If you’ve ever carved a jack-o’-lantern in October and thought, “Man, this would be so much better with a cold margarita and fewer layers of clothing,” then congratulations- you might be a Summerweener! While the rest of the country is out here sweating through June and July just like any other summer season, some Texans are getting spooky with it. Yep, costumes, cobwebs, and creepy vibes- but with sunscreen.

What is Summerween?

Summerween is exactly what it sounds like- it's Halloween’s hot-weather cousin. It’s for the folks who just can’t wait until October to break out the fake blood and plastic skeletons. Think trick-or-treating in flip-flops, horror movie marathons with the A/C cranked up, and backyard parties where the jack-o’-lantern is actually a carved watermelon. In true Texas fashion, it’s bigger, bolder, and probably includes brisket, and maybe a little pool to cool off!

The idea of Summerween isn’t exactly new- fans of the animated show Gravity Falls might remember a 2012 episode where the town celebrates Halloween in the middle of summer, complete with jack-o’-melons and a terrifying monster called the Summerween Trickster. Since then, the concept has snowballed into a real-life excuse for spooky-loving folks (especially here in Texas) to double-dip on their favorite holiday- because once a year just isn’t enough.

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As you can see, there's plenty of ways to show your love of Halloween even if it is 100 degrees outside! When you think about it, there's plenty of summer horror movies to check out- and luckily for us, this June has a Friday the 13th, which we all know is Jason's birthday!

And honestly, Texas might be the ideal place for it to thrive. Fall here often feels like summer with a decorative gourd, so why not just lean in and throw a haunted bash now while it’s actually hot enough to melt your Halloween candy in five minutes flat? From haunted pool parties in Houston to glow-in-the-dark barbecues in El Paso, Texans are finding creative ways to crank up the creepy- without waiting for sweater weather that may or may not ever show up.

So, whether you’re carving a watermelon, binge-watching horror flicks in a tank top, or passing out candy to neighborhood kids in the blazing sun, just know: Halloween doesn’t have to wait for October- not in Texas! Summerween is proof that spooky season can thrive under the scorching sun, especially when there’s brisket on the grill and a cold drink in hand. Stay weird, stay haunted, and have a killer summer!