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Party on!
Have a monster mash coming up? Looking to host the most spooktacular Halloween-themed bash this year? Whether it’s an October birthday or just a chance to get all the ghouls and goblins together, these Halloween party games are fast, easy, cheap and fun. Plus, they’re sure to entertain (and wear out) your little partygoers whenever you play them.
Let’s play: Pumpkin patch stomp
Pumpkin patch stomp
This Halloween game is best for a crowd that doesn’t mind loud noises. Scatter some orange balloons around a room, or across the yard, and get stomping. If kids want more motivation than the joy of popping a balloon, put a small piece of candy into each balloon before blowing it up (tip – the candy also helps the balloons stay in place, and be less likely to blow away outdoors). Head to Delia Creates for all the details.
Next game: Doughnut eating race
Donut eating race
Grab some pumpkin spice donuts and some string, and you’ve got a game. Tie the string through the hole in the donut and hang it high enough for the partygoers to reach it with their mouths. Using only their mouth, let the kids try and eat the donut; whoever finishes first is the winner. It’s harder – and a lot funnier – that you think. Bonus: No prize is needed – they just ate it.
Next game: Witch hat ring toss
Witch hat ring toss
You could go all out and build an entire game board for this Halloween carnival game, but there’s really no need to do that much work. Instead, buy a package of glow sticks and a pack of small traffic cones, or, better yet, make the rings from paper plates and the hats from construction paper, and you’re good to go. Bonus points if you get the kids to decorate their own witch hats.
Next game: Spider races
Spider races
This fun Halloween game idea from Still Playing School is so easy to plan and play. Simply hand out one straw per player and split players into teams of two. Set up a finish line and have them blow and race plastic spiders to win. This is a great way to have kids use those well-developed windpipes. Bonus: It will wear them out quicker than you think. It’s also highly entertaining to watch.
Next game: Pumpkin golf
Pumpkin golf
This simple Halloween game idea from A Girl and a Glue Gun is sure to be a hole in one with kids. It’s a great way to make use of that mini-golf set the kids never play with. (Don’t have one? Head to Goodwill or borrow one.) Then enlist the kids’ help carving an especially wide-mouthed pumpkin they can putt the golf ball into.
Next game: Halloween tic-tac-toe
Halloween tic-tac-toe
A creepier version of a classic kids’ game, this game is sure to give kids a fright: a creepier, crawlier tic-tac-toe board from Fun Games 4 Learning is the place to start. Just add critters. What could be easier? It’s just like regular tic-tac-toe … but with spiders. Or bats. Eek!
Next game: Skeleton scavenger hunt
Skeleton scavenger hunt
Grab some skeletons from the Dollar store, or print and cut out your own to play this party game for Halloween. Then enlist the kids in this fun scavenger hunt from Kara Creates. It’ll keep them busy for a while, so you can maybe sneak a piece of candy from their Halloween stash. (We won’t tell.)
Next game: Monster toss
Monster toss
Decorate a cornhole board or cut one from wood or cardboard like this one from Let’s DIY It All. Then, play traditional cornhole or make it interesting by coming up with your own spooky Halloween rules. It doesn’t get any easier than this Halloween party game kids will surely be familiar with.
Next game: Eyeball egg races
Eyeball egg races
This Halloween party idea from Party Game Ideas is an egg race with a twist. Have kids decorate ping pong balls, recycled plastic eggs or hard-boiled eggs to look like eyeballs. Then, have kids balance their “eyeballs” on spoons and race. (Pro tip: don’t use raw eggs, unless you want a really messy cleanup job ahead of you.)
Not so much the party-hosting type? Don’t worry: There are plenty of games, activities, corn mazes, hayrides, animal shows and more at all the local pumpkin patches.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published a few years ago and updated in October 2023.
