Halloween is one of those holidays that has a way of bringing a neighborhood to life. The decorations start going up, pumpkins appear on front porches, kids start planning their costumes weeks in advance, and suddenly an ordinary evening walk becomes a tour of who went all in this year.
This October, we thought we'd add one more reason to have a little fun with the people who live around you.
If you've never participated in “You've Been Boo'd,” it's basically the Halloween version of a secret surprise—and it's ridiculously easy to start.
Put together a small bag or basket with a few treats, secretly leave it on a neighbor's doorstep with a “You've Been Boo'd” sign, and make your getaway. Once they've discovered their surprise, they hang the included “We've Been Boo'd” sign somewhere visible and choose another neighbor to surprise. Then that neighbor keeps it going.
That's it.
No elaborate baskets required. No Pinterest-worthy presentation necessary. Candy, popcorn, glow sticks, stickers, little Halloween toys—whatever sounds fun. The whole point is simply making someone's day and seeing how far the Boo can travel before Halloween.
We made the rest easy for you
Because nobody needs another October project that requires seventeen trips to the store, we created a FREE You've Been Boo'd Kit with everything you need except the treats.
Inside you'll find the instructions, a “We've Been Boo'd” sign for your neighbor to display, printable Halloween gift tags, and even a Halloween scavenger hunt for the kids.
The scavenger hunt is perfect for an evening walk around the neighborhood, too. See who can spot everything from carved pumpkins and skeletons to black cats, spiderwebs, candy corn, and decorated front porches.
Who should you Boo?
That's entirely up to you.
Boo the family next door. Surprise the neighbor who always waves when you drive by. Let your kids pick one of their friends. Leave something for the new family on the street. Or get a few neighbors involved and see if you can get the tradition moving through the whole neighborhood.
It's silly. It's simple. And that's exactly why we love it.
Real estate may be what we do, but home has always been about more than four walls. It's the people you wave to from the driveway, the kids playing down the street, the neighbors who look out for one another, and the little traditions that turn a street full of houses into a community.
So print the kit, grab some treats, pick your first unsuspecting neighbor and get out of there before they catch you.
— The Navigate Team