5 nostalgic Halloween party game traditions to bring back NOW
Remember the fun of bobbing for apples post trick or treating when we were kids? SO much fun! The classic Halloween games never date, so why not start the tradition now, with the intention to play them every year?
From the mummy wrap game, to pumpkin bowling, to touching icky things with a blindfold on, the kids won’t be able to wait for these each year Halloween rolls round.
Here are six of our faves:
1. Gross food game
We LOVE this game. Mainly because it brings about much screams, squeals and laughter – and that’s just from the adults! To play, simply get five or six bowls and fill them with food that feels like it could be something straight out of a scary film. For example, use pork scratchings as scabs, dates as cockroaches and mini mozzarella balls as eyeballs. Then blindfold the players and as they dig into the bowls and tell them exactly what ‘gross’ creatures and body parts they’re touching (and wait for the shouts of horror).
2. Bobbing for apples
Apple bobbing is the ultimate Halloween game – and as a bonus, it encourages the kids to take a break from those treats and eat some fruit. All you need to do is fill a basin with water and apples. With the kids' arms behind their backs, they have to try and grab a floating apple using only their teeth, which trust us, is a lot harder than it sounds!
3. Mummy wrap
For this you need two teams, and lots of inexpensive loo roll. Each team is set the task of ‘mummifying’ one team member by wrapping them in the toilet paper. The first team to completely cover their mummy wins.
4. Pumpkin bowling
Loo roll, you’re up again! Pumpkin bowling is basically a festive version of the game, using toilet roll ‘ghosties’ as skittles and mini pumpkins as the bowling ball. With a black marker draw ghoulish eyes and mouths on the rolls and the pumpkin, or to reuse the paper, stick on some circular pieces of black card. Fill the centre of the loo rolls with treats, and when the players hit them with their pumpkins, the sweets that pop out are theirs to grab! We love this simple tutorial from The Weekend Housewife.
5. Poke-a-pumpkin
This game is like an advent calendar at Christmas, but with a tricky twist. Glue plastic cups to a piece of hard board, fill half at random with ‘treats’ like toys, stickers and sweets, and the other half with ‘tricks’ like mini toothpaste and mustard sachets. Then cover with orange napkins or crepe paper and secure with elastic bands. The players will love poking their fingers through to see if they’ve got a trick or a treat! We love this great tutorial by Project Denneler.
And with all these super fun party game ideas, why not throw your bash while raising money for Temple Street Children’s Hospital at the same time? Kicking off again this year is the Trick or Treat for Temple Street campaign which is once again proudly supported by MiWadi.
Hosting your Halloween party is so easy – simply invite friends and family to your spine-chilling soiree – at home, in school or in a community centre – and ask them to bring along a donation for Temple Street.
You can also log on to the Temple Street website to download your free party pack, or a selection of free downloads like bunting, stencils and even invites, to make your Halloween bash the best on the block!
Throwing your party will have a real, life-changing effect on so many Irish kids fighting serious illnesses. Last year the funds raised went to redeveloping the Neurology ward, and this year the hospital hopes to raise €500K for new equipment and to build state-of-the-art facilities.
Visit www.templestreet.ie/event/trick-or-treat/ for more information on the campaign and how to get involved.