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Spooky Halloween Birthday Party Ideas

Spooky fun with ghosts and pumpkins. Complete planning guide with 9 activities, 12 menu ideas, decorations, and a full shopping list.

Ages 3-50
$98-275
2-3 hour party
32+ ideas
Create Your Spooky Halloween Party Plan

Planning a Spooky Halloween Birthday Party

A spooky halloween birthday party is perfect for kids ages 3-50. Average cost: $98-275 for 10-15 guests. Classic themes are crowd-pleasers because every kid already knows the games. Below: 9 activities, 12 menu ideas, decorations, and a full shopping list with real prices.

Seasonal birthday parties get 25% more RSVPs than non-seasonal themes scheduled the same month — the seasonal hook gives guests one more reason to say yes. 🎃 A Spooky Halloween party feels like an event, not just a birthday.

Curated by Baljeet Aulakh, Party Genius | Last updated: February 2026

Best Age Range
3-50 years
Party Duration
2-3 hours
Budget Range
$98-275
Total Ideas
32+

🎃 Why Choose a Spooky Halloween Party?

A Spooky Halloween party rides the wave of the season — the decorations, the food, the activities all feel effortless because the world is already set up for it. Ages 3-50 get a spooky celebration that's bigger than a birthday — it's a seasonal moment.

Spooky Halloween Party Ideas by Age Group

Spooky Halloween Party for Toddlers (Ages 1-3)

Keep activities short (10-15 min each), focus on sensory play and simple crafts. Use soft, oversized spooky halloween decorations. Plan for parent helpers and keep the party under 90 minutes. For this theme, focus on music, bubbles, and free play — toddlers don't need structured games.

Spooky Halloween Party for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)

Mix structured games with free play. Activities like Boo Search work perfectly for this age group. Add themed coloring pages and simple treasure hunts. Keep rules simple — one instruction at a time.

Spooky Halloween Party for Kids (Ages 6-8)

This age group loves team games and competitions. Try Jack O Lantern Art and themed relay races. Kids can handle 5-6 activities over a 2-hour party. Mix high-energy games with quieter moments.

Spooky Halloween Party for Tweens (Ages 9-12)

Tweens want more independence and cooler activities. Include creative challenges, scavenger hunts, and photo opportunities. Let them vote on activities and give them roles — tweens want to feel like they're in charge.

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Fun Spooky Halloween Party Games & Activities

9 themed activities with full instructions

Seasonal parties have a built-in advantage: the world is already decorated. These 9 spooky activities lean into what makes this time of year special — the weather, the traditions, and the Spooky Halloween energy that's already in the air.

Boo Search

High Energy

Find hidden ghost decorations

15 min4-20 playersAges 3-10

Supplies Needed:

Ghost decorations
How to Play

Hunt for ghosts

Jack O Lantern Art

Calm

Decorate mini pumpkins

30 min2-20 playersAges 3-12

Supplies Needed:

Mini pumpkinsPaintStickers
How to Play

Decorate without carving

Spooky Moves

High Energy

Dance to Halloween music

15 min4-30 playersAges 4-99

Supplies Needed:

Music
How to Play

Free dance to Halloween hits

Monster March

Mixed

Everyone shows off their costumes in a parade around the party!

20 min6-50 playerslargeAges 3-16

Supplies Needed:

spooky musicprizes
How to Play

Clear parade path. Play spooky music. Announce each costume. Award prizes for categories!

Mummy Race

Mixed

Teams race to wrap a teammate in toilet paper like a mummy!

15 min6-30 playersmediumAges 5-16

Supplies Needed:

toilet paper rolls
How to Play

Divide into teams. One person is the mummy. Others wrap with toilet paper. First complete mummy wins!

Dance Party

Mixed

Dance to Halloween hits! Freeze dance when music stops.

15 min4-30 playerslargeAges 3-16

Supplies Needed:

speakerHalloween playlist
How to Play

Play Monster Mash and Halloween songs. Free dance with freeze stops. Best poses win!

Decorate Pumpkins

Mixed

Paint or decorate small pumpkins - no carving required!

30 min2-25 playersmediumAges 3-16

Supplies Needed:

mini pumpkinspaintstickersgoogly eyes
How to Play

Provide mini pumpkins, paint, stickers, googly eyes. Kids decorate. Take home!

Candy Corn Game

Mixed

Toss candy corn into pumpkin buckets for points!

15 min3-20 playersmediumAges 3-14

Supplies Needed:

candy cornpumpkin buckets
How to Play

Set up pumpkin buckets at distances. Toss candy corn. Most in buckets wins!

Boo Bowling

Mixed

Knock down ghost pins (white-wrapped bottles) with a pumpkin ball!

15 min3-20 playersmediumAges 3-14

Supplies Needed:

white fabricbottlesorange ball
How to Play

Wrap bottles in white fabric as ghosts. Use orange ball. Bowl strikes!

🎃 Pro Tip: Check what seasonal events are happening in your area the same weekend. A Spooky Halloween party on the same day as the town festival, holiday parade, or farmers market can incorporate a free "field trip" as an activity.

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DIY Spooky Halloween Party Decorations

11 decoration ideas • Est. $116-$250 total

Spooky Halloween decorations get a head start because the season itself is the backdrop. Layer in seasonal elements — real pumpkins, spring flowers, summer fruit, winter branches — and you're 70% decorated before you hang a single banner.

🚪Entrance & Welcome(2)

Pumpkin Display

Carved or decorated pumpkins

Medium DIY
$15-$40

Pumpkin Trail

LED jack-o-lanterns lining the walkway

Easy DIYReusable
$20-$4015 min setup
DIY Instructions

Place plastic pumpkins with LED candles along path.

🎈Main Party Area(1)

Creepy Corners

Stretch spider web material

Easy DIY
$8-$15

Ceiling & Hanging(2)

Spooky Banner

Hanging ghost decorations

Easy DIY
$8-$18

Spooky Specter

Cheesecloth ghosts suspended from ceiling

Easy DIYReusable
$5-$1020 min setup
DIY Instructions

Drape cheesecloth over balloon, add eyes, hang from ceiling.

🎉General Decorations(3)

Spider Web Decorations

Fake spider webs.

Easy DIYMust-Have
$5-$15
DIY Instructions

Stretch in corners and doorways

Orange and Black Balloons

Halloween color balloons.

Easy DIYMust-Have
$10-$20
DIY Instructions

Create balloon arrangements

Pumpkin Decorations

Plastic or foam pumpkins.

Easy DIYMust-Have
$15-$30
DIY Instructions

Place around party area

🎨Photo(1)

Spooky Backdrop

Haunted house backdrop.

Easy DIYMust-Have
$15-$30
DIY Instructions

Set up for photos

🎨Wall(1)

Creepy Crawler Webs

Stretchy spider webs in corners with plastic spiders

Easy DIYReusableMust-Have
$5-$1215 min setup
DIY Instructions

Stretch webbing across corners, add plastic spiders.

🎨Walls(1)

Boo Banner

Halloween birthday banner.

Easy DIYMust-Have
$10-$20
DIY Instructions

Hang above party area

🦇 Pro Tip: Raid your own holiday decoration storage. That box of Halloween decor, Christmas lights, or spring garlands in the garage is free inventory. Repurposing what you already own saves $30-50 easily.

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Spooky Halloween Party FAQs

Common questions answered

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Spooky Halloween Party Shopping List & Supplies

8 items • Est. $98-$275 total • 5 essentials

Seasonal party supplies are everywhere right now, which means competition drives prices down. This Spooky Halloween shopping list takes advantage of seasonal availability — stock up at $98-275 total while everything is on the shelves.

$98

Budget Min

$275

Budget Max

8

Total Items

5

Must-Haves

🎈Decorations

1 items • ~$25
Spooky Decor$25-50

Pumpkins, ghosts, spiders, bats.

Amazon, Party City, Target
Must

🍽️Tableware & Serving

2 items • ~$20
Spooky Set$12-22

Halloween plates and napkins.

Party City, Amazon, Target
Must
Spooky Dinnerware$8-15

Halloween themed plates

Party City, Target
Must

🛒Food & Ingredients

1 items • ~$15
Trick-or-Treat$15-30

Assorted Halloween candy.

Costco, Target, Walmart
Must

📦Party Supplies

1 items • ~$2
Mini Pumpkins$2-5

Small pumpkins for decorating.

Grocery Store, Trader Joe's

🎁Party Favors

2 items • ~$21
Spooky Glow Pack$1-3

Glow sticks and bracelets for trick-or-treaters

Dollar Tree, Party City, Amazon
Costume Accessories$20-40

Masks, capes, wigs.

Amazon, Spirit Halloween, Party City

🎮Entertainment

1 items • ~$15
Craft Pumpkins$15-30

Small pumpkins for decorating

Grocery store, Pumpkin patch
Must

Where to Shop

Amazon

Best for bulk & themed items

Dollar Tree

Budget decorations & tableware

Party City

One-stop party shop

Target

Quality basics & snacks

🕷️ Pro Tip: Buy seasonal party supplies 2 weeks after the holiday — Target, Walmart, and Party City mark items down 50-75%. Stock up for next year's party at a fraction of the cost.

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Spooky Halloween Party Planning Checklist & Timeline

5 tasks from 4 weeks out to party day

Seasonal parties should flow with the natural rhythm of the day. This Spooky Halloween timeline matches the spooky energy of the season — early starts for summer, cozy afternoon timing for winter, golden hour for fall.

📅

4 Weeks Before

(1 tasks)

Send spooky invites

Send Halloween themed invitations. Include costume ideas!

30 minsInvitationsEssential
📅

3 Weeks Before

(1 tasks)

Order spooky supplies

Order Halloween decorations, cobwebs, and scary props.

45 minsShoppingEssential
📋

2 Weeks Before

(2 tasks)

Order scary cake

Order Halloween themed cake with spooky design.

30 minsFood & CakeEssential

Plan costume activities

Plan costume parade, monster mash dance, and games.

1 hourEntertainmentEssential
🛒

1 Week Before

(1 tasks)

Buy candy

Get lots of Halloween candy for activities and prizes.

45 minsShoppingEssential

🕸️ Pro Tip: Seasonal daylight matters. Summer parties can start at 4pm and still have 3+ hours of light. Winter parties should start by 2pm unless you're going for a "cozy evening" vibe with lights and candles.

🎃

Spooky Halloween Party Music & Playlist

7 songs • ~25 minutes of music

Seasonal music is the easiest playlist to build — Spooky Halloween songs already exist and everyone knows them. This playlist layers seasonal classics with birthday party energy, peaking during activities and mellowing for cake.

👋Arrival & Welcome

Background music as guests arrive

Monster Mash

Bobby Boris Pickett

fun3:38

Monster Mash

Bobby Pickett

fun3:17

🎮Games & Activities

Upbeat songs for active play

Ghostbusters

Ray Parker Jr

energetic4:05

This Is Halloween

Nightmare Before Christmas

fun3:25

🎂Cake & Presents

Celebration time hits

Happy Birthday

Traditional

emotional0:45

💃Dance Party

High energy dance tracks

Thriller

Michael Jackson

energetic5:58

🎵Departure

Party music

Time Warp

Rocky Horror

fun3:52

🎃 Pro Tip: Avoid "too on the nose" seasonal music — 2 hours of straight Christmas carols or Halloween sound effects gets old. Mix in 60% regular party music with 40% seasonal songs for the right balance.

🎃

Spooky Halloween Party Favor & Goodie Bag Ideas

2 goodie bag ideas • ~$132 for 12 guests

Seasonal favors practically choose themselves. These Spooky Halloween favor ideas tie into the time of year — hot cocoa kits for winter, seed packets for spring, sunscreen + sunglasses for summer. Useful AND themed.

Spooky Glow Pack

$1/guest

Glow sticks and bracelets for trick-or-treaters

For 12 guests: ~$12

Find at: Dollar Tree, Party City, Amazon

Costume Accessories

$20/guest

Masks, capes, wigs.

For 12 guests: ~$240

Find at: Amazon, Spirit Halloween, Party City

Classic Goodie Bag Formula

  • • 1 themed toy or trinket
  • • 1-2 pieces of candy
  • • 1 activity item (stickers, coloring page)
  • • Optional: bubble or play-doh

👻 Pro Tip: Seasonal candy is always in stock and pre-themed. Heart candies for Valentine's, candy canes for Christmas, candy corn for Halloween — $0.25 per kid for something that feels intentionally chosen.

Free Spooky Halloween Party Planning Tools

See This Party Plan in Action

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Interactive Spooky Halloween Party Example

Explore a complete, ready-to-use spooky halloween party plan with an interactive dashboard. See exactly how your party plan will look!

Interactive Checklist
Day-of Timeline
Guest & RSVP Manager
View Interactive Example

Example: Jack's 7th Birthday • 15 guests • $275 budget

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