Last minute Halloween cancellations can be devastating to small children. They look forward to wearing their awesome costume and eating all that yummy candy. Unfortunately, these things happen. That doesn’t mean you have to stand by and watch their little hearts break. With a little ingenuity, throwing a last-minute Halloween party together can be fun. Here are simple Halloween themed ideas for food, games, and activities to help you put together a memorable Halloween party, last minute.
Make Decorations Or Buy Some Cheap At The Dollar Store.
Most of what you’ll need for last minute Halloween decorating can be found at the dollar store. They have fake ghosts, webs, and pumpkins. You can find balloons, party favors, napkins, plastic cutlery, table cloths, and paper plates there. Stick to colors like black, orange, purple, and green.
Pumpkins and Jack-o’-Lanterns: If you have real pumpkins, carve or paint them with the kids to create jack-o’-lanterns. Alternatively, you can use paper cutouts or balloons with pumpkin faces to decorate the space.
Spider Webs and Spiders: Stretch fake spider webs around the party area and add plastic spiders for a spooky touch. Better yet, make decorating a game. Tell the kids they have to make a haunted house. Hand them the webs (or any decor) and tell them to go around and “spookify the house”.
Glow-in-the-Dark Stars and Paper Bats: Hang glow-in-the-dark stars and bats on the walls and ceiling for a mystical ambiance. You can find the stars in the toy section at the dollar store. Grab construction paper and have the kids make bats. They can use them while “spookifying the house”.
Themed Food and Drinks:
- Mummy Hot Dogs: Wrap hot dogs in strips of crescent roll dough to create mummy hot dogs. Add mustard or ketchup for the eyes.
- Witches’ Broomsticks: Make witches’ broomsticks by attaching pretzel sticks to string cheese with chives or green bell pepper strips.
- Monster Eyes: Use peeled grapes or olives to create “monster eyes.” They make a creepy but delicious snack.
- Pumpkin Juice: Serve orange-colored fruit punch or orange soda as “pumpkin juice.” Add a scoop of orange sherbet for a foamy effect.
- Spider Cupcakes: Make or buy chocolate cupcakes and top them with chocolate frosting. Add licorice legs to create spider cupcakes.
- S’Mores: They don’t need to be spooky, they just need to be S’mores. No matter the party, no matter the theme – S’mores are always invited.
Games and Activities:
Mummy Wrap:
Divide the kids into pairs. Give each pair a roll of toilet paper, and challenge them to wrap one child in toilet paper to create a mummy. The fastest team wins. This game is fun for all ages – even adults seem to enjoy it so jump in. Volunteer to be the mummy!
Halloween Scavenger Hunt:
Create a simple scavenger hunt with a list of Halloween-themed items for the kids to find around your home or yard. Hide treats, toys, even Halloween props! Be super silly about it to keep them laughing!
Pumpkin Decorating:
Provide craft supplies like markers, stickers, and glue for the kids to decorate mini pumpkins. You can also have a pumpkin carving station with adult supervision. They’ll look Gourd-geous!
Costume Parade / Contest:
Have the kids dress up in their Halloween costumes and organize a costume parade. You could even turn it into a contest if you have small prizes to hand out. Think up different categories like “spookiest costume” or “most creative costume.”
Apple Bobbing:
Fill a large container with water and add apples. Kids can take turns trying to catch apples with their teeth, hands-free.
Music and Dancing:
Create a Halloween playlist with kid-friendly spooky tunes like “Monster Mash” and “Thriller.” Have a mini dance party with fun, Halloween-themed dances.
Spooky Storytelling:
Gather the kids in a circle and take turns telling or reading short, age-appropriate spooky stories or jokes.
If you have older kids and a fire pit in your yard, light it up! This will add to the eerie ambiance. Tweens and teens will especially love telling scary stories by the fire. Bring them throw blankets, popcorn, and supplies to make S’mores! They’ll probably spend the whole night out there.
Spooky Movie Time:
If you have time and equipment available, consider screening a kid-friendly Halloween movie like “Hocus Pocus” or “Casper.” Stream classic episodes of Goosebumps. For tweens/teens, the new Goosebumps series is streaming. This can be hosted in-home or outdoors with a projector and screen. All you need is a white wall or a sheet and presto – you have a HUGE screen.
Personal Trunk or Treat:
If traditional trick or treating is out that year (and your party isn’t on Halloween), consider making your own version. The parents of attendees can pre-decorate and stock treats in their trunks. When it’s showtime, pop the trunks, usher the kids outside, and watch surprise fill their faces. Who wouldn’t want a private ‘trunk-or-treat’ event? This would work exceptionally well for those living in a cul-de-sac if their little nook of the neighborhood pitched in.
With these simple ideas, you can put together an enjoyable, memorable last-minute Halloween event for kids. It’s all about creating a fun and festive atmosphere, and you can adapt these activities to suit the age and interests of your young guests.
Come back & Let us know in the comments if you tried any of these activities or yummy treats!
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