Summerween...What?

Alright, so this piece is inspired by the following writing prompt: Write a story about something appearing, happening, or returning at exactly the wrong time of year.

Interesting topic, but I have something fun in mind. Might be a tad... odd though.

Well, you asked for it!

Please enjoy,

Rain Dayze

🎃🍬🎒🏫

Summer is a glorious, yet sweltering time of the year where everything that is blossoming and beautiful slowly withers away. After which they get slathered in a succulent brown sugar barbecue sauce and thrown onto a grill and sold to the masses on several 'grilling' holidays.

God bless the South. They can barbecue anything!

But I digress. That's not the topic at hand.

The following 'out of season' annoyance occurred in the past on July 19th, 2026. So, follow me on my journey full of candy, backpacks, and the cartoon series Gravity Falls.

There I was, at roughly 9:30 in the morning, shopping at my local Kroger with my brother (he works there and gets great discounts). I was looking at the back-to-school seasonal section because my neighbor asked me to grab one for her grandbaby while she was at work.

Perusing the colorful assortment, I noticed that quite a few had Halloween designs on them. Pumpkins, bats, black cats, zombies, ghosts, and skeletons. I found it strange as they had never displayed those kinds before, but dismissed the thought as kids love the holiday, so maybe that was the selling point.

One purple bat backpack and my usual shopping later, my brother and I are at the self-checkout line. When suddenly, an announcement comes over the speakers, "It's Summerween season, everyone! Be sure to stock up on your favorite candies early. And remember to use your points card for a discount!"

My brother gave me a look. "What the hell is Summerween? I've worked here for years, and no one's ever said that before."

I explained that in October 2012 there was an episode of the animated series Gravity Falls called 'Summerween', where the citizens carve watermelons and do whacky Halloween-like stuff, but that I hadn't heard the term aside from that.

Looking across from the checkout, my brother chuckled, "Oh my God, there's Halloween candy on display! That wasn't there yesterday!"

Sure enough, in front of God and everyone, there was a candy stand.

Not just one, but several, tucked around the seasonal section, behind the back-to-school supplies. This made both of us extremely confused, as we've never seen Halloween candy out this early before, so when we got home, we investigated the matter.

A few online searches later, and we found our answers. So back in 2025, a social media trend started based on Gravity Falls's Summerween, where people can celebrate Halloween earlier. Since then, it's become a micro-holiday trend among retailers to spread the spooky cheer while cashing in on the commercial side of things.

If you're interested in learning more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2025/08/13/what-the-heck-is-summerween-how-holiday-retail-marketing-is-changing/

I love Halloween, so hypothetically, I should love celebrating it more than once, right? Nope, in fact, I'd prefer for it not to be a thing at all!

Sure, it's great for parents who want to buy costumes, candy, or decorations months in advance, but for the rest of us? It's just silly! I love Halloween because it takes place in autumn, which only occurs once a year. More than that kind of... devalues it.

Fall harvest for farmers doesn't take place twice a year, neither does Thanksgiving, nor Christmas, so why should Halloween?

Also, consider this: Halloween candy and bikini bodies don't mix well!

Imagine spending an entire winter and spring of discipline, diet, and exercise all to fit into a saucy little swimsuit, and finally achieving that goal in time. But then during June, BAM! Halloween candy is everywhere! Throwing unnecessary temptation in your face.

Personally, if I partook in 'slimming down for summer', I would be angry. Then after expressing my anger, I would buy a white chocolate Reese's because why not? It's here, in my face.

Just something to consider when shopping with your kids for supplies: corporations are always looking for a way to make a quick buck by pandering to the younger customers, or the overwhelmed parents trying to keep the peace.

What's next, Christmas in July, like the Hallmark channel? Are we going to see Santa Clause sipping a coconut drink at a beach party? Or a reindeer running from fireworks on the Fourth?

God, I hope not.

Or