When the air turns crisp and the leaves crunch beneath your feet, there’s no better way to celebrate Halloween than with some good old-fashioned outdoor fun. While candy and costumes often steal the show, the real magic of the season lies in the laughter, teamwork, and togetherness that come from shared experiences. Outdoor Halloween games are the perfect way to get everyone—kids, parents, and even grandparents—in on the action.
Whether you’re hosting a neighborhood party, planning a backyard get-together, or simply looking to make the most of a fall afternoon, there are endless ways to bring spooky joy to your family time. Here are some outdoor Halloween games that blend creativity, a little friendly competition, and a lot of laughs—all without needing expensive supplies or elaborate setups.
Pumpkin Bowling
Pumpkin bowling is a crowd favorite that’s easy to set up and fun for all ages. It’s exactly what it sounds like—bowling, but with a Halloween twist.
You’ll need a small round pumpkin (choose one with a smooth bottom so it rolls easily) and ten “pins.” Empty plastic bottles, paper towel rolls, or even toilet paper rolls decorated with ghost faces work perfectly. Line them up like a traditional bowling setup on a driveway or sidewalk, and let each player take turns rolling their pumpkin to knock them down.
For extra flair, give the pumpkin a face with a permanent marker and call it the “Jack-o’-Bowler.” Keep score if you like, or just let everyone enjoy the challenge of seeing who can knock over the most ghostly pins.
Ghostly Sack Races
Turn the classic potato sack race into a Halloween hit by adding a ghostly touch. All you need are old pillowcases or laundry sacks and some imagination.
Have each participant decorate their sack with black felt eyes and mouths to resemble ghosts. Once everyone’s ready, line them up and shout, “Boo!” to start the race. The first “ghost” to cross the finish line wins a prize, but the real fun is in the giggles and tumbles along the way.
This simple game works perfectly in the backyard or at a park and can easily be modified for younger kids by shortening the race distance.
Spider Web Obstacle Course
If your family loves a bit of adventure, try creating a “spider web” obstacle course using string, yarn, or crepe paper. Tape or tie the material between trees, fences, or poles at different heights to form a web that participants must crawl, step, or duck through without touching the strands.
Pretend the web belongs to a giant spider guarding its lair, and see who can make it through the fastest without getting “caught.” Add extra fun by timing each player or creating two identical courses for team races.
For younger kids, keep the web low to the ground and use wider gaps. For older participants, make it trickier with tighter spaces or glow-in-the-dark string for an evening version of the challenge.
Witch Hat Ring Toss
This easy DIY game is perfect for a mix of ages and takes only a few minutes to prepare.
Create “witch hats” by wrapping black construction paper or poster board into cone shapes and taping them to a base made of cardboard or a paper plate. Then, make rings from glow sticks, rope, or plastic hoops.
Set up the hats on the ground or a table and assign point values based on distance or difficulty. Take turns tossing the rings and see who can score the most points. You can even use real witch hats or decorate each one differently for extra character.
As the sun sets, switch to glow-in-the-dark rings for a magical nighttime version that lights up the yard.
Zombie Tag
A Halloween spin on traditional tag, zombie tag is fast-paced, silly, and perfect for burning off all that sugar-fueled energy.
Choose one person to be the “zombie,” and have them chase the rest of the players, who must shuffle or walk instead of running. Once the zombie tags someone, that person also becomes a zombie, and the group of slow-moving chasers grows until only one human remains.
To make it even more thematic, play some spooky background music and encourage everyone to do their best zombie impressions. If you’re playing with younger kids, skip the scarier aspects and keep it lighthearted—think funny zombies who groan “brains!” but trip over their own feet.
Mummy Wrap Relay
The mummy wrap game combines teamwork, laughter, and a little creative chaos.
Divide the family into teams of two or three and give each team a roll of toilet paper or crepe paper. One person on each team stands still while the others race to wrap them up like a mummy from head to toe (leaving space for breathing and safety, of course).
The first team to finish their “mummy” wins, but the real fun comes in watching paper unravel, wraps fall apart, and everyone laugh hysterically through the process. This one works especially well for mixed-age groups since little kids can help tear and wrap while older ones handle the speedy rolling.
Candy Corn Spoon Race
This Halloween version of the classic egg race is perfect for kids who love a good challenge.
Give each participant a spoon and a piece of candy corn (or a small candy pumpkin). The goal is to race to the finish line while balancing the candy on the spoon. Drop it, and you have to start over!
You can make it more interesting by having an obstacle course or requiring participants to weave around pumpkins or trees. For an evening game, use glow necklaces so players are easier to see in the dark.
Glow Stick Hide-and-Seek
Once the sun goes down, keep the fun going with glow stick hide-and-seek. Give each player a glow stick and designate one person as “it.” Everyone else hides around the yard or park while keeping their glow sticks slightly visible for a spooky twist.
The seeker uses a flashlight to spot the glowing players. When they find someone, that person joins the search. Continue until all players have been found, then switch roles.
This glowing version of hide-and-seek feels magical to younger kids and adds a Halloween atmosphere without being too scary.
Pumpkin Ring Toss
If you have a few small pumpkins with stems, this game practically sets itself up. Arrange the pumpkins at varying distances, and use rope rings or glow necklaces as toss rings. Each successful toss that lands around a pumpkin stem earns points.
You can paint the pumpkins with funny faces or assign them names like “Spooky Steve” or “Grinning Gwen.” The simplicity of this game makes it perfect for younger kids, but older ones will still enjoy the challenge of longer-distance throws.
Final Thoughts
Halloween doesn’t have to be all about tricks and treats—it can be about laughter, teamwork, and family connection too. Outdoor games are a wonderful way to enjoy the crisp autumn weather, burn off some energy, and make memories that last long after the candy wrappers are gone.
From zombie tag to pumpkin bowling, each of these activities brings something special to your celebration—imagination, competition, and togetherness. The best part? You don’t need expensive supplies or elaborate decorations to make it happen.
So grab your pumpkins, turn on some spooky music, and get ready for a night of outdoor Halloween fun that’s full of smiles, not screams. With a little creativity and a lot of laughter, your family can make this Halloween one to remember—one game at a time.