Halloween Party Games Tips and Ideas That are Budget Friendly

Oct 6, 2010
Elizabeth Richards

Bobbing for Apples is a Budget-Friendly Party Game - Photo courtesy cryrolfe

Easy and inexpensive, these Halloween party games are fun and simple to put together and great for all ages! Fun for school Halloween parties or at home!

Halloween party games are fun for all ages. Playing games is a great way to get adults and children to socialize and celebrate. Here are some inexpensive and easy games that can be put together and played with very little effort.

Pin the Wart on the Witch Halloween Party Game

Items needed

piece of poster board
markers or paint
green Play Doh
black mask or bandana

Draw a picture or sketch of a witch (see picture) The drawing can be simple or complex. Decorate and draw details based on the age of participants. Ideas include a green face and black hat. Draw a prominent nose. The picture can be cut out or left drawn and colored on the poster board.

To Play:

Cover the eyes of each player when it is their turn. Spin them gently in a circle and have them try to place the wart on the witch's face. The person who gets the wart closest to the nose wins.

Pumpkin Toss Party Game

This game is easy and flexible and can be played with items on hand or dressed up with a fancy pumpkin and decorative bean bags. However it is played, Pumpkin Toss is always popular and fun, especially at school parties.

Items needed for Pumpkin Toss

plastic trick-or-treat pumpkin or pumpkin basket
use an orange plastic bowl as an alternative to the pumpkin
for tossing: candy corn, wrapped candy or bean bags

To Play:

Draw a line or place a ruler or string on the floor at a reasonable distance back from the pumpkin, a place where players stand behind to toss the candy or bean bags into the pumpkin. Base the distance from the pumpkin on the age of the players. Take a few practice shots before the game begins to make sure the line is placed far enough back to make the game a little challenging, but not impossible nor too easy.

Have someone keep score. A tally board on a chalk board or a piece of paper works well. Allow children (or adults) to line up and take several shots at the pumpkin, usually 4 or 5 per turn. If time permits, let each person take several turns, rotating after each group.

Additional Party Game Tips

For group parties, set up games at stations around the room. A good sized party can accommodate 4 games easily.
Assign one person to be in charge of each station.
Divide party players broken down into groups of 5 or 6 per group
Rotate the groups between games every 5 to 10 minutes to give everyone a chance to play each game.
Keep score at each station.
At the end of the game time, total the combined points for each player from all the games and award prizes to the top scorers.

Bobbing for Apples

This game was popular in the past but has been forgotten. Children still enjoy bobbing and the apples can be placed in any type of water-proof bin or container, even a clean bucket. Be sure to use fresh, clean drinkable water.

Many adults don't like to play because the game can wash off make-up. However, Bobbing for Apples is fun at the evening's end in adult parties and is sure to wake up anyone who might need a wake-up call before heading home.

Sometimes the simplest games are the most fun.