Planning a Halloween Party for kids?  Try some of these great Halloween Party Games and Craft Activities!

Kid’s Halloween Party Games and Activities

EYEBALL RELAY – Before the party you will need to purchase at least 12 Ping-Pong balls. Using permanent markers, draw irises, pupils, and bloodshot veins on the balls. Divide your group into two teams. Players race around a specific course with a heaping pile of “eyeballs” (at least six), before handing them off to a teammate. Dropped balls must be retrieved before the handoff. The first team to complete the course wins. (Ages 5 and up—you may want to give players over the age of 12 more eyeballs to carry)

WHICH WITCH WILL WIN? – Divide the 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 signal to begin, the first player on each team quickly dresses up, runs the course, and then returns the wardrobe to the next player. The first team to complete the course wins. A witch’s cape, black hat, broomstick, and fake wart will lead to some bone shakin’ fun. (Ages 4-10)

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

CHAIN GHOST STORY – Have everyone sit in a circle. Have the first participant make up a few lines of a scary ghost tale, and then “pass” the story along to the next person. The next person adds a few lines, and then passes the story along, until all guests have participated. You might want to start this one yourself, give some examples (”It was a dark, blustery night. The moon was hidden behind some threatening storm clouds. The only sound you could hear was the wind howling through the trees.”), or choose the most confident child to start. The kids will warm up quickly to the idea and surprise you with their creativity. Without the participants knowing, tape the telling of the story and then play it back for them right away. They’ll laugh even harder and enjoy it more the second time around. For older children, provide a flashlight, turn off the lights, and have the storyteller shine the flashlight under his/her face as they tell their portion of the ghost story. Spine tingling fun! (Ages 7-12)

PIN THE WART ON THE WITCH – Borrowing from the concept of the tried and true game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, we suggest a fun game of Pin the Wart on the Witch. Draw a witch’s face on a piece of poster board, or use our Witch Corner Creep. 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 become even more wartful! (All ages)

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

 DANGLING DONUTS – Another old favorite. Simply attach donuts to long pieces of string, and hang them down from a clothesline, so the donuts are dangling at about chin height to the average participant. The object of the game is to see who can consume their swinging donut in the shortest amount of time. A little messy, but fun and delicious. (Ages 5-12)

REVERSE TRICK OR TREAT GAME – Give each player a bag or goodie box with 10 pieces of candy in it. Have bags labeled with players’ names, so they don’t get mixed up. Let players know at the start of the game exactly when the game will be ending—this game can be played throughout an entire party if you so choose. The object of the game is to catch fellow players saying one of the following words:

Halloween, Candy, Witch, Party, Ghost, Pumpkin

To help players, post the words prominently on a board where they can be seen often. If someone is caught saying one of the words on the list, that person has to give up a piece of candy from their stash. The player with the biggest haul of candy at the end of the game is the winner! (Ages 7 – 12)

RING AROUND THE PUMPKIN – In this version of ring-toss, paint point values on 3 to 4 pumpkins of varying sizes. Arrange them with the highest score farthest from the starting line. Players stand on the line and try to toss a hula-hoop around a pumpkin. Each player is given three to four tries depending on the amount of time available, and the player with the highest score wins. (Ages 4-10)

MUMMY WRAP – Divide guests into teams of two and give each team a roll of toilet paper. Signal the start of the game, and have one person wrap the other with the toilet paper. The team that finishes wrapping the mummy first wins, but remember that the entire roll must be used! (Ages 6-Adult)

WITCH’S BREW – Cut ten pieces of paper in Halloween related shapes, such as ghosts, bats, pumpkins, or spiders. The shapes need to be about the size of a Ritz™ cracker. Place the shapes in a pile beside a small bowl or witch’s cauldron. Have straws available for each player, along with a stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand. Using the straw as a vacuum, each contestant tries to pick up the shapes and drop them into the cauldron. The player with the fastest time wins. (Ages 6-12)

MONSTER PAWS – Using plastic gloves, purchased at beauty supply stores or the deli counter, stick one piece of candy corn at the tip of each finger. Fill the glove with pre-popped popcorn, and tie with curling ribbon, yarn or with a pipe cleaner. Add a little tag with a message, and the hand can be used as a party invitation, table decoration, or favor

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.

FACE PAINTING – Some schools do not allow students to wear costumes. Instead, host a hat parade, and treat the kids to some fun, colorful face paint!

BUGS ON A LOG – This extra-easy to make treat is a fun activity for little children, and then can be instantly consumed. Ingredients: Pretzel Rods, Peanut Butter, and Chocolate Chips. Dip pretzel rod into peanut butter, (about half of the pretzel should be covered), and then roll in chocolate chips. If you are allowing the children to participate, it is easiest to give each of them a plate with their own portion of ingredients on it. They’ll enjoy the making as much as the tasty eating!

Visit ReasonToParty for more Halloween Party Ideas