year.
Everyone knows how much I love Tuacahn, right? Have you ever seen “Thriller” during the Halloween season there? Oh my goodness. You must! You must buy tickets and go. Odyssey Dance Theatre puts on this amazing Halloween themed show every year and it is fantastic! It is because of this show that I anticipate the Halloween season with fondness. 
“Thriller” is a collection of dances (and music) that are all Halloween themed- Frankenstein and his bride, mummies, zombies, skeletons, etc. It is SO MUCH FUN! Before the show and during the intermission there are “zombies” who wander through the venue and have no sense of personal space. It is hilarious to watch them sneak up on unsuspecting people… maybe not quite as funny when it is you!
We have been going to this show for the last six years. This will be the first year we have gone as a whole family. We’ve made our kids wait until they thought they were ready because it can be a little scary to see those zombies roaming around. Our youngest is 8 and this is the first year he has wanted to go. He seems excited and I can hardly wait for entire family to share this tradition! I bought our tickets just this week because the closer you get to Halloween, the faster they will go. Just a heads up: I have never seen a discount on Thriller tickets. They are far less expensive than Tuacahn show tickets, though- $19-35. For this mom who doesn’t love the Halloween season? It is worth every penny to have something fun for our family to look forward to.
You can buy your tickets on Tuacahn’s website here. If you want to read more about the show or live in Northern Utah and want to catch one of their performances up there, click here. You won’t regret it!
