We all know that Halloween felt a bit different as a kid. The whole season was different; now that we’re adults, things speed up, and we have less time overall because of work and other adult things. As a kid, there were a couple of things that meant the Halloween season was coming. It sounds like a capitalist nightmare, but, commercials and promotions from places like fast food restaurants and big box stores were one of the signs. The other was what we saw on TV. ABC Family, now known as Freeform, was one TV network that brought out the Halloween vibes for kids to enjoy. If you love AMC FrightFest, which we do, 13 Nights of Halloween, now known as 31 Nights of Halloween, was the best. Disney has some of the best Halloween programming out there for kids.
Nowadays, we’ve got the full schedule for 31 Nights of Halloween on Freeform, which you can see below, but does it bring about as much excitement for me as it did as a kid? Let’s dive in and find out.
The Full 31 Nights Of Halloween Schedule
So you can see the full schedule for the 31 Nights Of Halloween on Freeform above. That’s not the entire schedule, but the major highlights. Its a lot of Disney movies and some of their TV shows. The only thing that I can say about this schedule being disappointing is that its a lot of new movies that might not necessarily be Halloween-themed and not too many TV shows. The classic thing about 80s/90s/00s kids TV was the Halloween episode. There are some absolute classics like Family Matters that have great Halloween episodes that they’d show on ABC Family back in the day.
But I’m going to have to take my late-millennial, old head hat off and think about this as a kid these days. One, a kid these days watching broadcast TV is probably increasingly rare, and two, what do they want out of Halloween? I’m not entirely sure, but this lineup of movies does a good job of showcasing newer stuff while also giving them classics like Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, and others to help introduce them to the holiday and the vibes.
This kind of brings forth the bigger issue that people seem to have with Halloween these days. We don’t let younger generations have their own crack at it and we want it to be like it was when we were a kid.
So, What’s The Verdict?
I think between the death of cable TV and the attention of kids to more short-form and internet content, the 31 Days of Halloween programming isn’t nearly as important as it used to be. It hurts my soul to type that out, but it’s the truth. Freeform/ABC Family and the various Halloween programming used to also be the only time of year you would catch something like Hocus Pocus without owning the DVD. Nowadays, you can make a streaming playlist of all the movies and TV shows that you would want to watch. Places like Peacock have entire sections devoted to Halloween and holiday episodes for their famous TV series.
So, while it might be cool for us old folks to enjoy 31 Days of Halloween, maybe the younger generation needs a different kind of Halloween entertainment.
The Full List Of Programming For 31 Nights Of Halloween
Thursday, Oct. 1
11:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Edward Scissorhands
1:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
3:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
5:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Coven Academy (episodes 1-4)
Friday, Oct. 2
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
12:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
2:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – Dark Shadows (2012)
5:15 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Haunted Mansion (2003)
7:15 p.m. EDT/PDT – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
8:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Beetlejuice
Saturday, Oct. 3
7:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Beetlejuice
9:35 a.m. EDT/PDT – Coven Academy
12:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
3:05 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
5:15 p.m. EDT/PDT – Monsters, Inc.
7:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Monsters University
9:50 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
11:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
Sunday, Oct. 4
7:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Spooky Buddies
9:35 a.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
12:05 p.m. EDT/PDT – Edward Scissorhands
2:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
4:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
6:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
8:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus 2
11:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Haunted Mansion (2023)
Monday, Oct. 5
12:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Spider-Man: Homecoming
3:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (1984)
5:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters II
8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (2016)
Tuesday, Oct. 6
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Arachnophobia
1:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (1984)
3:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters II
5:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (2016)
8:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
Wednesday, Oct. 7
11:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Spider-Man 2 (2004)
2:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Haunted Mansion (2003)
4:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
6:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Monsters, Inc.
8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Monsters University
Thursday, Oct. 8
11:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
1:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
3:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
6:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Coven Academy (episodes 5-7)
Friday, Oct. 9
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Spider-Man (2002)
1:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
3:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
6:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
8:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus 2
12:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Coven Academy
Saturday, Oct. 10
7:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Frankenweenie (2012)
9:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Toy Story of TERROR!
9:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Spooky Buddies
11:35 a.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo (2002)
1:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
3:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – Maleficent
5:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
7:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
9:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Beetlejuice
12:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Sunday, Oct. 11
8:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Toy Story of TERROR!
8:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo (2002)
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
12:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
2:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – Beetlejuice
4:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
7:15 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Haunted Mansion (2003)
9:15 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
11:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Dark Shadows (2012)
Monday, Oct. 12
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Disturbia
12:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
3:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Edward Scissorhands
5:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Haunted Mansion (2023)
8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Dark Shadows (2012)
Tuesday, Oct. 13
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Sleepy Hollow (1999)
1:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
3:05 p.m. EDT/PDT – Cruella
6:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus 2
Wednesday, Oct. 14
11:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Spider-Man 3 (2007)
2:10 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
4:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (1984)
6:50 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
8:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
Thursday, Oct. 15
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (1984)
12:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
3:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Haunted Mansion (2003)
5:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Coven Academy (episodes 8-10)
Friday, Oct. 16
11:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
1:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – Edward Scissorhands
4:10 p.m. EDT/PDT – Dark Shadows (2012)
6:50 p.m. EDT/PDT – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
8:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Sleepy Hollow (1999)
12:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Coven Academy
Saturday, Oct. 17
7:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Something Wicked This Way Comes
9:10 a.m. EDT/PDT – Dark Shadows (2012)
11:50 a.m. EDT/PDT – Sleepy Hollow (1999)
2:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Haunted Mansion (2023)
5:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
7:10 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
9:15 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
11:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Sunday, Oct. 18
8:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Frankenweenie (2012)
10:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Edward Scissorhands
12:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Maleficent
2:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
4:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
6:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
9:15 p.m. EDT/PDT – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
10:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (2016)
Monday, Oct. 19
11:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (2016)
2:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Toy Story of Terror!
2:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo (2002)
4:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
6:50 p.m. EDT/PDT – Beetlejuice
8:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
Tuesday, Oct. 20
11:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Toy Story of Terror!
11:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo (2002)
1:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
3:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Beetlejuice
5:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
8:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Wednesday, Oct. 21
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
12:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Edward Scissorhands
2:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
5:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
8:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Haunted Mansion (2023)
Thursday, Oct. 22
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Something Wicked This Way Comes
12:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
2:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
4:10 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
6:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
8:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus 2
Friday, Oct. 23
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
12:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
2:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Maleficent
5:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Cruella
8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (2016)
Saturday, Oct. 24
7:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
8:35 a.m. EDT/PDT – Edward Scissorhands
11:05 a.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters II
1:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Haunted Mansion (2003)
3:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (2016)
6:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
9:05 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus 2
11:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
Sunday, Oct. 25
7:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Spooky Buddies
9:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters II
11:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
1:40 p.m. EDT/PDT – Haunted Mansion (2023)
4:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
6:50 p.m. EDT/PDT – Monsters, Inc.
8:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Monsters University
11:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Monday, Oct. 26
11:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Haunted Mansion (2023)
2:10 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
4:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (1984)
6:50 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
8:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
Tuesday, Oct. 27
12:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters (1984)
2:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters II
5:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – The Addams Family (1991)
7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Addams Family Values
9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Beetlejuice
Wednesday, Oct. 28
10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters II
1:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo (2002)
3:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed
5:05 p.m. EDT/PDT – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
6:45 p.m. EDT/PDT – Beetlejuice
8:50 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
Thursday, Oct. 29
11:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Scooby-Doo (2002)
1:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
4:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Monsters, Inc.
6:05 p.m. EDT/PDT – Monsters University
8:35 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
Friday, Oct. 30
12:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
2:55 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
5:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
8:25 p.m. EDT/PDT – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Saturday, Oct. 31 (Halloween)
8:30 a.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
11:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – The Haunted Mansion (2003)
1:00 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
3:10 p.m. EDT/PDT – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
4:50 p.m. EDT/PDT – Casper (1995)
7:20 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus
9:30 p.m. EDT/PDT – Hocus Pocus 2
12:00 a.m. EDT/PDT – Frankenweenie (2012)
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