Molly Price/CNET
Setting up Alexa routines is simple enough, but it can be time consuming. This year, Alexa released a premade Halloween routine that requires only a few taps to enable. Here’s how to get the ready-made fun going.
Set it up by saying, “Alexa, enable Halloween Routine.”
Once the routine is enabled, you can start it by saying “Start Halloween,” If you want to adjust your Alexa command, you can do that in Alexa’s settings for routines. For example, you can change “Start Halloween” to “Trick or Treat.”
This preset routine starts with a creaking door opening, flashes your smart lights and starts a game of trick or treat. When I tried out the trick or treat routine, Alexa offered a trick: a recipe for sweet potato and black bean cookies meant to fool someone into thinking they’re picking up a chocolate chip cookie.
My second roll of the trick-or-treat dice resulted in a corny Alexa rap about being a voice assistant for ghouls and goblins. I’ll spare you the full lyrics, but here’s the last line:
“There are only three things that can strike me with terror: water, bad Wi-Fi and a 404 error.”
In addition to the preset routine, you can also get tips on fun fall activities in your area by asking, “Alexa, find pumpkin patches nearby” or get costume and decor ideas by saying, “Alexa, give me Halloween essentials.” That’s just the tip of the candy corn when it comes to Alexa and seasonal fun.