Holiday
The Best Spooky and Fun Halloween Activities and Events
There’s something about Halloween. From the crisp fall air and pumpkins to dressing up, Halloween is a fun way to kick off the holidays. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or looking for crafts and books that the kids will love, this post has lots of fun ideas for kids of all ages. Whether you’re planning a day of Halloween-themed crafts, organizing a scavenger hunt, or heading out to a pumpkin patch or trunk-or-treat, there are lots of ways to create memories that will last forever. These moments are the childhood magic they’ll remember, and there’s something that’s so special about that to me. I’m going to share some of my favorite Halloween activities and crafts, and all the things I do to make spooky season fun.
The Best Spooky and Fun Halloween Activities and Events
I don’t like scary movies and zombies, but Halloween has become one of my favorite holidays as a mom. I love making the holidays fun for my kids, and Halloween is the perfect way to start feeling that holiday magic. These activities offer a wide range of festive and engaging ways for families to celebrate Halloween, and make the season so much more memorable and spooky in a kid-friendly way. Here are some of the best Halloween activities for the whole family.
Read Halloween Books
Seasonal books are a great way to make any season fun. And there are so many great books about pumpkin patches and ghosts, that are spooky and fun, but not scary. I usually bring these out at the end of September and leave them out for the entire season.
The Best Fall and Halloween Books for Little Kids
Buy Halloween Pajamas
Seasonal pajamas are one of my favorite ways to get excited about the holidays. They are so fun and cute, and we all love them.
Halloween Crafts
Halloween crafts are one of my favorite ways to keep kids busy and to make the season fun and festive. Seasonal activities are always fun, and these kids’ activities are ones that won’t destroy your home. Whether you’re making things for your home or just making a fun and easy sensory activity, seasonal crafts always add some extra holiday magic. Set them up after school, or make it a tradition to plan something after school every Friday. I love having these for my 4 and 6 year-old while my son naps over the weekend, too. Here are my favorite Halloween crafts for kids.
Halloween Dough and Sensory Pieces
I wanted to be a sensory bin mom, but they are just too much work. If you are someone who doesn’t love a mess but wants to make Halloween fun for your kids, grab some dough and a few sensory pieces to keep little hands busy.
Make Halloween Bracelets
This is an easy Halloween craft that again, won’t make a mess.
Halloween Diamond Painting
My kids have gotten really into diamond painting, and I think it’s a really fun activity to do with the kids. We found these great diamond painting kits, and there’s a Halloween-themed one. This would be great for an after-school or weekend activity, or fun to have out at a Halloween party.
Halloween Coloring Poster or Coloring Pages
You can purchase free printables online, or go all out with a large Halloween-themed coloring poster. I use painter’s tape to tape it to the ground, hand the kids some markers or crayons, and let them go wild.
Pumpkin Painting
Not everyone enjoys all that goes into pumpkin carving and I’m not about to hand my 4 and 6 year-olds a knife. Painting pumpkins offers a safe alternative for little kids. You can use glow-in-the-dark paint, glitter, and even googly eyes to make your pumpkins stand out. Painted pumpkins can be as spooky or cute as you’d like, from eerie faces to whimsical designs like witches and black cats.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt
You can do this at home or on your Halloween house tour. Create a scavenger hunt for your kids by adding things like ghosts and skeletons to a list, and have them check the boxes as they find all the spooky items on their list. To make it last a little longer, I’ll have them look for more than one of each item. So I might write 6 ghosts, and have 6 separate check boxes after a ghost.
If your kids can’t read yet, draw the item they’re looking for. This is such a fun Halloween activity and is something you can do anywhere.
Halloween Treats
This is another thing that’s fun and festive, without being too much work. Make snack time extra fun by using cookie cutters to cut cheese or fruit into seasonal shapes. It’s fun and easy, and is one of those things that makes an ordinary moment feel magical.
Snackle Boxes or Snack Boards
Ok, this is where I shine. I love making my kids themed snack boards or snackle boxes, and it’s so much easier than you might think. I’ll add normal snacks like apple slices and cheese, but use mini cookie cutters to cut the cheese slices into seasonal shapes, and add a special themed treat.
Rice Krispie Treats
Transform traditional Rice Krispie treats into mummies with candy eyes and icing. These couldn’t be easier to make and were such a hit with my kids.
Bake and Decorate Halloween Cookies
This is another fun and relatively easy activity that my kids always love. Buy some cookie cutters and bake and decorate cookies shaped like ghosts, bats, and pumpkins.
Halloween Waffles
This is another really easy one that my kids really love. These mini waffle makers are under $10 and are so fun and easy to use.
Host a Halloween Party
Nothing will get you into the Halloween spirit like a Halloween-themed event. I really want to host a Halloween party for my kids and a few family friends this year. It would be easy enough to plan. Have everyone come in Halloween costumes, play some party games, and set up a craft station.
Go on a Haunted House Walk
Haunted houses are obviously way too scary for little kids. I’m not really a fan, either, but I love going on a haunted house walk or drive with my kids. This is one of our favorite Halloween Activities to do each year. We will get in the car at night and drive around to look at all the houses at Halloween and Christmas, too, and they love it. Bonus points if you play the soundtrack from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin patches are a must for the Halloween season. Visit a local pumpkin patch or make a drive to a pumpkin farm. Do some apple picking, ride a hay ride, and have a little Halloween candy. Once you get home, do a little pumpkin carving or pumpkin painting.
Watch Halloween Shows and Movies
Halloween is the perfect time to gather the family for a cozy night of spooky (but not too scary) entertainment. We aren’t quite ready for Hocus Pocus but my kids love The Nightmare Before Christmas, which I’d argue might be a little scary for younger viewers. There are lots of kid-friendly Halloween shows, movies, and episodes that offer just the right mix of festive and spooky fun.
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest
My kids love this one. Curious George gets ready for the annual Boo Fest and tries to solve a mystery. It’s silly and sweet without being scary, so it’s great for little kids.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
This Halloween special is a classic. The lighthearted humor and heartwarming moments make this a must-watch for young kids.
Room on the Broom
Based on one of our favorite Halloween books, Room on the Broom is an adorable animated film that tells the story of a kind witch who allows several animals to ride on her broomstick.
Host a Cocktail Party
When it comes to Halloween activities, hosting a spooky Halloween cocktail party sounds especially fun. Plan a more formal sit-down dinner, or set up appetizers and charcuterie, with some spooky-themed cocktails.
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