Create the Perfect 'Are You Afraid of the Dark?' Night with Your Family This Fall {+ A DIY Mask Craft}

 As a child of the 90s, Are You Afraid of the Dark? was a staple of my childhood!

There was just something so fun about this show... scary enough to intrigue us as children, but not so scary to give us nightmares. When I learned that there was to be a remake of this classic show, I was excited to check it out, though admittedly apprehensive. Some things just aren't as good in the remakes, right? Thankfully, this was NOT one of those cases. The new series was absolutely just as good as the original. And I found myself enjoying it even as a grown up!! 

As the fall season begins and Halloween draws nearer, I cannot help but think that it truly is the perfect viewing for the whole family. 

Recently, my son received a very special package to help us create our very own 'Are You Afraid of the Dark?' family night:



What was inside? Just about everything we needed: a fun Midnight Society pin, spooky story starters, a flashlight, a craft idea for an indoor campfire and of course, the most important must have for telling spooky stories-- all the makings of delicious s'mores! 

Here are a few ideas to get you started on your own spooky night:

• Set the scene. While sitting around a campfire cannot be beat, it's not always an option due to weather and location. If that's the case for you, you can always bring the outdoors in. Create a faux fire using toilet paper rolls as logs and paper to create a printout fire (or tissue paper to give it more dimension). Space allowing, set up forts or other fun outdoors inside fun. 
  
  
  
  
  
• Grab the snacks. S'mores are of course a classic. Grab the graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows to create a good ol' fashioned camping treat over the stove. Want to avoid the mess and the heat? Try one of these recipes for  S'mores in a Cup or S'mores Pie. Yum. 
  
  
  
  
• Prepare you stories. The most important part of The Midnight Society is of course the stories they tell. Check out the image below for some inspiration. Don't forget that each story must start with submitting your story for the approval of the Midnight Society, of course. 
  
  
  
  
• Watch the Show. Don't want to tell your own stories... or just want more inspiration and fun? Watch the new DVD! It truly is entertainment for the entire family after all featuring episodes both old AND new!
• Look the part. As I said, the package we received had MOST everything we needed to form our own family Midnight Society. Still my daughter pointed out one little thing was missing. The masks that the club wore on the DVD! So to bring it to life, we made our own. 

Here's what you need:

• blank mask
• paint and brushes
• other decorative accessories as desired

You can purchase plain white masks at your local craft store for just a few dollars each. You can use paper or plastic masks either one. If you can get them, I believe the paper would hold the paint best. Unfortunately, our store was out and we had to go with plastic. They will work but you must be more careful about scratches. If you're feeling super creative you could even find a mask molding set and make it yourself for a perfect fit. 

Now, onto designing your mask. In the show, the masks are red and black, so we wanted to keep a similar look... but truly you can have fun with it. Add on any accessories as desired to make it your own. 

Allow to dry and enjoy your time in the Midnight Society. 

Are You Afraid of the Dark? is available on DVD now.

About the DVD:

Re-imagined for a new generation, Nickelodeon’s all-new version of ‘90’s kids’ cult classic Are You Afraid of the Dark? arrives on DVD Tuesday, August 11, 2020 from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment. The three-part limited series follows members of an entirely new Midnight Society, who tell a terrifying tale of the Carnival of Doom and its evil ringmaster Mr. Top Hat, only to witness the shocking story come frightfully to life and prepare for an adventure beyond their wildest nightmares.
 
A must-own for fans of the classic series, as well as those new to the franchise, the Are You Afraid of the Dark? DVD also includes three fan-favorite episodes from the original series and will be available for the suggested retail price of $13.99.
 
The new members of the Midnight Society are: Rachel, played by Lyliana Wray (Top Gun: Maverick, Black-ish); Gavin, played by Sam Ashe Arnold (Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever.); Akiko, played by Miya Cech (Rim of the World, Always Be My Maybe); Graham, played by Jeremy Taylor (IT: Chapter Two, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween); and Louise, played by Tamara Smart (Artemis Fowl, The Worst Witch).  The Carnival of Doom’s ringmaster, Mr. Tophat, is played by Rafael Casal (Blindspotting).
 
Are You Afraid of the Dark? Episodes:

• Part One: Submitted For Approval
• Part Two: Opening Night
• Part Three: Destroy All Tophats

 
Special Features (US only):

• Original Series Season 1, Episode 2: The Tale of Laughing in the Dark
• Original Series Season 4, Episode 8: The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner
• Original Series Season 5, Episode 1: The Tale of the Dead Man’s Float

Did you enjoy Are You Afraid of the Dark? as a child? What ideas would YOU use to host your own Midnight Society meeting?