One of Disney’s most beloved Halloween movies turns 25 today! On July 16th, 1993 Disney released Hocus Pocus, a film following three sinister Salem witches who are resurrected from the dead on All Hallows Eve. Watching the movie has become an integral part of Halloween season in our family; and I know myself among many others feel like it was a memorable part of Halloween as a child.
The movie captures everything that I personally love about the holiday – the imagery, the magic, the spookiness, and the fact that it takes place in Salem is pretty cool, too 😉 But I think it’s the pure nostalgia that makes it so special. I can remember my sister and I anticipating the annual airing of Hocus Pocus come October when we were younger, and we still try to get together in the Fall to watch it when we can. I can’t believe it’s been around for 25 years already – but with that being said, I wanted to share with you a few easy ways you can commemorate this magical milestone!
1. Make Your Own Magic Potion
Whether you enjoy alcohol or prefer your drinks virgin ( see what I did there? 😉 )…there’s plenty of Hocus Pocus & Halloween inspired creations floating around that you can quickly conjure up. Having the perfect festive drink to accompany the movie is an easy way to make the night more special. Here are a few of my favorites I found:
- Hocus Pocus Rum Cocktail
- Hocus Pocus Fizz
- Spiked Apple Cider
- Hocus Pocus Sherbet Potion (Non-Alcoholic)
- Pumpkin Spiced Hot Chocolate (Non-Alcoholic)
2. Whip Up a Witchy Treat
Did anyone else think the little chocolate witch pop Dani eats in this scene looked good? Not gonna lie, as a kid I kinda wished I had one. Anyway, munchies are a must for just about any movie! I personally have a major sweet tooth, so snacking on some good ol’ Halloween candy would do the trick for me 😉 (I’m on a roll tonight!). Here are some creative Sanderson-Sister inspired treats to indulge in:
3. Take a Virtual Tour of the Filming Locations in Salem, MA
Not everyone is close enough to Witch City to be able to explore where the movie was filmed (including me, even though I live in Massachusetts). But while doing a little research, I found this great video by JOBLOMovieTrailers where the host takes you around all the famous spots from the most memorable scenes in the movie. It’s a great way to learn more about the film, and a little bit of Salem’s history.
If you do however find yourself near Salem, you can check out this self-guided tour of all the locations curtesy of Things To Do In Salem.
4. Booooook!
Yep, you read that right. The all-new SEQUEL! There’s a part 2 to the witchy madness that was just released in book-form earlier this month. The new novel follows Max & Allison’s seventeen year-old daughter who finds herself face-to-face with the Sanderson sister’s on Halloween night, 25 years after her parents.
I ordered my copy from Amazon, but it’s also available at other popular bookstores and Target (who has their own exclusive version). Curling up with the new book and one of the drinks/snacks listed above would be the perfect cozy way to celebrate.
*Make sure you read the end of this post to find out how you can win a copy of the new book!
5. Treat Yourself to a Commemorative Gift
It’s (almost) never a bad idea to treat yourself to a gift, especially when it’s Hocus Pocus related. Funko just released these adorable Sanderson Sister POP’s, exclusive to Spirit Halloween, and they would make a great addition to any collection. My girl Miranda over at Spooky Little Halloween also compiled a list of 30+ Things You Need If You Love Hocus Pocus, and I’m obsessed with her list! (especially all of the pins!)
Want to know how you can win some awesome Hocus Pocus stuff? Miranda is giving away 8 ITEMS from her list (including the new book) to celebrate! The items in the giveaway are as shown:
- The Burlap Wine Sack Shhh! I’m watching Hocus Pocus wine glass
- Cauldron of Color Amuck Amuck Amuck art print
- The Eternal Flame prayer candle set
- Pixie Dust Grotto bath bomb trio
- Two Ghouls Press pennant, Lost Soul pin and small pinback set
- “Hocus Pocus”-inspired handmade bracelets from Candace
- “Hocus Pocus & the All-New Sequel” from Miranda of Spooky Little Halloween
- Plus 2-3 surprise “Hocus Pocus” goodies from Miranda’s personal Halloween collection
All you need to do to enter is visit Miranda’s post, and leave a comment explaining why you love Hocus Pocus (there are ways to get extra entries too, make sure you read how you can do so). The giveaway runs July 16th-22nd, so enter now!
There are tons of ways to celebrate the anniversary, so let your imagination run amuck!
The New England Ghoul 
I can’t believe it’s been 25 years! How is that possible? Such a good movie. It’s not Halloween time without it.
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