Low-Cost Family Activities for Halloween: Enjoying the Season without Overspending

Jul 14

Written By JP

I know I am not the only one who feels like the Halloween Spirit falls upon us earlier and earlier each year. However, lately, we’ve all noticed a darker side to the Halloween season. I’m not talking about the obvious darkness of Halloween that we all know and love, I’m talking about the retail demand to release Halloween items sooner and the {clears throat} resellers who buy everything all up in July only to hoard it all for a large ransom. It’s insane. It’s infuriating. This puts a pressure on all of the Halloween community, but it also affects parents who just want to provide a fun and exciting Halloween season.

Can you still make the best memories and get in all those spooky feels without spending a ton of money on this years latest “must-haves” and Instagrammable “experiences” you must purchase tickets for?

Of course you can!! Think about OUR childhood memories. We didn’t have this stuff. I remember one year I dressed in all black, teased out my spiral perm (Don’t you DARE say a word!), used a half can of hairspray, exaggerated my makeup, and used red lipliner to mark two dots on my neck. Instant VAMPIRESS! My dad grabbed one of the throw pillows off the sofa and shoved it under the back of his hoodie. He messed up his hair and gave the knarliest looks. As soon as he hunched over… BOOM! Quasimodo! Straight out of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He scared the crap out of those trick-or-treaters. Zero $ spent.

Let’s make this season the best one yet!

Here are 15 low-cost family activities for Halloween:

Pumpkin Patch Visit: Take a trip to a local pumpkin patch and let each family member pick out their own pumpkin to bring home and carve.
DIY Costume Making: Instead of buying costumes, encourage family members to create their own using items they already have at home or by visiting a thrift store for affordable costume pieces.
Halloween Movie Marathon: Set up a cozy movie night at home and watch a series of family-friendly Halloween movies. Pop some popcorn and enjoy the spooky atmosphere.
Scavenger Hunt: Organize a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt in your backyard or around the neighborhood. Create a list of items to find or clues to solve and let the whole family participate.
Haunted House Tour: Transform your home into a haunted house by creating spooky decorations using inexpensive materials like cardboard, construction paper, and old sheets.
Pumpkin Decorating Contest: Host a friendly competition to see who can come up with the most creative and unique pumpkin design. Use paint, markers, or craft supplies to decorate the pumpkins instead of carving them.
Spooky Storytelling Night: Gather around a campfire or create a cozy atmosphere indoors and take turns telling spooky stories. Dim the lights and use candles or flashlights for added ambiance.
Halloween-themed Crafts: Set up a craft station with supplies for making Halloween-themed crafts like paper ghosts, bats, or witches. You can find plenty of printable templates and ideas online for free.
Bobbing for Apples: Fill a large basin or bucket with water and add some apples. Have family members take turns trying to grab an apple with their mouths, without using their hands.
Outdoor Halloween Picnic: Pack a picnic basket with Halloween-themed snacks like ghost-shaped sandwiches, "witches' brew" drinks, and pumpkin-shaped cookies. Find a local park or backyard to enjoy the picnic.
Pumpkin Bowling: Set up a DIY pumpkin bowling alley in your backyard or hallway using empty water bottles as pins and a small pumpkin as the bowling ball.
Costume Parade: Have a family costume parade at home or in your neighborhood. Each family member can show off their homemade or thrifted costumes while walking around the block.
Candy Apple Making: Make your own candy apples at home using apples, caramel, and various toppings like sprinkles, crushed cookies, or chopped nuts.
Halloween Baking: Bake Halloween-themed treats together as a family, such as pumpkin-shaped cookies, spiderweb cupcakes, or mummy hot dogs.
Ghostly Shadow Puppets: Use a flashlight and create spooky shadow puppets on the wall. Encourage family members to come up with their own spooky characters and stories.