Whether you are hosting a party or looking for an activity to do with your family, Halloween-themed games and activities can help get people into the Halloween spirit. In addition to getting people excited about Halloween, games and activities provide an opportunity for family and friends to take part and celebrate the holiday together.
Play Black Cat Treasure Hunt
If your family and friends love playing traditional treasure hunting games, they are bound to enjoy playing this treasure hunt game with a Halloween-themed twist. In fact, Black Cat Treasure Hunt was selected as one of 13 Favorite Halloween Games by Disney’s FamilyFun.com. To play, you’ll need several paper cutouts of black cats, a silver or gold inked pen and a candy filled treasure chest. If you don’t have a chest, you can fill a pail or bucket with Halloween candy. Place your treasure chest somewhere out of sight. On the back of each cat cutout, write a clue that will direct the players along their quest for the treasure. Hide the clues in their appropriate locations. To start the game, hand each player a clue that leads to the first hidden cat. That clue should lead the player to the next clue, which will lead them to the next clue and so on until they find the hidden treasure. Give the kids small brown paper bags and let them divvy up the treasure once it is found.
Decorate Halloween Cookies
Decorating Halloween cookies serves two purposes. It provides folks with a Halloween activity and serves as a snack or take-home party treat. You can make the sugar cookies using prepared or homemade dough. Use cookie cutters to cut the cookie dough into various Halloween-themed shapes, like witches, broomsticks, pumpkins and cats, before baking. Once the cookies have finished baking and are cooling, set out your cookie decorating supplies. Add various colors of frosting to small paper cups and place a plastic knife or spoon into each cup. Put out Halloween-themed sprinkles, candies and decorative icing. Encourage your cookie decorators to use their creativity to decorate their own cookies. If you’re going to have people take home their cookies, be sure to provide small plastic bags. Use orange and purple ribbons to tie the bags shut.
Take a Haunted Hayride
During the Halloween season, many local farms and seasonal businesses host haunted hayrides. If you are up for a scare, taking a haunted hayride through the dark woods should provide it. If you live near Philadelphia, Pa., be sure to check out the haunted hayride at the Bates Motel. In 2010, its haunted house, featuring a massive hayride, was voted as one of the Top 13 Haunted Houses in America by HauntWorld.com.
