If you’re like most of us parents, your child is either having a Halloween party, attending a Halloween party, or begging for a Halloween party… so we thought we’d help you out by providing you with some free ideas for party games, activities and craft ideas for your child’s Halloween Party!

BOBBING FOR APPLES – This simple game, involving a water-filled tub brimming with floating apples, is a timeless favorite. Most of us enjoyed this game as children and it will still delight children today, as does any game involving water. (Ages 4-12)

WHICH WITCH WILL WIN? – Divide the party guests into two equal teams. Create two starting lines with masking tape and place two pumpkins about 10-15 yards away. Line the teams up with the “witch’s wardrobe” at the starting line. At the start signal, the first player on each team quickly dresses up, runs the course, and then returns the witch’s wardrobe to the next player. The first team to complete the course wins. A witch’s cape, black hat, broomstick, and fake wart would be great as the wardrobe. (Ages 4-10)

PIN THE WART ON THE WITCH – Borrowing from the concept of the game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, why not play Pin the Wart on the Witch!? Draw a witch’s face on a piece of poster board. Use little balls of green Play-Doh ™ or paper cutouts as the warts. Blindfold each participant as his/her turn arrives, spin, point in the right direction, and watch your wicked witch get more warts! (All ages)

OOZING EYEBALL – Using a peeled hard-boiled egg as your “oozing eyeball”, play this Halloween variation of the classic Hot Potato game. Have players sit in a circle and pass the oozing eyeball until the music stops. The player left holding the eyeball when the music stops is out. Keep passing the eyeball until only one player is left. (Ages 4-9)

PAINTED PUMPKINS – Purchase one mini pumpkin or gourd for each child, and using tempera paints or paint pens, and let each child personalize a pumpkin.

MONSTER PAWS – Using plastic gloves, not latex, stick one piece of candy corn at the tip of each finger. Fill the glove with cooled pre-popped popcorn and tie with curling ribbon, yarn or with a pipe cleaner. Add a little tag with a message. The hand can be used as a party invitation, table decoration, party treat, etc.

COOKIE MONSTERPIECE – This activity doubles as a snack, as children decorate their own sugar cookies. Have a station set up with plenty of sugar cookies cut out in Halloween shapes, on individual plates, along with different colors of frosting, sprinkles, candy corn, and other goodies. This has worked equally well with just about any age group.

Looking for more Halloween party ideas or Halloween Costumes?