Easy & Cheap Halloween Games for Kids: Party, Classroom & Home Ideas

Fun Halloween Games Kids Love (That Won’t Blow Your Budget)

These 10 Halloween games for kids are cheap, quick to set up, and work for a classroom party, a trunk-or-treat, or a family night at home. Most use things you already have, like pumpkins, toilet paper rolls, straws, and a bag of candy, so you can plan a whole party’s worth of games for less than the cost of one store-bought kit.

“My kids are too old for school Halloween parties now, but if yours aren’t, here are some fun ones to try.”

— Stacy King Maines, COO, Fabulessly Frugal

Pumpkin bowling and pumpkin golf are two of our favorites. They take about five minutes to set up and kids will play them over and over.

Which Halloween Games Work Best for Your Group?

The best Halloween party games match the age of the kids and the space you have. Here’s a quick way to pick:

• Preschool and toddlers: Pumpkin Toss, Pumpkin Bowling, and Rock Monsters. Big targets, no losing.
• Elementary classroom parties: Spider Races, Pin the Spider on the Web, and Pumpkin Toss. All fit on a desk or small floor area.
• Outdoor or backyard parties: Pumpkin Golf, The Pumpkin Run, and Glow Stick Ring Toss.
• Mixed ages or family nights: Donut Eating Contest and the DIY Halloween Photo Booth. Teens and grown-ups always join in.

10 Easy Halloween Games for Kids

1. Pumpkin Toss

Pumpkin Toss is a simple aim-and-throw game where kids toss candy pumpkins into small jars or cauldrons. It needs almost no setup, which makes it perfect for a school party.

Grab a bag of mellowcreme pumpkin candies and line up kitchen cups, mason jars, or these little cauldrons. Put the bigger jars up front for little ones and the smaller ones farther back for older kids. The candy pumpkins are a huge favorite at our house, so expect a few to disappear before the game starts!

Thanks, Playground Parkbench!

2. Pumpkin Bowling

Pumpkin bowling uses a small round pumpkin as the bowling ball and “ghost” pins made from plastic bottles, toilet paper rolls, or paper towel rolls. Kids roll the pumpkin and try to knock all the ghosts down.

Let the kids draw ghost faces on the pins with a black marker before you play. It turns into a mini craft and a game in one, and the pins cost nothing.

Get the full pumpkin bowling setup from Mombrite

3. Spider Races

Spider Races is a tabletop game where kids blow plastic spiders across a table through a straw. The first spider over the finish line wins.

All you need are plastic spider rings and some milkshake straws. A smooth table works best. Kids get to keep their spider rings afterward, so it doubles as a party favor.

Thanks, Still Playing School!

4. Pin the Spider on the Web

Pin the Spider on the Web is a Halloween twist on pin the tail on the donkey. Kids are blindfolded, spun around, and try to stick their spider closest to the center of the web.

Download the free pin the spider on the web printable and print it at any office supply store for a few dollars. Write each child’s name on their spider so you can tell who wins.

Thanks, Ella Claire!

5. Pumpkin Golf

Pumpkin golf turns carved pumpkins into mini golf holes. Kids putt a golf ball into a pumpkin’s open mouth to score.

It takes a little more prep, so make it a family project. Give each child one pumpkin to carve as their own “hole,” then play the course together. No golf clubs? A toy golf set or even a stick works fine.

Thanks, A Girl and a Glue Gun!

6. Rock Monsters

Rock Monsters is a calm craft activity where kids paint rocks and glue on googly eyes to make silly Halloween monsters. It’s a great station for kids who need a break from the louder games.

Send kids outside to pick their perfect rock, then set out rock paint, glue, and googly eyes. For more ideas, try our Halloween crafts for preschoolers and toddlers or these easy rock painting ideas for beginners.

Thanks to The Inspiration Edit!

7. Donut Eating Contest

In a donut eating contest, donuts hang from strings and kids race to eat theirs without using their hands. It’s hilarious to watch, and every kid gets a treat.

Hang the strings from a clothesline or a broom handle held by two adults. Pick up Halloween-decorated donuts from a local bakery for an extra-festive touch, and check for food allergies before the party.

Thanks, Fireflies and Mud Pies!

8. The Pumpkin Run

The Pumpkin Run is a relay race where kids carry or balance a small pumpkin to the finish line. Make it as easy or as tricky as you like.

Little kids can simply carry a mini pumpkin. Older kids can try balancing one on their head or on a spoon with no hands. Small prizes like stickers or a full-size candy bar keep everyone motivated.

Thanks, Pen + Paper Flowers!

9. DIY Halloween Photo Booth

A DIY Halloween photo booth gives kids (and grown-ups) a spot to pose in costume with silly props. At a school party, it also gives every parent an easy way to get a picture of their kid.

Hang a white sheet backdrop, add paper bats and spiders, and set out a basket of props. These free printable Halloween photo booth props save you from making your own, and our Halloween party essentials for school list covers the rest. An instant camera lets kids take their photo home the same day.

Get the free photo booth props from Kristen Duke

10. Glow Stick Pumpkin Ring Toss

Glow Stick Pumpkin Ring Toss is classic ring toss using glow stick bracelets as rings and pumpkin stems as the targets. It’s especially fun after dark at a trunk-or-treat or backyard party.

Pick up a pack of glow sticks and choose pumpkins with long, sturdy stems. Line them up at different distances and give each one a point value.

Thanks, Kid Friendly Things To Do!

Tips for Running a Halloween Game Party

A smooth Halloween party comes down to a little planning. These tips keep things fun and stress-free:

• Plan three to four games for a one- to two-hour party. Set them up as stations so kids can rotate in small groups.
• Mix active and quiet games. Pair a racing game with a calm one like Rock Monsters.
• Buy supplies early. Mini pumpkins, glow sticks, and spider rings are cheapest at the dollar store before mid-October.
• Keep prizes small. Stickers, pencils, or extra spider rings work great. Our candy-free Halloween handouts make good prizes too.
• Check for allergies before any food game. The FDA’s Halloween food safety tips for parents are worth a quick read before party day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Halloween Games for Kids

What are easy Halloween games for a classroom party?

Spider Races, Pin the Spider on the Web, and Pumpkin Toss work best in a classroom. They fit on a desk or small floor space, need cheap supplies, and take only a few minutes per round.

How many games should I plan for a kids’ Halloween party?

Plan three to four games for a one- to two-hour party. Running them as stations helps kids stay busy without long waits.

What Halloween games work for toddlers and preschoolers?

Pumpkin Bowling, Pumpkin Toss, and Rock Monsters are great for little ones. Use big targets and short distances, and skip scoring so everyone wins.

What are cheap prizes for Halloween party games?

Spider rings, glow sticks, stickers, Halloween pencils, and fun-size candy all make easy, low-cost prizes. Dollar stores sell most of these in bulk.

Are these Halloween games good for trunk-or-treat events?

Yes. Glow Stick Pumpkin Ring Toss, Pumpkin Bowling, and Pumpkin Toss all set up easily in a parking lot or from the back of a car.

More Halloween Ideas

• 20 Kid-Friendly DIY Halloween Decorations
• How to Preserve a Carved Pumpkin
• 20 Easy Halloween Crafts for Preschoolers and Toddlers
• Halloween Party Essentials for School
• 15 Candy-Free Halloween Handouts
• 17 Halloween Costumes Under $10
• All Halloween Deals, Recipes, and DIY Projects

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a big budget to throw a Halloween party kids will remember. A few pumpkins, some glow sticks, and a bag of candy go a long way.

Which of these Halloween games are you trying this year? Leave a comment below and tell us how it went, or share your own favorite Halloween game so other parents can try it too!

Want more cheap party ideas, easy crafts, and Halloween deals?

Sign Up for Fabulessly Frugal Emails