18 Fun Halloween Games for Kids

Perfect for Classrooms or Parties

By
Stacy Fisher
Stacy Fisher, Writer
Stacy Fisher

Stacy is a writer and freebies expert with nearly two decades of experience. She has appeared as an expert on Dr. Oz Show and several radio shows, published hundreds of articles, and co-authored a book. Stacy's written about how to celebrate the holidays for less, decorate your home with free printables, and has curated the best free resources for parents and teachers. Stacy also has an extensive background in academia.

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Updated on 09/30/21
Halloween kids party table setting

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Plan some Halloween party games for kids without breaking the bank. These games are perfect for kids' Halloween parties, classroom celebrations, or just fun at home in the weeks leading up to Halloween. And for many of them you might already have everything you need to play right in your house.

Here are 18 fun and festive Halloween games for kids.

  • 01 of 18

    Halloween Feel Box

    Halloween feel box decorated like a mummy next to a bowl of candy corn

    The Spruce / Margot Cavin

    This gross activity is always a popular Halloween party game. Make boxes with various foods (the slimier the better!) and household items, and have the kids feel what's in the box without looking in it. Then, they get to guess what they think they felt in the box.

  • 02 of 18

    Halloween Pumpkin Patch Hunting Game

    Cropped image of a kid balancing a small pumpkin on their head
    Cavan Images / Getty Images

    This fun game will have kids searching for mini or plastic pumpkins that are hidden around the house or classroom. The person or team that finds the most pumpkins wins. If you don't have any pumpkins on hand, draw some pumpkins on pieces of scrap paper to hide.

  • 03 of 18

    Monster Freeze Dance

    kids in Halloween costumes dancing
    mediaphotos / Getty Images

    Put on some Halloween tunes, and have the kids boogie until the music stops. Then, they have to freeze. Children are eliminated for not freezing. And the last person standing is the winner.

  • 04 of 18

    Old Costume Relay Race

    A group of kids running in their Halloween costumes

    Sean Locke / The Image Bank / Getty Images

    Have kids race to put on and take off old Halloween costumes in this fun and frantic Halloween party game for kids. Divide the kids into even teams for the relay race. The team that has every member put on and take off their designated costume first wins.

    Continue to 5 of 18 below.
  • 05 of 18

    Wrap the Mummy

    Child dressed in a mummy costume
    Jodie Griggs / Getty Images

    Kids work together in this game to wrap a classmate or friend with toilet paper or crepe paper. The object of the game can be the mummy with the most wrapping in an allotted amount of time wins. Or simply let the kids wrap to their heart's content to burn off a little energy.

  • 06 of 18

    Pass It on Ghost Story

    kids whispering in each other's ears
    Peter Muller / Getty Images

    Tell ghost stories in "round-robin" fashion with this spooky Halloween party game for kids. The activity calls for sitting in a circle with candles, but it can work just as well with mini flashlights. Have each person tell a portion of a spooky story and then blow out their candle or turn off their flashlight before passing the story onto the next person.

  • 07 of 18

    Candy Corn Relay Race

    Candy corn and orange scoop
    Garry Gay / Getty Images

    Split kids into teams, and have each team race to move candy corn from one bowl to another. The catch is they have to use a spoon and can't touch the candy corn with their hands. The team that finishes transferring the candy corn between its bowls first wins.

  • 08 of 18

    Wiggle Worm Race

    kids running in a row in their Halloween costumes
    Rawpixel / Getty Images

    This Halloween game will get kids moving. Kids hold hands to form a "worm" and then run from one spot to another trying to keep their worm intact. It can be played by teams or just be a fun activity for all the kids to do together.

    Continue to 9 of 18 below.
  • 09 of 18

    Scarecrow Races

    child making a scarecrow

    Stephen Mccabe / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Split kids into teams, and provide each team with a scarecrow and a bag of clothes. Then, have the kids dress the scarecrow one article of clothing at a time in a relay race format. The first team with a fully dressed scarecrow wins.

  • 10 of 18

    Pin the Stem on the Pumpkin

    one blindfolded kid with three others laughing nearby
    TIMLI / Getty Images

    Create a pumpkin out of posterboard or cardboard, and make a separate stem for it. Then, blindfold kids and have them try to pin the stem on the pumpkin. You can use masking tape on the stem if the kids are too young for pushpins.

  • 11 of 18

    How Many Halloween Candies Guessing Game

    Assortment of candy
    Mitch Diamond / Getty Images

    Fill a jar with Halloween candy, and have kids guess how many pieces are in the jar. The winner either guesses correctly or is closest to the correct number. They can take home the jar—after sharing a piece with everyone, of course.

  • 12 of 18

    Halloween Musical Chairs

    A group of children playing musical chairs

    Sabine Duerichen / LOOK-foto / LOOK / Getty Images

    This game is a fun twist on musical chairs. Print out Halloween-related images, and spread them around the room. Have smaller versions of the images to put in a jar. Have Halloween music playing, and when it stops the kids must choose an image on which to stand. Pull an image from your jar. Anyone standing on that image is out of the game. Remove the image, and keep playing until there's a winner.

    Continue to 13 of 18 below.
  • 13 of 18

    Candy Corn Catch

    Hands holding candy corn

    D. Sharon Pruitt Pink Sherbet Photography / Getty Images

    Partner up kids for this fun and active game. The object of the game is for one kid to catch candy corn thrown by their partner in a plastic pumpkin worn around their waist. The duo that's able to make the most pieces of candy corn in the bucket wins.

  • 14 of 18

    Halloween Capture the Pumpkins

    child running by pumpkins in farm
    Cavan Images / Getty Images

    Divide the kids into two teams, and assign each team a color. Supply each team with several pumpkins, with their bottoms painted in the team color. Have someone who’s not playing hide the pumpkins. Each team should designate pumpkin stealers, who tag opposing players trying to bring their pumpkins back to their home base, and pumpkin hunters, who try to find their own team’s pumpkins. The team that ends up with the most pumpkins in the end—from stealing the other team’s pumpkins or hunting their own—wins. 

  • 15 of 18

    Halloween Guess Who

    Children wearing Halloween costumes on an outdoor path
    Zing Images / Getty Images

    Tape a Halloween-related character name on each child's back, making sure the characters are suitable for the kids' age group. Also, don't allow them to see their character name. Then, have the kids walk around and give each other clues about the characters on their backs. The first person to guess the character they have wins.

  • 16 of 18

    Pumpkin Passing Game

    child holding a small pumpkin

    Annie Otzen / Getty Images 

    This game is essentially hot potato but with pumpkins. Kids pass around a mini pumpkin, and if they're caught holding the pumpkin when the music stops they're out. This is a fun Halloween party game that even the littlest kids can play.

    Continue to 17 of 18 below.
  • 17 of 18

    Pumpkin Hockey

    Autumn pumpkins and squash
    Matilda Delves / Getty Images

    Divide kids into two teams, and give each team a pumpkin and a hockey stick. Then, have each participant stick-handle their pumpkin to a designated spot and back before passing the stick and pumpkin off to the next person on their team. The team that finishes first wins.

  • 18 of 18

    Ghost Hunter

    girl in a Halloween costume holding up a lollypop
    Hero Images / Getty Images

    Create lollipops with paper covering them to make a ghost-like form. On each piece of paper should be a letter than spells a Halloween-related word of your choice. The game is played in two parts. First, have the kids hunt for the hidden lollipops. Then, have them work together to unscramble the letters and decipher the word. Everyone gets to enjoy their lollipop after that.