Halloween Party Ideas for Kids: Food, Games and Decorations

Halloween is favourite among everyone; adults, teens, kids, pets, grandparents–seriously, who doesn't love Halloween? Maybe you’re planning a Halloween party, or maybe you’re planning a birthday party with a Halloween theme, whatever it is, we have the best Halloween party ideas to make your child’s celebration a bash. 

The people at Party Stuff are fanatics about Halloween, so we’ll give you the scoop on the best themes, decorations, activities, and food. We might even throw in trending costumes for 2022. 

First, let's go through the ins and outs of throwing a fun kid’s Halloween party. 

Why is Halloween celebrated?

The holiday stems from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain (when people would light bonfires and dress up in costumes to fend off spirits). Pope Gregory III established November 1 as a day to celebrate all saints in the ninth century. All Saints Day soon included certain Samhain rituals, and the previous evening was known as All Hallows Eve, and then eventually as Halloween. 

Halloween has grown into an evening of dressing up in costumes, going trick or treating, and being a bit spooky. 

When should you host a Halloween party?

You can host a Halloween party in advance, but typically they’re no earlier than two weeks before the holiday. That means you should host your kid's Halloween party on or after the 15th of the month.

Personally, we have never heard anyone complain about wearing their costume and binging candy early! 

What is the most popular Halloween decoration?

The most popular Halloween decoration is a skeleton (based on a Lombardo Homes survey). Animal skeletons have recently become trendy, and Party Stuff has lots in stock. Skeletons fit any Halloween party theme and can be as gory or simplistic as you need. 

5 Trendy Halloween Party Ideas & Themes for Kids

Technically, Halloween is a theme, so you don’t necessarily need another one. At a standard party, guests will come dressed in a costume of their choice, and you’ll include traditional decorations, snacks, as well as games.

But, we’re suckers for a good theme, and if you are too, we have the top trending Halloween party ideas and themes for kids. If you’re not, any of our ideas can be used at your Halloween party, even if it doesn't have a specific theme. 

1. 1. Monster Mash Party

A ‘Monster Mash’ party is timeless; parents adore the theme because it’s easy to create last-minute or budget-friendly costumes. You can even provide art supplies to create or enhance monster costumes:

• -- Plain masks to dress up with paint, googly eyes, and other supplies. You can go simple with white plastic masks or a bit more obscure with uniquely shaped or coloured masks, or even a Plague Doctor mask. Paper bags also work perfectly.

• -- Art supplies like glue, tape, pipe cleaners, paper mache, googly eyes, fake hair, fangs, etc. 

The best Halloween party decorations for a Monster Mash theme:

• -- A spooky balloon garland: For a fun DIY activity with your kids, we recommend the Chrome Gold/Black/Silver Balloon Garland Kit; decorate the balloons with monster faces. 

• -- Balloons: Same idea; decorate the balloons, so they’re spooky! Add other creepy-themed balloons like the It Chapter 2" Giant 24" Latex Balloons. If you're looking for a less spooky option, you can add pastel balloons for softer touch.

• -- Eerie props: You can basically take any household item and turn it into a monster as long as you have paper, glue, googly eyes, and fake blood. Party Stuff is also freshly stocked with props like Horror Shop Plant, Skeleton Gargoyle, Two Headed Doll, etc. 

• -- Window decals: Create your monster window decals or source them from a party store. Either way, they’re a great touch for the Monster Mash theme.

• -- Tableware: There are a lot of options here. Purchase paper plates, cups, etc., with different monsters on them (Frankenstein, vampires, zombies, or anyone else from the standard monster mash crew) or go simple with a black, orange, and green theme. Pastels are great too if you have toddlers and want to keep it on the cute side.

Halloween party ideas for Monster Mash games and activities:

• -- Creates monsters with play-doh: Purchase or construct your DIY kits with moldable dough, googly eyes, plastic fangs, pipe cleaners, and other creative items. 

• -- Do the Monster Mash: I mean, duh? You can't have a monster mash party without actually dancing to Monster Mash. 

• -- Monster Scavenger Hunt: Have a list of monster-themed items for the kids to find and collect. You can even write or give them clues. If they’re looking for Dracula’s fangs in the punch bowl, the clue can be “find near Dracula’s favourite drink”. 

• -- Guess the Monster Part: Have kids reach into brown paper bags and guess the “Monster” part. Use grapes as eyeballs, spaghetti as intestines, and mashed potatoes as a brain. 

• -- Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats
• -- One-eyed Monster Oreos 
• -- Monster Apple Bites
• -- Monster S’mores

1. 2. Superheroes vs. Villains 

• -- Balloons. For nearby Halloween decorations, you can always count on Party Stuff. We have a few different superhero balloons options, and our favourites are Batman Heroes Latex Balloons, Marvel Avengers Powers Latex Balloons, and Foil Balloon - Bouquet Marvel Avengers Power. 

• -- Backdrops and props. You will want several backdrops with many different characters for maximum diversity. Be sure to include backdrops and props of the Justice League, Marvel Avengers, Spiderman, The Incredibles, etc. 

• -- Tableware. As per our usual recommendation, go all out! Since you don't have a spooky theme, you want to make your Halloween theme come across loud and clear. Party Stuff has tons of superhero and villain paper plates, cups, table liners, napkins, and anything else you can think of.

• -- Spider-Man™ Webbed Wonder Slingshot Game

• -- Batman 3D Pinata

• -- Hero and Villain Charades: just like the classic game, divide the kids into two teams and have them play charades, but this time they will be acting out a hero or villain. 

• -- Superhero Training Session: superheroes and villains are always training, so have the kids do a jumping competition, a target practice with Nerf or water guns, a running race, etc. 

• -- Hulk Party Punch
• -- Spiderman Strawberries
• -- Wonderwoman Popcorn
• -- Cookies or Cupcakes decorated as Superheros or Villains.

1. 3. Flicks & Frights

This Halloween party idea elevates movie night to new heights! Ask the kids to dress up as beloved characters from classic Halloween films such as Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, and The Addams Family. This party is best for ages ten years old and older.

Play some Halloween movies or the movie soundtracks playing in the background.

If you have a good amount of space to play with, we recommend setting up different themed areas (the living room can be Beetlejuice, the kitchen–Addams Family, etc.). The kids can explore the house, and they’ll never be bored.

• -- Our favourite Beetlejuice decorations we have in-store and online are the Room Decorating Kit, Wall and Window Decals, and the Scene Setter.

• -- For The Nightmare Before Christmas, we absolutely love the Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington Posable Prop, Yard Decor Kit, and our themed paper plates.

• -- It’s easy to get creative with Hocus Pocus: grab a pack of witch hats, creepy stick-on nails, and hanging witch props. 

• -- Addams Family is a classic! Reference the real-life or animated movie, but definitely have random ‘hands’ around the house and make a cousin It look-alike with old mops.

• -- Pick your Poison. Party Stuff’s favourite Halloween game for a Hocus Pocus theme! Have several different drinks (poison) and blindfold the kids, then have them guess the poison. If you want to have themed names, ask the kids to pick the poison from a deck of cards.

• -- I Smell Children. This is a similar game to Pick Your Position, but instead, you play with random objects that have a strong odour (old bananas, gym shoes, coffee beans, etc.). Put them in a brown bag and ask the kids to guess the smell!

• -- Movie Trivia. Purchase a movie trivia board game or create your own based on your top picks. 

• -- Pumpkin Carving. Have the kids make their best Jack Skellington. 

• -- Witch Fingers. 
• -- The Nightmare Before Christmas Treat Board
• -- Nightmare Before Christmas Themed Sally Popcorn
• -- Addams Family Inspired Hand Pies

1. 4. Zombie Apocalypse

Who doesn't love a good Zombie Apocalypse Halloween party? It’s another great DIY and budget-friendly option for the host and the party go-ers. Much like the Monster Mash, you only need a few supplies for a Zombie costume: lots of Halloween makeup, fake blood, and paint, as well as old or thrifted clothing that can be cut up and stained.

Zombie Apocalypse is a very versatile Halloween party theme; you can make it as gory or comedic as you like. There is a lot of room for DIY crafts or simple last-minute purchases. 

The best Halloween party decorations for a Zombie Apocalypse theme:

• -- Props. Our Halloween party ideas for this theme? Lots and lots of props. Party Stuff’s favourites are Blood Drying Rot, Pint Of Blood, Bloody Gauze Strip, Body In A Bag Bloody Prop, The Dead Will Rise Tombstone, and a Brain Shaped Mold. 

• -- Backdrops. To transform your home into a run-down, zombie-confiscated, creepy institution without having to repaint and tear out your carpets: you’ll want backdrops. The Chop Shop Scene Setter might be too intense for your kids, but you can use the It Chapter 2 3 Panel Scene Setter or a combination of Spider Webs, a Mist Maker, and Skeleton Hand Print Wall Grabbers. 

• -- Tablesetting. To complete your zombie theme, you’ll need the Bloody Plastic Table Cover, some red paper plates and cups, and use the brain mould to create table decorations. 

Halloween party ideas for Zombie games and activities: 

• -- Red Light, Dead Night. One child will be the sole survivor, the rest are zombies. The survivor will stand away from the zombies, while they form a line. The survivor will yell "death night," and the zombies will charge. When they shout red light, all zombies must stop. The last person to stop is gone. This will continue until a zombie captures the survivor or all of the zombies are exterminated.

• -- Brain Toss. Fill several pink balloons with flour, draw a circle or grab a laundry bin, have the kids stand away from the circle or bin and have them toss the brain (pink balloon) into the circle/bin. 

• -- Musical Zombie. Musical chairs, but make it zombie. Parents love this Halloween party idea because it’s so easy and wears down the sugar rush. Get some upbeat festive music going and have the kids do zombie walks and dances around the chairs. 

• -- Zombie Headshot. Similar to pin the tail on the donkey, but instead with a large cut-out of a zombie. Fill small balloons with fake blood or water with red food colouring. Have the kids throw the balloons at the zombie cut-out. Whoever gets a headshot, wins!

The best food for a Halloween party with a Zombie theme:

• -- Mummy Hot Dogs
• -- Graveyard Parfait 
• -- Walking Dead Brain Cheesecake
• -- Zombie Chocolate Covered Strawberries

1. 5. Boo Bash

Another safe option if you’re in PTA–make this lively gathering all about friendly ghosts! A super fun theme for toddlers and kids under eight years old. Get a little silly with this one and try lots of DIYs! 

The best Halloween party decorations for a Boo Bash theme:

• -- Balloons. A Boo Bash needs lots and lots of balloons. Grab all of the white balloon bouquets, off-white balloons, and letter-shaped balloons (to spell BOO). Draw silly, adorable, or slightly scary faces on them. 

• -- Props. Place Halloween ghost luminary bags all over the house, create a ghost garland, and have worn-down white fabric sheets hanging as curtains, over the furniture, and draped in random places. White pumpkins, spider webs, and hints of orange are complimentary to this theme. 

• -- Tablesetting. Party Stuff’s Hallo-Ween Friends Plastic Table Cover is a must and pairs well with our textured black plastic plates. 

Boo Bash Halloween party ideas for games and activities: 

• -- Ghost Pumpkin Carving. Use our Family Pumpkin Carving Kit and grab some white paint to make ghost pumpkins. 

• -- Ghost and Pumpkin Bowling. An easy DIY. Grab a few toilet paper rolls to turn into ghoulish bowling pins. Use a small pumpkin as a ball by cutting off the stem. Get ready to bowl! Side note, a plastic pumpkin or an orange ball works well. 

• -- Goblin, Goblin, Ghost. You know this game as “duck duck goose” but it’s much more adorable when the kids wear ghost costumes. 

• -- Ghost Busters. Don’t play this if the kids are easily startled or if you have a headache. This game is also best for kids older than five years old. Dangle white balloons (with ghost faces) from the ceiling or a railing, and make the ribbon loose; when you say “GO” the kids must race to untie a ghost balloon and then pop it by sitting on it.

The best food for a Halloween party with a Ghost theme: 

• -- Ghostly Cupcake Cones
• -- “Boo”-rrific Kisses
• -- Kid-Size Ghost Pizzas
• -- Ghosts to Go

Popular Children’s Halloween Costumes 2022

• -- Peppa Pig 
• -- Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger
• -- Among Us Costume
• -- Baymax Costume
• -- Paw Patrol Characters 
• -- Dinosaurs

Nearby Halloween Costumes and Halloween Decorations

Before October hits, Party Stuff starts stocking up on the latest children and adult Halloween costumes and all types of spooky decorations. Our party store is always nearby with three locations across Winnipeg, plus we ship across Canada.

We hope to see you this spooky season, but we’d also love to hear about your favourite Halloween party ideas and themes! DM us on Instagram to let us know :).