What Is Summerween? The Spooky-Cute Summer Trend Taking Over Gifting
The Summer Tradition for People Who Live for Spooky Season
Summerween is the summer-meets-Halloween trend for people who can't wait for spooky season.
If your October playlist never really went away, you still have your black cat welcome mat out front, or you're the person who gets a little too excited when Spirit Halloween starts setting up in August, you already know what Summerween is about. And if you're not familiar yet, but you’re looking for a new tradition to break up the long stretch of summer, this one's worth starting.
Start Your Summerween
Where Did Summerween Come From?
Summerween started as a fictional holiday in the beloved Disney animated series Gravity Falls. In a 2012 Season 1 episode, the quirky town of Gravity Falls loves Halloween so much they celebrate it twice a year, with a summer celebration falling on the second-to-last Friday of June. The episode introduced the "Jack-o'-melon," a carved watermelon that stands in for the classic jack-o'-lantern since real pumpkins aren't in season yet.
Fans ran with it. Halloween lovers and pop culture enthusiasts adopted Summerween as their own unofficial holiday, celebrating during June, July and August. What started as a cartoon is becoming one of the most fun seasonal traditions you've probably never heard of, until now.
Why Halloween Lovers Are Celebrating Early
For true Halloween people, October just isn't enough. The spooky, the strange, the cozy, none of it has to be confined to just one month. Summerween gives spooky season a summer home.
There's something genuinely fun about the contrast, too. Scary movie nights with the AC cranked up and it's still light out from the summer sun. Black cat decor next to a bowl of watermelon. A bat stuffed animal with its wings around an iced coffee. Halloween is moody and atmospheric. Summer is light and bright. Put them together and you get something that's a little campy, a little cozy and a lot of fun for the whole family.
Summerween also makes a great photo op. A glowing Jack-o'-melon on the patio table, a spread of Halloween candy next to a pitcher of lemonade, a ghost Warmies on a bright pool towel. It's the kind of aesthetic that's fun to put together and even more fun to share.
Summerween Gift Ideas
Summerween is still finding its gift-giving traditions, which makes it a great chance to start something new. Think Halloween-adjacent but summer-friendly: spooky-cute stuffed animals, novelty candy, gothic candles, scary movie watchlists and anything that leans into the "cute but make it creepy" aesthetic.
Warmies fit right in. Collect more than one to set the atmosphere around your space, a bat on the couch, a black cat on the snack table, a spider on the bed. Spooky-cute and functional, they're the kind of gift that gets used long after the celebration ends.
How to Host a Summerween Movie Night
This is the heart of most Summerween celebrations and a frightfully fun way to kick off a new tradition.
Pick your films. Classic horror, campy cult favorites and animated spooky movies all work beautifully. Think Hocus Pocus, Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas or whatever scared you as a kid. Outdoors with a projector is peak Summerween energy, but a living room with the curtains drawn and the AC blasting works just as well.
Set the scene. String lights, a bowl of Halloween candy, a carved Jack-o'-melon on the table. Wear a costume or don't. Matching spooky pajamas are absolutely appropriate.
Make it cozy. Cold drinks, festive snacks and a Warmies close by for every moment the movie gets a little too scary. Use it to cover your face during the jump scares. Hug it when things get tense. Let it protect you from nightmares. That's what it's there for.
Why Chillable Warmies Are Made for Hot Summer Nights
Every Warmies can be chilled in the freezer for cool, calming comfort, making them a soft alternative to a hard ice pack on a hot night. Turning your Warmies into a Coldies is simple: seal your Warmies in a clean grip-seal freezer bag, pop it in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours and pull it out when you're ready to settle in for movie night. Same soft comfort, cooler feel, with a light hint of lavender.
For Summerween, this is the move. A chilled bat or ghost Warmies during a horror movie marathon on a sweltering July night is soft, cool and adds just the right amount of spooky and special to the moment. The perfect thing to hold onto when things get a little too scary.
The Best Scary Cute Warmies for Spooky Season Lovers
Whether you're starting a new Summerween tradition with your kids, hosting a movie night with friends or shopping for the Halloween lover in your life, these are the styles worth knowing about. Mix and match a few to build out that spooky-cute atmosphere.
Bat Warmies and Purple Wing Bat Warmies
A Warmies classic and a fan favorite.
Black Cat Warmies
Made for black cat people. You know who you are.
Spider Warmies
Surprisingly adorable for something with eight legs.
Pure Halloween energy.
Great for decorating and keeping close during a scary movie.
Boo Crew Snoopy Warmies and Wizard Woodstock Warmies
For the person who loves Halloween and Peanuts in equal measure. A crowd pleaser every time.
> Shop Boo Crew Snoopy Warmies and Wizard Woodstock Warmies
NEW: Scary Cute Axolotl Warmies and Scary Cute Fox Warmies.
Our newest scary cute arrivals bring fresh energy to the Summerween lineup. Equal parts spooky and irresistible, and the perfect excuse to start collecting.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Summerween?
Summerween doesn't have one official date. It originated as the second-to-last Friday of June in Gravity Falls, but most people celebrate anytime during June, July or August.
Why is Summerween popular?
For Halloween lovers, October only comes once a year. Summerween is a way to bring that same spooky, festive energy into the warmer months without waiting. It's also a fun new tradition to start with kids, a reason to gather with friends or just a fun excuse to watch scary movies and eat candy corn in July.
What do you buy for Summerween?
Anything that blends spooky and summer. Think Halloween-themed plushies, novelty candy, scary movies and cozy accessories with a spooky twist. Chillable Warmies in Halloween styles are a popular pick because they're fun, functional and make a great gift for anyone who takes their summer spooky season seriously.
Start your Summerween. Shop Scary Cute Warmies.
